member 30 is substantially spherical and truncated on opposite sides 32 34 also the first and second notches 36 38 extend axially away from one another at least one portion 46 of the housing preform 62 is disposed in at least one of the first and second notches 36 38 in alternative embodiments of the invention the radial discontinuities are formed as one or more dimples such as dimples 40 42 as result the tubular member 30 would be immovably associated with the finished housing 12 after the flow forming process in the exemplary embodiment of the invention the finished housing 12 is assembled to other components to form the inventive differential assembly 10 after the finished housing 12 has been formed from the housing preform 62 with the tubular member 30 disposed in situ a longitudinal aperture 70 is formed and finished the longitudinal aperture 70 receives one of the axle shafts not shown which defines splines thereby matingly engaging splines 72 defined by the gear 20 also a transverse aperture 74 is formed and finished the transverse aperture 74 passes through the finished housing 12 and the tubular member 30 the pin 14 is received in the transverse aperture 74 the lid 50 is fixedly associated with the finished housing 12 after the gears 16 18 20 22 have been assembled the lid 50 defines a second longitudinal aperture 76 which receives one of the axle shafts the other axle shaft not shown extends through defines splines which matingly engage splines 78 defined by the gear 22 while the invention has been described with reference to an exemplary embodiment it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various.