The rear axle assembly of a vehicle is a hypoid, semi-floating type with a differential that allows the outer rear tire to turn more quickly than the inner tire when going around a corner. The axle shafts are splined to the differential side gears, and the differential pinion gears roll around the slower side gear, driving the outer side gear more quickly. Some models use a locking limited-slip rear axle that allows for normal operation until one wheel loses traction. On 4WD models, a fully independent front axle assembly is used, consisting of a differential and a pair of drive axles with inner and outer constant velocity (CV) joints. When diagnosing axle problems, it's important to check other possible causes before assuming the axle is the problem. Common noises associated with axle diagnosis procedures include road noise, tire noise, and engine and transmission noise, which can be deceiving and travel along the driveline. Overhauling the differential requires special tools and isn't cost-effective for a do-it-yourselfer.