Chevy & GMC Vans

I'm interested in swapping my front AWD front axle for one that disconnects. I'm trying to get my head around the project and costs but I'm running into various terms that I think mean the same things but wanted to ask. These are the terms I'm seeing:

- Front axle
- Front axle assembly
- Front differential
- Front carrier

It seems to depend on who you are talking to that dictates what it is called. The website http://www.car-part.com uses "Front Axle Assembly" and "Front Carrier". Front differential is also listed but it points to "Front Carrier". The front axle assembly is generally less expensive than the carrier, so....:

.....is this considered a "Front axle assembly"?


.....and is this considered the Front Carrier (with axle tube)?:


Sorry if this seems like a dumb question. I'm just finding too many inconsistencies and very few pictures online to know what I would be buying.

Thanks!

zuren wrote: - Front axle
- Front axle assembly

I would equate these two.

zuren wrote:- Front differential

This is what you're left with if you take off the shafts and tubes.

zuren wrote:- Front carrier

this refers to the cage which houses the planetary gears.

timelessbeing wrote:

zuren wrote: - Front axle
- Front axle assembly

I would equate these two.

zuren wrote:- Front differential

This is what you're left with if you take off the shafts and tubes.

zuren wrote:- Front carrier

this refers to the cage which houses the planetary gears.

Thanks for the reply. This is what I would list these parts as but I'm not convinced this is what the used parts recyclers do. When I did a search for "Front Axle Assembly", one of the listings was:

SEE FRT CARRIER. WE INV AS CARRIER

I guess I'll need to make some visits and calls.

timelessbeing wrote:

zuren wrote: - Front axle
- Front axle assembly

I would equate these two.

zuren wrote:- Front differential

This is what you're left with if you take off the shafts and tubes.

zuren wrote:- Front carrier

this refers to the cage which houses the planetary gears.

the front carrier is the assemby that holds the ring gear in the front differential.