Abstract: A suspension bracket is supported by an axle housing and is used to attach a vehicle suspension to the axle housing. The axle housing includes a polygonal cross-section including obliquely orientated corner portions that extend between adjacent vertical and horizontal walls. The suspension bracket includes a base portion, a pair of bracket legs, and contact pads that extend between each bracket leg and the base portion. Each bracket leg engages a protruding portion that extends outwardly from one of the vertical walls. A pressure force is applied to secure the suspension bracket to the axle housing. The pressure force squeezes the suspension bracket around the axle housing to generate a clamp load. The clamp load is exerted by the contact pads against the corner portions of the axle housing. Fore/aft loading and torsional loading are transferred from the axle housing to the suspension bracket via the corner portions.

Abstract: An axle housing includes a suspension mount interface for mounting a vehicle suspension to the axle housing. The axle housing includes a first leg portion extending to a first wheel assembly and a second leg portion extending to a second wheel assembly. The first and second leg portions each include a suspension mount interface. Each suspension mount interface includes first and second bracket portions. The first and second bracket portions are clamped together prior to attachment to the axle housing to form a suspension bracket assembly. One clamped suspension bracket assembly is then slid over each axle housing leg portion. The first and second bracket portions are subjected to a preload force as they are welded or fastened to each other, providing a preload effect to define a suspension load path that has positive contact only at desired locations on the axle housing.

Abstract: A grease lock seal with sealing lips angled inwardly towards the internal bearing components is press fit into a bearing cup assembly to prevent grease from being purged due to centrifugal forces introduced during the rotational operation of the system. As the plurality of sealing lips retain grease in the system, the system does not have to be re-greased. If one desires to re-grease the system, the grease lock seal can further include a plurality of grease purge channels which create a path for used grease to be purged. As internal pressure increases during regreasing, the used grease flows through the grease purge channels and out of the system. However, the grease purge channels are small enough so that grease does not escape from the system during normal operation.