Constant velocity universal joint shaft and inner race combination

A constant velocity joint shaft and constant velocity universal joint combination comprising:

• an input shaft having an annular shoulder and a splined section generally adjacent the shoulder, the shaft splined section having a plurality of axial grooves;
• a constant velocity universal joint having an output shaft and an inner race with a splined bore fitted over the splined section of the input shaft;
• a retaining member, the retaining member having an annular body with a plurality of tabs extending in a first axial direction and bent over the annular shoulder, and the retaining member including a plurality of elongated arms extending from the annular body in a second axial direction completely through the inner race bore, each of the elongated arms being aligned with one of the axial grooves of the input shaft splined section, and each of the elongated arms having an acutely angled radially outward extending finger at an extreme end of the elongated arm to axially retain the inner race on the input shaft.

A retaining member for connecting a constant velocity joint shaft and a mating inner race of a constant velocity universal joint the retaining member having an annular body with a plurality of tabs extending in a first axial direction, the tabs being bendable so that they can be bent over the an annular shoulder of the shaft to thereby secure the retaining member to the shaft, and the retaining member including a plurality of elongated arms extending from the annular body in a second axial direction so that they can be extended completely through the a bore in the inner race, the elongated arms having a finger at an extreme end to axially retain the inner race on the shaft.