The invention is developed on the basis of an external part for homokinetic joints and rolling bearings, wherein the external part (1) has an annular sealing surface (12) on at least one of its end faces, Axially extending drillholes (15) are created on the end face in the external part (1) to accommodate fastening means, wherein the sealing surface (12) extends radially between the drillholes (15) and the inner diameter of the external part (1) in the region of the drillholes (15).

According to the invention, a contour (16) which protrudes from the sealing surface (12) is arranged on the one or more end face sealing surfaces (12) of the external part (1), against which contour a gasket (13) is pressed in the assembled state. This protruding contour (16), with a longitudinal section in the form of a lug, offers a small pressing surface for the gasket (13) even in the pre-assembled state so that its position is secured without use of an adhesive even with small pressing forces such as are normally applied when the component to which the external part (1) belongs is pre-assembled, as well as during transport of the component and subsequent work steps.

A constant velocity joint for a vehicle may include: a hub housing combined with the constant velocity joint in the hub housing; a bearing assembly including an inner race fitted on an outer surface of the hub housing, an outer race spaced a predetermined distance apart from the inner race and fitted on a knuckle, and a power transmission member disposed between the inner race and the outer race; and a boot having a band seat that is positioned on the inner race of the bearing assembly, the boot having a fixing band fixed on a top of the boot and the boot being coupled to the inner race by the fixing band, where the boot includes a boot lip that is formed at one end or both ends of the band seat and protrudes toward the knuckle.

A double-offset plunging type constant velocity universal joint includes inner and outer joint members each having six linear track grooves extending along an axial direction. The inner joint member has a coupling hole at a center portion thereof for coupling a shaft. Six torque transmission balls retained by a cage are incorporated between the linear track grooves of the inner and outer joint members. A ratio T.sub.CAGE/D.sub.BALL of a minimum thickness (T.sub.CAGE) of the cage to a diameter of the torque transmission ball (D.sub.BALL) is from 0.225 to 0.245, wherein a ratio D.sub.BALL/D.sub.S of a diameter (D.sub.BALL) of the torque transmission ball to a spline large diameter (D.sub.S) of the coupling hole of the inner joint member is from 0.79 to 0.85, and wherein a ball contact ratio (ψ) of the torque transmission ball is from 1.08 to 1.12.

A fixed type constant velocity universal joint (3) includes an outer joint member (31), an inner joint member (32), eight balls (33), and a cage (34). A diameter (D.sub.31c) of the outer joint member (31) at an opening end of an inner peripheral surface (31c) is set larger than an outer diameter (D.sub.34b) of the cage (34) at a center portion in a circumferential direction of pockets (34a) when the cage (34) is seen from an axial direction of the joint. A bottom surface (31f) of a mouth section (31a) of the outer joint member (31) is arranged so as to interfere with an imaginary spherical surface (Q) being an extension of the inner peripheral surface (31c) of the outer joint member (31) toward a deep-side.

A plunging type constant velocity universal joint includes an outer joint member, an inner joint member, eight balls, and a cage. A curvature center of a spherical portion of an outer peripheral surface of the cage and a curvature center of a spherical portion of an inner peripheral surface of the cage are offset to opposite sides in the axial direction with respect to a joint center by an equal distance. A ratio PCD.sub.BALL/D.sub.BALL of a pitch circle diameter PCD.sub.BALL of the balls to a diameter D.sub.BALL of each of the balls is set from 3.3 to 3.6. A ratio T.sub.I/D.sub.BALL of a radial thickness T.sub.I of the inner joint member to the diameter D.sub.BALL of each of the balls is set from 0.30 to 0.45.

A fixed type constant velocity universal joint (3) includes an outer joint member (31), an inner joint member (32), eight balls (33), and a cage (34). A curvature center (O.sub.31d) of track grooves (31d) of the outer joint member (31) and a curvature center (O.sub.32e) of track grooves (32e) of the inner joint member (32) are offset to opposite sides in an axial direction of the joint with respect to a joint center (O(f)) by an equal distance. A ratio (PCD.sub.BALL/D.sub.BALL) of a pitch circle diameter (PCD.sub.BALL) of the balls (33) to a diameter (D.sub.BALL) of each of the balls (33) is set from 3.70 to 3.87. A ratio (T.sub.C/D.sub.BALL) of a radial thickness (T.sub.C) of the cage (34) to the diameter (D.sub.BALL) of each of the balls (33) is set from 0.22 to 0.25.

A dual plunging constant velocity (CV) drive shaft is provided for communicating rotational forces from a transaxle to a drive wheel of a vehicle. The dual plunging CV drive shaft comprises a drive shaft that transfers torque from the transaxle to the drive wheel. An inboard plunging CV joint is coupled between the transaxle and the drive shaft, and an outboard plunging CV joint is coupled between the drive shaft and the drive wheel. The inboard and outboard plunging CV joints each comprises an elongate housing that receives a CV joint coupled with the drive shaft. The inboard and outboard plunging CV joints communicate rotational forces from the transaxle to the drive wheel during vertical pivoting of a trailing arm coupled with the outboard plunging CV joint. The elongate housings allow the drive shaft to “float” longitudinally, as needed, during extreme pivoting motion of the suspension.

A rear-wheel drive shaft (1) includes a fixed type constant velocity universal joint (3), a plunging type constant velocity universal joint (2), and an intermediate shaft (4) coupling both the constant velocity universal joints to each other. A ratio (PCD.sub.BALL(f)/D.sub.BALL(f)) of a pitch circle diameter (PCD.sub.BALL(f)) of balls (33) of the fixed type constant velocity universal joint (3) to a diameter (D.sub.BALL(f)) of each of the balls (33) is set from 3.70 to 3.87. A ratio (PCD.sub.BALL(s)/D.sub.BALL(s)) of a pitch circle diameter (PCD.sub.BALL(s)) of balls (23) of the plunging type constant velocity universal joint (2) to a diameter (D.sub.BALL(s)) of each of the balls (23) is set from 3.3 to 3.6.

A joint assembly (200) comprising a first joint member (232) that is drivingly connected to a second joint member (272) by one or more torque transfer elements (290). Drivingly connected to at least a portion of the second joint member (312) is a stub shaft (292). An end of the stub shaft, opposite the second joint member, is drivingly connected to at least a portion of a second shaft. At least a portion of a second end portion of a first shaft (202) is drivingly connected to at least a portion of a first end portion of the first joint member (232) and at least a portion of a first end portion of the first shaft has a gear member (210) with a plurality of gear teeth thereon.

A constant velocity joint for a multi-piece propeller shaft includes an outer race extending from a first outer race end to a second outer race end to define an exterior surface. A tuned damper extends radially outwardly from the exterior surface of the of the outer race for reducing noise, vibration, and/or harshness (NVH) generated during operation of the multi-piece propeller shaft.