An outer joint member 31 and a hub wheel 16 are coupled so as to be able to transmit torque by meshing face splines 51 and 52 respectively provided and applying a tightening force in an axial direction between both the face splines 51 and 52. Shapes of tooth surfaces of both the face splines 51 and 52 are determined such that, in a process of bringing both the face splines 51 and 52 close to each other in the axial direction and meshing with each other, tooth surfaces 51a and 51b of both the face splines 51 and 52 first come into contact with each other in, among an outer diameter portion Ea of a meshing region X between both the face splines, an inner diameter portion Ec, and an intermediate portion Eb sandwiched between the outer diameter portion and the inner diameter portion, the intermediate portion Eb.

A hub-bearing unit is provided with: a rotatable hub, with an axially outer flange portion configured for engagement with a rotatable element of a motor vehicle, a bearing unit provided with a fixed radially outer ring, configured for engagement with a fixed element of the motor vehicle, a first, axially outer, crown of rolling bodies, and a second, axially inner, crown of rolling bodies, interposed between the radially outer ring and the hub. The hub also assumes the function of the radially inner ring of the bearing unit and the bell of a constant velocity joint. The hub-bearing unit is designed so that the axial distance between the center of the axially inner crown of rolling bodies and the rolling center of the constant velocity joint lies within a predetermined range according to the following formula:

A kingpin unit bearing steerable drive axle for a powered wheel of a vehicle may include a steering knuckle having a first side and a second side, and a unit bearing configured to support a wheel and operatively connected to the first side of the steering knuckle. An axle housing is operatively connected to the second side of the steering knuckle, and the axle housing has an upper arm and a lower arm. A first kingpin connects the upper arm of the axle housing to the steering knuckle; and a second kingpin connects the lower arm of the axle housing to the steering knuckle. The steering knuckle and the axle housing are configured to receive a powered axle shaft to drive the unit bearing.

A modular chassis is provided for an off-road vehicle to improve assembly, servicing, and repairing of a drivetrain of the off-road vehicle. The modular chassis includes a chassis to support components of the off-road vehicle. A front frame module couples with a front of the chassis, and a rear frame module couples with a rear of the chassis. The front frame module supports lower suspension arms of the off-road vehicle by way of inboard bushing joints. The front frame module supports at least a steering gear and a front differential of the off-road vehicle. The rear frame module is a tube-frame structure that supports components of the off-road vehicle. A lower portion of the rear frame module extends rearward and acutely upward to a top frame member that couples with upper side portions of the chassis. Several cross-members impart structural integrity to the rear frame module.

A rod-end front suspension is provided for an off-road vehicle. The rod-end front suspension comprises a spindle assembly that is pivotally coupled with an upper suspension arm by way of a first rod-end joint and pivotally coupled with a lower suspension arm by way of a second rod-end joint. A steering rod-end joint coupled with the spindle assembly pivotally receives a steering rod. An axle assembly coupled with the spindle assembly conducts torque from a transaxle to a wheel coupled with the spindle assembly. Each of the first and second rod-end joints comprises a ball rotatably retained within a casing. The ball is fastened within a recess between parallel prongs extending from the spindle assembly. A threaded shank extending from the casing is threadably fixated with the suspension arm, such that the spindle assembly may be moved with respect to the casing and the suspension arm.

A universal axle-hub assembly is provided for an off-road vehicle. The universal axle-hub assembly comprises a wheel hub that receives a constant velocity (CV) axle snout into an opening extending through an axle support of the wheel hub. An outboard-most portion of the opening is a splined portion that engages with similar splines disposed on an outboard-most portion of the CV axle snout. An inboard-most portion of the opening is a smooth portion that receives a smooth portion of the CV axle snout. The axle support extends through an entirety of the width of a bearing that supports the wheel hub, such that the bearing supports the smooth portion of the CV axle snout and substantially eliminates shear forces acting on the splined portion of the CV axle snout. A bearing carrier supports the bearing and may be fastened onto a trailing arm or a spindle of the off-road vehicle.

A wheel carrier assembly (10) of a machine for agricultural use, such as a tractor, has a drive axle (2) and steering wheels. The wheel carrier assembly (10) includes a constant-velocity joint (100) for the connection, upstream, of the wheel carrier assembly (10) to the transmission. The assembly includes, downstream, a rotation shaft (101) for the rotation of the wheel assembly. A disc brake device (200) controls the braking of the wheel assembly. A gear reducer (300), connects to the wheel assembly and to the rotation shaft (101). The disc brake device (200) is operationally connected to the rotation shaft (101) so that the braking action is applied directly on the rotation shaft, upstream of the gear reducer (300).

A rod-end front suspension is provided for an off-road vehicle. The rod-end front suspension comprises a spindle assembly that is pivotally coupled with an upper suspension arm by way of a first rod-end joint and pivotally coupled with a lower suspension arm by way of a second rod-end joint. A steering rod-end joint coupled with the spindle assembly pivotally receives a steering rod. An axle assembly coupled with the spindle assembly conducts torque from a transaxle to a wheel coupled with the spindle assembly. Each of the first and second rod-end joints comprises a ball rotatably retained within a casing. The ball is fastened within a recess between parallel prongs extending from the spindle assembly. A threaded shank extending from the casing is threadably fixated with the suspension arm, such that the spindle assembly may be moved with respect to the casing and the suspension arm.

The present disclosure includes a vehicle drive assembly including a wheel bearing and a half shaft. The wheel bearing defines a receptacle including internal splines. A bearing face of the wheel bearing defines an opening to the receptacle. The half shaft includes a joint housing and a stem extending from the joint housing. The stem is configured to be seated within the receptacle of the wheel bearing. The stem includes a splined portion, a shoulder, and a stop surface. The splined portion includes a plurality of external splines configured to mesh with the internal splines. The shoulder is between the splined portion and the joint housing. The shoulder has a maximum outer diameter that is greater than a minor diameter of the internal splines of the wheel bearing. A stop surface is between the splined portion and the shoulder, the stop surface configured to contact ends of the internal splines of the wheel bearing to stop the joint housing from moving into contact with the bearing face.

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.