Abstract: A wheel end assembly having a dual wheel configuration includes independently rotating wheel hubs to reduce tire wear. The wheel end includes a first planetary gear assembly with a sun gear driven by a differential side gear and a ring gear for driving one wheel hub. A second planetary gear assembly with a sun gear driven by a differential side gear and a ring gear drives another wheel hub. A differential assembly is coupled to the first and second sun gears to allow the first and second wheel hubs to rotate relative to one another as the vehicle executes turning maneuvers.

Abstract: A wheel end assembly having a dual wheel configuration includes independently rotating wheel hubs to reduce tire wear. The wheel end includes a first planetary gear assembly with a sun gear driven by a differential side gear and a ring gear for driving one wheel hub. A second planetary gear assembly with a sun gear driven by a differential side gear and a ring gear drives another wheel hub. A differential assembly is coupled to the first and second sun gears to allow the first and second wheel hubs to rotate relative to one another as the vehicle executes turning maneuvers.

Abstract: An improved drum brake is of the type which includes a pair of actuators with a pair of arcuate brake shoes extending therebetween. Each brake shoe is capable of limited movement along a path between the actuation end of one of the actuators and the anchor end of the other of the actuators. The wheel and drum of the drum brake rotate in a normal direction from the actuation end of one actuator to the anchor end of the other actuator so that a leading end of each brake shoe is adjacent the actuator end and a trailing end of each brake is adjacent the anchor end. The improvement includes providing a lining on each of the brake shoes which has a useable layer thereof which is thicker at the trailing end of the brake shoe than at the leading end of the brake shoe. The brake shoe is relatively located on the path toward the actuation end prior to wear of the useable layer and tends to be relocated along the path away from the actuation end during wear of the useable layer throughout use of the drum brake.