An axle assembly of a vehicle including a differential assembly, an axle tube extending outwardly from a first side of the differential assembly and defining an axle bore, an axle shaft rotatably received in the first axle tube and defining an annular groove extending radially inwardly from its outer surface, a retaining nut axially fixed to the distal end of the first axle tube, and a snap ring received in the annular groove of the first axle shaft, wherein the snap ring abuts the retaining nut, thereby preventing outward motion of the first axle shaft with respect to the first axle tube.