A method for assembling an axle assembly for a vehicle including that a pinion gear is inserted into a differential housing. The pinion gear having a first end and a second end opposite the first end. The pinion gear further includes a gear head at the first end, external threads proximate the second end, and external splines located a first distance away from the second end. The method further includes that a flange is slid over the second end of the pinion gear. The flange including internal splines. The method also includes that the internal splines of the flange are engaged with the external splines of the pinion gear and the flange is anchored to prevent the flange and the pinion gear from rotating. The method may further include that ultrasonic sound waves are transmitted through the pinion gear and reflections of the ultrasonic sound waves are detected.

A secure locking hub system for locking a wheel hub of a vehicle to an axle is provided. The system has a locking ring that may be moved between locked and unlocked configurations. When locked, the hub is in a rotationally fixed position relative to the axle on which the hub is mounted. With the hub locked to the axle, the wheel will not rotate and the vehicle thus cannot be moved. The system additionally has a security lock that prevents any unauthorized individual from unlocking the wheel hub, thereby preventing theft of the vehicle. The system has an actuator dial that covers the heads of bolts used to fasten the system together when the dial is rotated to move the locking ring into the locked configuration, which prevents unauthorized disassembly of the system.

A wheel bearing unit for a motor vehicle, having a wheel hub, a wheel bearing flange, and a wheel bearing for pivot mounting of the wheel hub on the wheel bearing flange. The wheel hub has a passage opening for mounting a shaft journal attached to the wheel hub by a screw connection element, and an inner toothing is formed, on an inner circumferential surface delimiting the passage opening, for rotationally fixed interaction with an outer toothing of the shaft journal, and the passage opening extends through a contact shoulder, which is formed so as to have contact with a contact surface of the screw connection element, with the formation of an orifice.

An apparatus and methods are provided for a portal spindle assembly for a vehicle front suspension. The portal spindle assembly comprises a spindle portion that is rotatably coupled with upper and lower connecting arms. A leading-edge portion is rotatably coupled with a steering rod-end joint, such that moving the steering rod-end joint rotates the spindle assembly with respect to the upper and lower connecting arms. An inboard case and an outboard case support a pinion gear assembly that is meshed with an output gear assembly for communicating torque from a constant velocity joint to a front wheel coupled to the output gear assembly. The pinion gear assembly is aligned along a pinion axis disposed at an angle with respect to a hub axis of the output gear assembly. The angle facilitates a suspension geometry that provides a camber change of the front wheel that eliminates a change in track width.

A wheel speed sensing system for a work vehicle having an engine, a transmission, a differential, and an axle, defining a central longitudinal axis and coupled to the differential. The wheel speed sensing system includes a sensor target disposed at the axle and a sensor configured to transmit a sensor signal, wherein the sensor is located adjacently to the sensor target. The sensor target includes a plurality of step splines each having a top surface and first and second planar sidewalls. The sidewalls of the step splines are aligned along a radius extending from the central longitudinal axis, such that the sides are undercut with respect to the top surface. An intersection of each of the sidewalls with the top surface defines an edge forming a relatively sharp transition configured to be sensed by the sensor. A chamfer at the intersection of the sidewalls and the top surface is also contemplated.

A method for assembling an axle assembly for a vehicle including that a pinion gear is inserted into a differential housing. The pinion gear having a first end and a second end opposite the first end. The pinion gear further includes a gear head at the first end, external threads proximate the second end, and external splines located a first distance away from the second end. The method further includes that a flange is slid over the second end of the pinion gear. The flange including internal splines. The method also includes that the internal splines of the flange are engaged with the external splines of the pinion gear and the flange is anchored to prevent the flange and the pinion gear from rotating. The method may further include that ultrasonic sound waves are transmitted through the pinion gear and reflections of the ultrasonic sound waves are detected.

A wheel assembly comprising a wheel disk and a tread member disposed around the wheel disk. The wheel disk can have a substantially conical shape when in an unloaded state, but be flexible such that it can deform under load to optimize and/or maximize contact area between the tread member and a driving surface.

A hub bearing unit includes an inner ring having inboard and outboard axial ends and a bearing inner race on an outer surface. An outer ring disposed about the inner ring has inboard and outboard axial ends and a bearing outer race on an inner surface. One ring is coupled with a wheel and rotatable about an axis and the other ring is fixedly coupled with a frame. An annular displacement limiter extends radially from one ring and has a circumferential stop surface spaced radially from a surface of the other ring. The stop surface engages with the ring surface when the ring displaces radially relative to the other ring. A seal includes an annular sealing member coupled with one ring and is sealingly engageable with the limiter or is mounted on the limiter and sealingly engageable with one ring or a rigid seal member coupled with one ring.

A hub bearing unit includes an inner ring having inboard and outboard axial ends and a bearing inner race on an outer surface. An outer ring disposed about the inner ring has inboard and outboard axial ends and a bearing outer race on an inner surface. One ring is coupled with a wheel and rotatable about an axis and the other ring is fixedly coupled with a frame. A plurality of rolling elements is rollable upon the inner and outer races. A displacement limiter extends radially from one ring and has a frustoconical stop surface spaced radially from a surface of the other ring. The limiter stop surface engages with the ring surface when the ring displaces radially and/or axially relative to the other ring to prevent brinelling impacts on the bearing races. Preferably, the displacement limiter is located axially between the rolling elements and the ring inboard ends.

A vehicle wheel includes a rim having an inner peripheral surface, and a center disc. The center disc includes a disc portion, and an arm plate portion extending radially outward from the disc portion. The arm plate portion includes an outer boundary defined by a plurality of arc outer peripheral surfaces and a plurality of concave boundary surfaces. The plurality of arc outer peripheral surfaces have a radius equal to a radius of the inner peripheral surface of the rim. The plurality of arc outer peripheral surfaces are joined to the inner peripheral surface of the rim at a weld attachment interface to produce a plurality of holes defined by the plurality of concave boundary surfaces and the inner peripheral surface of the rim.