Multi-piece spacer for setting bearing preload

A driveline assembly comprising:

• a driveline component housing;
• a pinion shaft located within the housing and defining a first axial stop;
• a first bearing assembly rotationally supporting the pinion shaft within the housing and including a first inner race supported on the pinion shaft and abutting the first axial stop, a first outer race supported in the housing, and a first bearing member therebetween;
• a second bearing assembly rotationally supporting the pinion shaft within the housing and including a second inner race supported on the pinion shaft, a second outer race supported in the housing, and a second bearing member therebetween;
• a spacer assembly located axially between the first and second bearing assemblies and including first and second members, the first member axially fixed on the pinion shaft and including an axial end defining a first generally conical surface, the second member including a first axial end engaged with the second inner race and a second axial end defining a second generally conical surface abutting the first generally conical surface;
• and
• a load adjustment member engaged with the second inner race and being axially displaceable relative to the pinion shaft to adjust a preload on the second bearing assembly, the load adjustment member displacing the second member of the spacer assembly from a first position axially toward the first inner race to a second position when the load adjustment member is displaced axially toward the first axial stop, the second bearing assembly providing a first torsional resistance between the pinion shaft and the housing when the second inner race is in the first position and providing a second torsional resistance between the pinion shaft and the housing greater than the first torsional resistance when the second inner race is in the second position.

A method comprising:

• locating a first bearing assembly on a pinion shaft within a housing of a driveline assembly;
• locating a spacer assembly including first and second members on the pinion shaft, the locating axially fixing the first member relative to the pinion shaft, the first member including an axial end defining a first generally conical surface and the second member including a first axial end and a second axial end defining a second generally conical surface abutting the first generally conical surface;
• locating a second bearing assembly on the pinion shaft adjacent to the spacer assembly and engaging the first axial end of the second member with the second bearing assembly, the spacer assembly being secured axially between the first and second bearing assemblies;
• securing a load adjustment member on the pinion shaft adjacent to the second bearing assembly, the spacer assembly and the second bearing assembly being located axially between the first bearing assembly and the load adjustment member;
• and
• displacing the load adjustment member axially along the pinion shaft to adjust a torsional resistance between the pinion shaft and the housing, the displacing forcing the second member of the spacer assembly axially along the first generally conical surface of the first member from a first position to a second position, the load adjustment member providing a first torsional resistance between the housing and the pinion shaft when the second member is in the first position and a second torsional resistance greater than the first torsional resistance when the second member is in the second position.