Axle Assembly Technician

East Coast Gear Supply•Louisburg, NC

12d

About The Position

We’re hiring an experienced Axle Assembly Technician to build complete vehicle axle assemblies from a bare housing to a fully assembled axle ready for paint. This is a highly technical, hands-on position for someone with real drivetrain experience — the kind of skillset you’d find in a strong differential builder or seasoned mechanic. You’ll work on a range of axles including Ford 9”, Dana 60/44/80, GM 14-bolt, and various Toyota applications. This role does not include welding. Differential setup is not “bolt-together” work. This role requires proven ability to correctly set up gears, including: Establishing correct pinion depth using appropriate setup methods Setting bearing preload (pinion and carrier) to spec Setting backlash to spec and ensuring consistency Reading contact pattern (drive/coast) and making informed adjustments Understanding how changes to pinion depth/backlash/preload affect pattern, noise, heat, and durability Achieving repeatable, quiet, durable setups appropriate for high-load off-road and performance use

Requirements

Gear Setup
Establishing correct pinion depth using appropriate setup methods
Setting bearing preload (pinion and carrier) to spec
Setting backlash to spec and ensuring consistency
Reading contact pattern (drive/coast) and making informed adjustments
Understanding how changes to pinion depth/backlash/preload affect pattern, noise, heat, and durability
Achieving repeatable, quiet, durable setups appropriate for high-load off-road and performance use

Nice To Haves

Significant prior experience building axles/differentials or comparable drivetrain assembly experience (professional or highly verifiable).
Demonstrated ability to set up ring & pinion gears correctly (pattern, backlash, pinion depth, preload).
Strong understanding of:
Bearings, seals, torque procedures, shimming, and tolerance stack-up
Mechanical troubleshooting and root-cause thinking
Clean assembly practices and attention to detail
Ability to work independently with minimal supervision once trained on your specific build standards.
Ability to lift/handle heavy components and work on your feet for extended periods.

Responsibilities

Assemble axles from bare housing through final assembly, ready for paint.
Perform complete differential and drivetrain assembly work including:
Installing bearings, races, seals, yokes, pinions, ring gears, carriers, and axle shafts
Setting up gear patterns and backlash
Selecting and installing correct shims and spacers
Using grinders and cutting tools to cut shafts
Applying correct torque specs and preloads
Measuring and verifying tolerances throughout assembly
Perform precision measurement and setup work using appropriate tools (examples: dial indicator, micrometers/calipers, in-lb torque wrench for preload, etc.).
Diagnose and correct issues during assembly (pattern issues, preload/backlash conflicts, abnormal resistance, seal/bearing fitment problems, etc.).
Follow standardized build procedures, checklists, and documentation requirements.
Maintain a clean, safe, organized work area; care for tools and fixtures.
Collaborate with team leads/engineering/QA when unique build requirements or issues arise.