A drive axle assembly for steerable wheels which is pivotally mounted on the frame of a motor vehicle and has two drive shafts in a single axle housing, the shafts angled with respect to each other so that they form a V-shaped configuration opening downwardly and rearwardly to increase the distance between the underside of the axle housing and the ground while maintaining the improved steering capabilities of a swept-back design. The assembly includes a differential having an output axially aligned with and connected directly to one of the drive shafts. The differential is driven by a pinion gear connected to a non-articulated shaft which extends from a transmission and is mounted for rotation about an axis corresponding to the pivotal axis of the assembly so that no universal joint is required between the transmission and differential. The other drive shaft is connected through a universal joint to the differential.