Limited slip differential assembly with clutch pack preload spring disposed between side gear and differential pinion shaft member

A differential assembly comprising:

• a differential case that is rotatable about a differential axis;
• a differential gearset received in the case, the differential gearset having a plurality of differential pinions, first and second side gears, and one or more differential pinion shaft members, each of the first and second side gears being rotatable about the differential axis relative to the differential case and being meshingly engaged with the differential pinions, the one or more differential pinion shaft members coupling the differential pinions to the differential case for common rotation about the differential axis, the one or more differential pinion shaft members supporting each of the differential pinions for rotation about a respective differential pinion axis that is perpendicular to the differential axis;
• a first clutch pack received in the differential case, the first clutch pack having a plurality of first clutch plates, which are axially slidably but non-rotatably coupled to the differential case, and a plurality of second clutch plates that are interleaved with the first clutch plates and axially slidably but non-rotatably coupled to the first side gear;
• and
• a first preload spring abutting the one or more differential pinion shaft members and the first side gear, the first preload spring biasing the first side gear away from the one or more differential pinion shaft members to preload the first clutch pack.