AXLE ASSEMBLY HAVING A DRIVE PINION AND A PRELOAD NUT AND A METHOD OF ASSEMBLY

An axle assembly and method of assembly. The axle assembly may include a drive pinion and a preload nut. The drive pinion may have a recess. The preload nut may have a deformable ring. The deformable ring may engage the drive pinion inside the recess to inhibit rotation of the preload nut.