Constant velocity joint attachment method

A joint assembly comprising:

• a shaft member rotationally coupled to a housing, the shaft member including a plurality of shaft splines and a shaft preloading portion;
• a collar member adjustably coupled to the shaft member and having an collar member groove and a preloading portion formed therein;
• a constant velocity joint, including an inner race, an outer race and a plurality of spherical rotational members interposed between and in contact with the outer race and the inner race, wherein the inner race includes a inner race groove and a plurality of inner race splines formed therein, and wherein at least a portion of the plurality of shaft splines are selectively positioned within an array of the spherical rotational members;
• and
• a retaining member selectively at least partially interposed within both the collar member groove and the inner race groove for restraining axial movement between the shaft member and the inner race.

A method of assembly for a driveline component, comprising:

• interposing a shaft within at least one bearing;
• positioning the shaft adjacent a collar member;
• positioning a preload biasing portion between the bearing and a portion of the shaft;
• preloading the bearing, wherein moving the collar member relative to the shaft, at least in part, increases the preload and at least partially deforms the preload biasing portion;
• coupling a first portion of the collar member of a constant velocity joint to a portion of an inner race such that at least a portion of a collar member groove formed in the collar member and at least a portion of a race groove formed in the inner race are selectively at least partially aligned when the inner race is at least partially interposed within the first portion;
• and
• inserting a retaining member at least partially within at least one of the collar member groove and the race groove.