Abstract: A packaging system for protecting a wheel hub containing inboard and outboard bearings separated by a spacer. The packaging system comprises a shipping retainer having inboard and outboard elements that are reversibly locked together within the axial bore of the wheel hub to seal the ends of the axial bore and maintain the alignment of the bearings and spacer. The packaging system further includes a stackable shipping tray having first and second sides, the first side adapted to receive the inboard end of a wheel hub with the shipping retainer installed and the second side adapted to receive the outboard end of a wheel hub. The shipping tray cooperates with the shipping retainer to facilitate assembly and disassembly of the shipping retainer.

Abstract: A packaging system for protecting a wheel hub containing inboard and outboard bearings separated by a spacer. The packaging system comprises a shipping retainer having inboard and outboard elements that are reversibly locked together within the axial bore of the wheel hub to seal the ends of the axial bore and maintain the alignment of the bearings and spacer. The packaging system further includes a stackable shipping tray having first and second sides, the first side adapted to receive the inboard end of a wheel hub with the shipping retainer installed and the second side adapted to receive the outboard end of a wheel hub. The shipping tray cooperates with the shipping retainer to facilitate assembly and disassembly of the shipping retainer.

Abstract: A wheel hub having two separable components. The wheel hub includes a sleeve rotatably mounted to a vehicle axle. A wheel-mounting flange for mounting a wheel of the vehicle is positioned substantially around the sleeve, and a bolting lip of a brake rotor (or brake drum) is sandwiched between the wheel-mounting flange and a bolting flange of the sleeve.

Abstract: Exciter rings, wheel assemblies and methods of assembling. In some aspects, a wheel assembly includes a brake rotor including a barrel section having an interior surface defining a barrel cavity, and a projection extending from the interior surface of the barrel section into the barrel cavity. The wheel assembly also includes an exciter ring formed separately from the brake rotor and engagable with the projection within the barrel cavity to removably connect the exciter ring to the brake rotor. In other aspects, an exciter ring is formed separately from and removably connectable to a brake rotor and includes a body portion having an outer surface, the body portion including a detent protruding outwardly from the outer surface and extending around the outer surface of the body portion. The exciter ring also includes a flange extending radially outwardly from the body portion and having a plurality of apertures.

Abstract: Exciter rings, wheel assemblies and methods of assembling. In some aspects, a wheel assembly includes a brake rotor including a barrel section having an interior surface defining a barrel cavity, and a projection extending from the interior surface of the barrel section into the barrel cavity. The wheel assembly also includes an exciter ring formed separately from the brake rotor and engagable with the projection within the barrel cavity to removably connect the exciter ring to the brake rotor. In other aspects, an exciter ring is formed separately from and removably connectable to a brake rotor and includes a body portion having an outer surface, the body portion including a detent protruding outwardly from the outer surface and extending around the outer surface of the body portion. The exciter ring also includes a flange extending radially outwardly from the body portion and having a plurality of apertures.

Abstract: A gray iron alloy having a composition comprising about 4.10% to about 4.25% carbon equivalent, about 3.5% to about 3.65% carbon, about 0.4% to about 0.9% manganese, about 1.5% to about 1.9% silicon, less than about 0.12% phosphorous, less than about 0.17% sulfur, about 0.6% to about 0.8% molybdenum and about 0.3% to about 0.6% copper, and where said carbon is predominantly present as free carbon having a Type A flake graphite microstructure. The alloy is particularly useful in the manufacture of brake drums and other articles requiring a combination of high tensile strength and good thermal conductivity.

Abstract: A wheel hub having pilots to guide the installation of a braking device on the wheel hub, wherein the pilots are provided with guide surfaces that are made of a different material than the wheel hub.

Abstract: A bearing assembly for a wheel assembly. In some constructions and in some aspects, the bearing assembly includes a housing defining a cavity therethrough, a first bearing cone positioned within the cavity and a second bearing cone positioned within the cavity and spaced from the first bearing cone. A first plurality of rollers is positioned between and engageable with the housing and the first bearing cone and a second plurality of rollers is positioned between and engageable with the housing and the second bearing cone. A seal seals the space between the first bearing cone and the second bearing cone. In some constructions and in some aspects, the seal is non-metallic or elastomeric.

Abstract: Exciter rings, wheel assemblies and methods of assembling. In some aspects, a wheel assembly includes a brake rotor including a barrel section having an interior surface defining a barrel cavity, and a projection extending from the interior surface of the barrel section into the barrel cavity. The wheel assembly also includes an exciter ring formed separately from the brake rotor and engagable with the projection within the barrel cavity to removably connect the exciter ring to the brake rotor. In other aspects, an exciter ring is formed separately from and removably connectable to a brake rotor and includes a body portion having an outer surface, the body portion including a detent protruding outwardly from the outer surface and extending around the outer surface of the body portion. The exciter ring also includes a flange extending radially outwardly from the body portion and having a plurality of apertures.

Abstract: A bearing assembly for a wheel assembly. In some constructions and in some aspects, the bearing assembly includes a housing defining a cavity therethrough, a first bearing cone positioned within the cavity and a second bearing cone positioned within the cavity and spaced from the first bearing cone. A first plurality of rollers is positioned between and engageable with the housing and the first bearing cone and a second plurality of rollers is positioned between and engageable with the housing and the second bearing cone. A seal seals the space between the first bearing cone and the second bearing cone. In some constructions and in some aspects, the seal is non-metallic or elastomeric.

Abstract: A wheel hub having two separable components. The wheel hub includes a sleeve rotatably mounted to a vehicle axle. A wheel-mounting flange for mounting a wheel of the vehicle is positioned substantially around the sleeve, and a bolting lip of a brake rotor (or brake drum) is sandwiched between the wheel-mounting flange and a bolting flange of the sleeve.

Abstract: A slack adjuster includes a boot to inhibit contamination of the slack adjuster and prolong the lifetime of a vehicle braking system. The boot includes an expandable bellows, a first seal integrally formed with the bellows and a second seal integrally formed with the bellows. The second seal is positionable in the cavity of the body and includes a boss. The boss is engageable with the lip to inhibit removal of the second seal from the cavity. The second seal of the boot is inserted into the cavity, and a link is inserted through the boot and into the cavity after the seal is inserted into the cavity.

Abstract: A brake drum for mounting on a wheel hub has first and second drum pilots for facilitating proper alignment when installing the brake drum on the hub. The first drum pilot is configured to engage a first hub pilot and the second drum pilot is configured to engage a second hub pilot. When the brake drum is initially moved toward the hub during installation, the first drum pilot engages the first hub pilot and the second drum pilot is sufficiently spaced away from the first hub pilot to prevent the front edge of the second drum pilot from being caught on the corner edge of the second hub pilot and the drum becoming eccentrically mounted.

Abstract: A metal alloy, structures made from the same, and methods of making the same, especially brake drums containing at least about 50% by weight of a ferritic matrix, up to 50% by weight of pearlitic iron, graphite including at least 10% by weight of nodular graphite, compacted graphite and no more than 20% by weight of flake graphite, and less than about 2.10% by weight of silicon.