Drive axle for motor vehicles and method for assembling the same

A drive axle assembly for motor vehicles, includes a support beam member (2) having a substantially flat, enlarged central plate section (4) and two opposite arm sections (6a,6b), a differential assembly module (20) secured to the central plate section (4) and enclosed into a housing formed by a rear cover (40) and a front cover (46) secured to opposite surfaces of the central plate section (4). A method for assembling the drive axle assembly comprises the steps of securing the front cover (46) to a front mounting surface (8F) of the support beam member (2), fastening the differential assembly module (20) to the central plate section (4) of the support beam member (2), and fastening the rear cover (40) to the rear mounting surface (8R) of the support beam member (2). The support beam member (2) is provided with an opening (10) in the central plate section (4) through which the differential assembly module (20) extends.