Axle service disconnect with shaft support

A full floating axle for an automotive vehicle, said axle comprising:

• an axle tube with an outboard end;
• a wheel hub radially and rotationally supported on the axle tube;
• a bearing arrangement at the outboard end of the axle tube supporting the wheel hub;
• an axle shaft extended through the axle tube and radially within the wheel hub;
• an end plate mounted to the axle shaft and the wheel hub, wherein the end plate transmits torque between the axle shaft and the wheel hub when connected therebetween, wherein the end plate is disconnectable from both the axle shaft and the wheel hub, such that torque is not transmitted between the wheel hub and the axle shaft;
• an engaging support feature disposed radially between the axle shaft and the axle tube and having a connected state and a disconnected state, wherein the engaging support feature is shiftable between the connected state and the disconnected state;
• wherein in the connected state of the engaging support feature, the engaging support feature provides support and contact between the axle shaft and the axle tube, and
• wherein, in the disconnected state of the engaging support feature, there is no contact between the axle shaft and the axle tube and no support is provided between the axle shaft and the axle tube by the engaging support feature.