The differential assembly utilizes a hypoid beveled ring and pinion gear set. It consists of a ring gear which is mounted to the differential case, a pinion gear which is mounted in the differential carrier, and a set of four gears mounted inside the differential case. Two of these gears are known as side gears and the other two are known as differential pinion gears. The right side gear is splined to the right drive axle shaft, and the left side gear is splined to the left inner axle shaft.

At the end of the left inner axle shaft is a flange which bolts to a similar flange at the differential-side joint of the left drive axle shaft. Because these shafts are splined to the differential side gears, the right drive axle and the left inner axle shaft rotate as their respective side gear rotates. The differential pinion gears are mounted on a pinion shaft and are free to rotate on it. The pinion shaft is fitted into bores in the differential case and is held in place by a roll pin. The differential case is mounted in the differential carrier where the pinion gear drives the ring gear, differential case, and its side and differential pinion gears.

When the transfer case is placed in 4WH or 4WL, the electric motor actuator turns on and builds pressure. When the pressure reaches the specific amount (within seconds) the actuator engages and locks the differential into the drive mode. Engine torque is provided by the front propeller shaft. The propeller shaft is bolted to the pinion flange by a universal joint. The pinion gear turns the ring gear and differential case, which causes the side gears to rotate with the case. This action in turn causes the left inner axle shaft and the right drive axle shaft to rotate and drive the front wheels. When both wheels have equal traction, the differential pinion gears do not rotate on the pinion shaft. This is due to an input force which is equally divided between the side gears. In other words, the differential pinion gears revolve with the pinion shaft, but do not rotate around it. When the vehicle turns a corner, the outer drive axle must turn faster than the inner drive axle. When the inner drive axle turns slower than the outer, it slows its side gear. The differential pinion gears will roll around the slower drive axle side gear providing torque to the outer drive axle. When the transfer case is placed in 2WH or N, the front axle is disengaged and the front propeller shaft as well as all front axle components remain stationary while the front wheels are free to rotate.

The 4WD Actuator pump consists of the following components:

When the transfer control lever is shifted to the 4WD position, the pump motor and release valve solenoid is energized by the PCM after receiving the 4WD switch ON signal. The Pump motor rotates and moves the pump diaphragm to supply compressed air to the 4WD actuator. When the air pressure being supplied to the actuator exceeds the specified level, the pressure switch opens the ground circuit which stops the pump motor. The air pressure is retained within the system to maintain 4WD operation.

When the transfer control lever is shifted to the 2WD or Neutral position, the current flow to the release valve solenoid is shut off by the PCM. When the release solenoid is off, the release valve opens and the air pressure within the system is released to the atmosphere. Therefore, the front differential is changed to 2WD mode by the 4WD actuator located on the front differential housing.