Abstract: An improved bushing assembly for the inboard end of a brake cam shaft is provided with a bushing which establishes a grease flow pathway within the bushing assembly. Grease enters a cavity formed from a pair of housing halves which contain the bushing through a grease zerk which is directly connected to a first radial hole in the bushing, so the fresh grease injected goes directly to the grease reservoir between the bushing and the shaft. Flow channels provided in the bushing interior surface guide the grease around the shaft to a second radial hole which is diametrically opposite the first radial hole. A seal on the shaft restricts grease flow outwardly from the bushing along the shaft. Grease may be purged through the second radial hole to an annular space between the bushing and the interior surfaces of the housing halves, from which the grease may exit the housing around the periphery of a window in one of the housing halves through which the grease zerk passes.

Abstract: A device for stiffening an axle of a vehicle in the vicinity of a weld connecting the axle to a suspension beam of the vehicle has a cradle portion to be aligned along the axle. Radially extending flanges are attached along the side edges of the essentially semi-cylindrical cradle portion. The flanges provide a site for apertures for the conventional U-bolts which connect the axle to the suspension beam. In an alternate embodiment, the ends of the device are further stiffened by the addition of webs mounted transverse to the axis of the cradle portion. If the webs are paired at each end in a spaced apart relationship, they can provide a site for use of additional U-bolts to affix the device to the axle. The cradle portion effectively covers one half of the circumference of the axle when in position.