1. Spiral Bevel Gears: These are the most commonly used type of bevel gears in rear axles. They have a spiral tooth profile, rather than a straight tooth profile like a straight bevel gear. This spiral tooth profile allows for smoother and quieter operation.
2. Straight Bevel Gears: These gears have a straight tooth profile, as the name implies. They are generally less efficient than spiral bevel gears, but are also less expensive to manufacture.
3. Hypoid Gears: These gears are similar to spiral bevel gears, but the pinion gear is offset below the center of the ring gear. This offset allows for the pinion gear to be stronger and the teeth to be larger, which can increase torque-handling capacity. Hypoid gears are commonly used in heavy-duty applications, such as trucks and SUVs.
