Abstract: A cam shaft support and enclosure assembly includes a tube formed with a flat on its inboard end. An outboard end of the tube is supported on a spider which in turn is mounted on an axle of a heavy duty vehicle. A bushing is mounted in each of the tube ends, and a shaft is rotatably mounted in and passes completely through the bushings and sealed and lubricated tube. An S-cam is integrally formed on an exposed outboard end of the shaft and the exposed inboard end of the shaft is formed with splines for meshingly engaging a slack adjuster of the vehicle brake system. A support plate formed with a generally D-shaped keyhole is mounted on the suspension beam, and is slip-fittingly engaged by the correspondingly shaped and sized inboard end of the tube. The weld-free keyhole connection of the tube and plate enables the plate to react rotation of the tube without the possibility of fatigue or failure of a weld.

Abstract: A filter is disposed in the interior cavity of each of the axle spindle sections of a non-drive axle for a heavy duty tractor-trailer, which utilizes internally vented wheel end assemblies. Each filter provides for sufficient air flow from the wheel end assembly cavity into the axle cavity to enable internal venting of any expanding gas from the wheel end assembly cavity into the axle cavity, thereby preventing excessive pressure build-up in the wheel end assembly and possible reduction of the life expectancy of the wheel end assembly main seal. Depending on the filter embodiment employed, the filter prevents or at least lessens the likelihood of migration of contaminates such as oxide scale from the axle cavity into the wheel end assembly cavity, thereby preventing or lessening the likelihood that such contaminates will cause premature wear of the wheel end assembly bearings or main seal.

Abstract: A steering knuckle assembly receives a distal end of a steer axle beam which is generally symmetrical about a center line and has a pin bore therethrough. This knuckle assembly includes a steering knuckle which pivotally cooperates with the axle beam distal end. The steering knuckle includes a pair of yokes where each has a yoke bore longitudinally therethrough coaxially aligned with each other and with the pin bore. Each yoke also includes a yoke outer surface, and a yoke face surface which cooperates with a corresponding axle beam distal end and has an aperture formed therein. The knuckle assembly also includes a kingpin which has opposed ends and is received by the pin and yoke bores. Also included is a pair of yoke seals, each received by the yoke face aperture which includes an annular housing and an annular rubber portion. The rubber portion has at least one lip which operatively contacts the kingpin to provide a seal therewith.