DIFFERENTIAL APPARATUS

A differential apparatus 1 includes a differential gear mechanism 3 in which side gears 31 mesh with pinion gears 32, a pinion shaft 4 that rotatably supports the pinion gears 32, a hollow slide member 5 that supports the ends of the pinion shaft 4, and pinion gear washers 72 each disposed between the slide member 5 and a corresponding one of the pinion gears 32. Movement of each pinion gear washer 72 toward the slide member 5 in the axial direction of the pinion shaft 4 is restricted. When a force of the pinion gear 32 pressing the pinion gear washer 72 toward the slide member 5 is less than a predetermined value, a clearance is formed between an inner surface 53a of the slide member 5 and an outer surface 72a of the pinion gear washer 72. When the force of the pinion gear 32 pressing the pinion gear washer 72 toward the slide member 5 is greater than or equal to the predetermined value, the outer surface 72a of the pinion gear washer 72 abuts the inner surface 53a of the slide member 5.