A method for producing a rack for a steering gear may involve providing a toothed segment and a shaft segment aligned on a longitudinal axis and connecting the segments by axial joining faces by friction welding at a welding joint. For friction welding, the joining faces may be brought into frictional contact by an initial friction force, the segments may be rotated relative to one another, the joining faces may be mutually compressed by way of a contact pressure force until a predefined joining path has been reached by way of a welding force 10 to 20 times the initial friction force, thermal input friction may be performed by an input force 5 to 12 times the initial friction force, and the segments may be moved toward one another in an axial direction by the predefined joining path. The segments may be held in position without friction.

A rack for a steering gear may include a toothed portion that has a toothing extending along a longitudinal axis, and a generally cylinder-segment-shaped back opposite the toothing and having a back radius. A method for producing such a rack may involve forming a cylindrical blank with an unmachined radius between a toothed die part having a toothed mold clearance and a back die part having a back mold clearance in a die cavity. The die may have a generally cylinder-segment-shape. In an open position of the die, the blank may be inserted between the toothed mold clearance and the back mold clearance. The toothed die part and the back die part in a forging stroke for closing the cavity may then be moved in a closing direction to a closed position. The back radius of the back mold clearance may be larger than the unmachined radius of the blank.

A front frame assembly for mounting a front suspension and wheel assembly of a vehicle can include lower frame members, first frame members, second frame members, a cross frame member and a plate. The pair of first and second frame members can be connected to and can extend upwardly from a respective one of the lower frame members. The pair of second frame members can be connected to the respective one of the lower frame members and a respective one of the first frame members. The cross frame member can be connected to and extend from each of the first frame members. The plate can be connected to and can extend from the each of the first frame and second members and the cross frame member. The plate can include a ridge configured to cause the plate to buckle in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle under predetermined conditions.

A steering rack includes a rack shaft (10), a plurality of rack teeth (11a) formed on the rack shaft and each having a tooth trace inclined with respect to a first direction perpendicular to an axial direction of the rack shaft, and a dummy tooth (33a) aligned with the rack teeth and formed on the rack shaft. The dummy tooth (33a) is non-uniformly formed in a second direction parallel to the tooth trace of the rack tooth (11a).

A vehicle rack-and-pinion mechanism (1), which is applicable to a steering device (S), includes: a pinion (11) that is formed with a gear tooth (12) and is supported so as to be rotatable about its axis; and a rack shaft (21) that is formed with a rack tooth (22) to engage with the gear tooth (12), wherein the rack tooth (22) is formed, on its surface, with a coating film (31) of coatings having different degrees of hardness laminated.

A steering device includes a rack housing portion housing a rack shaft, a pinion gear provided on one end side of the rack housing portion, a first supporting portion provided on the rack housing portion to support the one end side of the rack housing portion, and a second supporting portion provided on the rack housing portion to support the other end side of the rack housing portion. The second supporting portion includes a first vehicle body mounting portion and a second vehicle body mounting portion provided to project outwardly of the rack housing portion, the first and second vehicle body mounting portions being mounted on a vehicle body. The first and second vehicle body mounting portions are arranged to be shifted in an axial direction of the rack housing portion so as not to overlap in the axial direction.

A steering device includes a rack shaft, a pair of tie rods, a rack housing portion, a pinion gear at one end of the rack housing portion, a first supporting portion to support the one end of the rack housing portion, and a second supporting portion to support the other end of the rack housing portion. The second supporting portion is movable in an axial direction of the rack housing portion from a proper position where the second supporting portion fixes the rack housing portion by being mounted on the vehicle body to an escaping position on the side of the pinion gear. The escaping position is a position where a distance from a tip of the tie rod on the other end of the rack housing portion to the second supporting portion is equal to or longer than twice the length of the tie rod.

A steering assembly having an inner steering member; an outer member, where the inner steering member is adapted to translate relative to outer member; and a bearing component disposed around a portion of the inner steering member, where the bearing component includes a bearing having a unitary substrate and a polymer layer overlying the substrate, where the bearing has a generally arcuate shape and is adapted to support the inner steering member disposed in the outer member, where the bearing has a support region for supporting an inner steering member, and a plurality of feet comprising a first foot and second foot spaced apart from each other such that the support region extends there between, and where the first and second feet extend in radial direction beyond the support region such that upon assembly between inner steering member and outer member, wherein the bearing exerts a force against the inner steering member.

A drive apparatus includes an internal sump and a center section having a pump running surface for mounting a pump cylinder block and at least one motor running surface for mounting at least one motor cylinder block. A brake mechanism includes set of brake rod guides are formed in and extend from the center section adjacent the pump running surface and the one or more motor running surfaces for supporting one or more brake rods. The brake rods may engage the motor cylinder blocks at oblique angle thereto, to provide a braking force. The brake mechanism may include a brake shaft, and a brake arm attached thereto and operatively engaged to the brake rods.

A steering rack having a toothed member and a base body each extending along longitudinal axis comprising: a toothed region disposed on the toothed member extending along the longitudinal axis; a first contact area disposed on the tooth member extending along the longitudinal axis; a first toothed member end area disposed at a first longitudinal end of the toothed member and a second toothed member end area disposed at a second longitudinal end of the toothed member; a receptacle disposed on the base body, the receptacle configured to accept the toothed member; a second contact area disposed on the base body extending along the longitudinal axis, the first and second contact areas being attached to each other; and a first receptacle end area disposed on the base member at a first longitudinal end of the receptacle and a second receptacle end area at a second longitudinal end of the receptacle, wherein the first receptacle end area and the first toothed member end area are attached to each other, and wherein the second receptacle end area and the second toothed member end area are attached to each other.