Technician A says an auxiliary transmission is used when a higher gear ratio is needed. Technician B says the auxiliary transmission is attached to the differential. Who is correct?

• A. Technician B only
• B. Technician A only
• C. Neither A nor B
• D. Both A and B

Answer: (B)

An auxiliary transmission provides extra gear options by adding a secondary gear train to the drivetrain, giving more torque at low speeds or more speed options in different conditions. In many designs, that extra gearset is mounted right at the final drive area—bolted to the differential housing or integrated with the axle—so power from the main transmission passes through the auxiliary gearbox before reaching the differential. That mounting arrangement is why saying the auxiliary transmission is attached to the differential is correct in common configurations. While the device does create additional gear ratios, the key point is its location and how it sits between the transmission and the differential, rather than simply implying it exists to produce a “higher” gear ratio.