A parallel axis gearbox is provided for a vehicle. The parallel axis gearbox includes an input shaft having a first axis of rotation and an intermediate shaft having a second axis of rotation parallel to the first axis of rotation. The intermediate shaft includes an intermediate driving gear, an intermediate driven gear, and a longitudinal bore passing through the intermediate shaft. The intermediate driven gear is meshingly engaged with a first driving gear on the input shaft. The input shaft and the intermediate shaft are contained within and supported by a cover fixedly coupled to a housing. A bolt fixedly couples the cover to the housing and passes through the longitudinal bore of the intermediate shaft.