Hydrostatic transaxle

A hydrostatic transaxle having a hydrostatic transmission module (104) including a transmission housing (110), a rotating fluid pump and a rotatable fluid motor, the pump being of variable displacement, the motor being rotated at various speeds and in forward and reverse directions in response to changes in pump displacement; an axle drive unit (48) including a housing (80) and a speed reduction gear train having an input and an output disposed in the axle drive housing (80), the motor being operably coupled to the gear train input; a differential assembly (50) having a rotating casing (52), the rotating casing (52) being external to the transmission housing (110) and axle drive unit housing (80); and a pair of axles (44,46) extending from the differential assembly casing (52).