Abstract: An axle assembly for a vehicle including a carrier housing and an axle tube housing configured to receive an axle shaft therein. The axle tube housing is coupled to the carrier housing by at least one fastener extending outwardly from an interior of the carrier housing into at least one aperture formed in the axle tube housing. A joint formed between the axle tube housing and the carrier housing is nonorthogonal relative to a centerline of the axle shaft.

Abstract: An adjustable camber and caster bushing. The bushing comprises a planar portion having a first side, a second side, an aperture and an outer perimeter. The bushing also comprises a tubular portion, which is integrally formed with and unitary with the planar portion. The tubular portion comprises an inner diameter, an outer diameter, a first end, and a second end. The inner diameter defines an aperture extending the length of the tubular portion. The inner diameter is tapered, while the outer diameter remains constant. The tubular portion also comprises a slot extending the length of the tubular portion.

Abstract: A process for connecting a non-symmetrical inside diameter vehicle spindle to a stationary housing is provided. Low and high stress areas of the spindle are determined, where correspondingly reduced and increased material cross sections are provided or increased cross sections are located in an orientation relative to a spindle axis. Consequently, the low and high stress areas of the spindle are aligned with corresponding areas of the stationary housing. Then, the spindle and stationary housing are connected by way of friction welding. This in turn results in selecting a section modulus of the connection of the spindle to the stationary housing, thereby achieving the lowest weight to strength ratio for the connection.

Abstract: A knuckle includes two steering bosses (i.e., upper and lower), each having a continuous channel, connecting, respectively, separate channel openings where the channels taper outward from an inner diameter to each of their respective openings. A hollow first adapter sleeve is located within either one of the channel openings of the upper steering boss, and a hollow second adapter sleeve is located within either one of the channel openings of the lower steering boss. As a result of this structure, the knuckle may be used on either side of a vehicle, allow for entry of a steering arm/tie rod arm from forward to rear (rearwardly directed) or vice versa in either of the steering bosses, and may be applied to various sizes of knuckle-steer axle assemblies.

Abstract: A knuckle includes two steering bosses (i.e., upper and lower), each having a continuous channel, connecting, respectively, separate channel openings where the channels taper outward from an inner diameter to each of their respective openings. A hollow first adapter sleeve is located within either one of the channel openings of the upper steering boss, and a hollow second adapter sleeve is located within either one of the channel openings of the lower steering boss. As a result of this structure, the knuckle may be used on either side of a vehicle, allow for entry of a steering arm/tie rod arm from forward to rear (rearwardly directed) or vice versa in either of the steering bosses, and may be applied to various sizes of knuckle-steer axle assemblies.

Abstract: A symmetrical tie rod arm is disclosed that can be used on either side of a vehicle to eliminate the need for two separate tie rod arms.

Abstract: A device for communicating fluid into and out of a vehicle drive axle assembly housing is disclosed. The device has an elbow that connects with a body portion. The elbow has a baffle and the body portion has more than one baffle. The baffles prevent fluid in the drive axle housing from escaping from the housing.