A suspension for a two-wheeled vehicle includes first and second fork legs. Each fork leg includes a dropout. Each dropout has an opening therethrough. At least a portion of one of the openings is threaded. Each of the dropouts includes a split-damp pinch bearing defining the opening and operable between an open position and a locked position, and a hand operable actuator pivoted to the bearing for operation thereof. The suspension further includes a one-piece axle. The axle is disposed through the openings. The axle has a threaded first end engaged with the threaded portion. The axle has an ergonomic grip formed at a second end. The bearing tightly engages an outer surface of the axle in the locked position, thereby rotationally coupling the axle to the dropout.

A work vehicle includes an axle frame extending in a left-right direction, a cylinder coupled to the axle frame, and a first supply conduit connected to the cylinder and configured to supply hydraulic fluid to the cylinder. The first supply conduit is fixed to the axle frame.

The twist axle assembly includes a cross beam that extends along a length between opposite ends, and a pair of trailing arms are fixedly attached with the opposite ends. A spindle plate is fixedly attached with each of the trailing arms. For each spindle plate and trailing arm combination, the spindle plate and trailing arm are provided with cooperating orbital adjustment features which allow an orientation of the spindle plate relative to the trailing arm to be adjusted prior to the spindle plate being fixedly attached with the trailing arm for allowing preselection of a camber angle, a caster angle, and a toe angle for a wheel to be coupled with the spindle plate.

An axle for a vehicle, wherein the axle includes a transverse axle portion having a longitudinal end. The axle including a first axle portion connecting the transverse portion to a chassis of the vehicle and a second axle portion connecting the transverse portion to a wheel carrier for supporting a vehicle wheel. A vibration damper is arranged in a receiver in one of the axle portions.

A mounting system for a portal lift assembly of an off-road vehicle includes a housing having a rear wall, a front wall, and a side wall. The rear wall includes an opening to receive the end of one of the vehicle's axles, and the front wall includes an opening to allow an output shaft to extend outward from the housing. The rear wall also includes one or more integral mounting brackets effective to mount the box to the suspension of the vehicle. Such integral mounting brackets may include an upper A-arm connection bracket to connect the upper A-arm directly to the rear wall, and/or a lower A-arm connection bracket to connect the lower A-arm directly to the rear wall. When the wheel is a steerable wheel, the rear wall also may include an integral mounting bracket effective to allow a steering linkage to connect directly to the rear wall.

A half-shaft assembly includes a first constant velocity (CV) joint, a second CV joint and an axial movement joint connected between the first CV joint and the second CV joint. The axial movement joint includes a first shaft coupled to the first CV joint and a second shaft coupled to the second CV joint, wherein mechanical input received on the first shaft is communicated to the second shaft, and wherein the second shaft slides axially within the first shaft. The axial movement joint further includes an axial boot cover coupled on a first end to the first shaft and on a second end to the second shaft that accommodates axial movement of the first shaft relative to the second shaft. The first constant velocity (CV) joint is coupled to provide torsional input received at an input to the first shaft, the first CV joint having a first CV boot cover. The second CV joint coupled to provide torsional output received from the second shaft to an output, the second CV joint having a second CV boot cover.

A half-shaft assembly includes a first constant velocity (CV) joint, a second CV joint and an axial movement joint connected between the first CV joint and the second CV joint. The axial movement joint includes a first shaft coupled to the first CV joint and a second shaft coupled to the second CV joint, wherein mechanical input received on the first shaft is communicated to the second shaft, and wherein the second shaft slides axially within the first shaft. The axial movement joint further includes an axial boot cover coupled on a first end to the first shaft and on a second end to the second shaft that accommodates axial movement of the first shaft relative to the second shaft. The first constant velocity (CV) joint is coupled to provide torsional input received at an input to the first shaft, the first CV joint having a first CV boot cover. The second CV joint coupled to provide torsional output received from the second shaft to an output, the second CV joint having a second CV boot cover.

A front axle assembly with an axle housing that has first and second housing halves that each include a main housing portion, a tubular portion and a steering yoke. The main housing portion defines a cavity that houses at least a portion of a speed differentiation mechanism. The tubular portions are fixedly coupled to an associated one of the main housing portions and extend between the main housing portion and an associated one of the steering yokes. Each steering yoke is fixedly coupled to an associated tubular portion. An annular joint structure is formed where the first and second first housing halves are coupled to one another. The annular joint structure is formed about the rotary axis such that one of the first and second housing halves is inserted into the other one of the first and second housing halves along an insertion axis that is coincident with the rotary axis.

Methods and systems for estimating an axle load of a vehicle are described. In one example, a method is disclosed wherein axle load is estimated in response to an angle between two components of an axle. The angle may change as weight is added to or removed from the axle such that axle load may be determined as a function of the angle.

A suspension for a wheeled vehicle include an axle with a mid-section and an end comprising an upper portion and a lower portion defining a space therebetween, a leaf spring having forward and rear ends attached to vehicle structure and a mid-section retained in the space and secured between the upper and lower portions, and a closure element attached to the axle end and at least partially closing an outboard end of the space. The upper and lower axle portions may be formed integrally with the axle mid-section or may be a separately-formed component secured to the axle. The space tapers from a greater vertical dimension at the outboard end thereof to a smaller vertical dimension at an inboard end thereof, and the leaf spring mid-section is wedged into the space. An intermediate element is disposed between the mid-section and at least one of the upper and lower axle portions.