An axle subassembly of a trailer of a vehicle includes a wheel bearing having an outer ring mechanically connected to a shaft and an electric drive/generator operably connected to the shaft, wherein the electric drive/generator in a first state is configured to generate electricity from a rotation of the shaft and wherein the electric drive/generator in a second state is configured to drive the shaft, and a controller configured to shift the electric drive/generator unit into the first state and into the second state.

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.

An axle assembly for drive wheels of vehicles includes a steering knuckle, an axle housing coupled to an inside of the steering knuckle, a wheel disc that is fixed to the axle housing to be rotatable integrally with the axle housing, and a drive shaft that is coupled to the axle housing to be rotatable integrally with the axle housing. A hub bearing is disposed between the steering knuckle and the axle housing. A forming part is formed at an end of the axle housing in a state in which a bearing inner race of the hub bearing is coupled to an outer circumferential surface of the axle housing, and the bearing inner race is engaged with a side part of the axle housing by the forming part in a state in which the forming part is pressed against a side end of the bearing inner race.

A hub built-in type drive axle includes one hub housing assuming a role of an external race of a constant velocity joint and a role of a wheel hub simultaneously, wherein the outboard constant velocity joint center is positioned within the full length of the hub housing, and a structure in which a bear housing and a boot assembly ring, including a boot, do not rotate whether the driveshaft 1 rotates is maintained so that performance may be improved, durability may be enhanced, and noise may be minimized.

An apparatus and methods are provided for a rear portal trailing arm assembly for a vehicle rear suspension. The trailing arm assembly comprises a CV joint hub for coupling with a transaxle and a wheel hub for coupling with a rear wheel. A gear transfer case extends rearward from the CV joint hub to an axle case and functions similarly to a rear trailing arm. Forward mounts facilitate coupling the gear transfer case to the chassis such that the trailing arm assembly pivots vertically with respect to the chassis. A rearward mount facilitates coupling a strut with the gear transfer case to control the vertical motion of the rear wheel. Multiple gear assemblies are meshed within the gear transfer case. An axle is coupled with the meshed gear assemblies and housed within the axle case, such that torque applied to the CV joint hub is communicated to the wheel hub.

A leading-edge steering system is provided for a front suspension of an off-road vehicle. The leading-edge steering system is comprised of a spindle assembly that supports a drive axle assembly to conduct torque from a transaxle to a front wheel. A first rod-end joint pivotally couples an upper suspension arm and the spindle assembly, and a second rod-end joint pivotally couples a lower suspension arm and the spindle assembly. A steering rod-end joint pivotally couples a first end of a steering rod with a leading-edge portion of the spindle assembly. A steering gear is coupled with a second end of the steering rod and configured to move the steering rod, such that the spindle assembly rotates with respect to the upper and lower suspension arms. The leading-edge portion is configured to exert primarily tensile forces on the steering rod during travel over rough terrain.

A leading-edge steering system is provided for a front suspension of an off-road vehicle. The leading-edge steering system is comprised of a spindle assembly that supports a drive axle assembly to conduct torque from a transaxle to a front wheel. A first rod-end joint pivotally couples an upper suspension arm and the spindle assembly, and a second rod-end joint pivotally couples a lower suspension arm and the spindle assembly. A steering rod-end joint pivotally couples a first end of a steering rod with a leading-edge portion of the spindle assembly. A steering gear is coupled with a second end of the steering rod and configured to move the steering rod, such that the spindle assembly rotates with respect to the upper and lower suspension arms. The leading-edge portion is configured to exert primarily tensile forces on the steering rod during travel over rough terrain.

An outer ring of an inner joint of the constant speed transmission shaft is provided with a vehicle speed sensor rotating synchronously with the inner joint, and the drive axle is fixedly equipped with a signal collecting device opposite to the vehicle speed sensor and configured to monitor a rotation speed signal of the vehicle speed sensor. The inner joint of the constant speed transmission shaft transmits torque during the running of a vehicle, and through monitoring a rotation speed of the inner joint, the rotation data of rear wheels can be obtained. By mounting the vehicle speed sensor on the inner joint and fixing the signal collecting device on the drive axle for monitoring the rotation speed signal of the vehicle speed sensor, the signal reading is stable, which facilitates the maintenance, reduces the cost, and can satisfy the environmental requirements.

An apparatus for transferring driving force at a wheel for a vehicle may include a housing of a constant velocity joint having a center of a first end portion formed to be penetrated and inserted into a hub bearing, and a step formed on an inner peripheral surface of a middle portion of the housing, a hub flange supporting an expansion part by the step by having one end portion coupled to a wheel side and another end portion inserted into the housing to thereby form the expansion part expanded in a radial direction, and a forming member installed in the housing to face the expansion part and having an outer peripheral surface supported by an inner peripheral surface of the housing.

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:

[00001]$\{\begin{array}{cc}\mathrm{with}.Math..Math.L\ge 0,& 0.4\le \frac{P_B}{S+A+L}\le 4\\ \mathrm{with}.Math..Math.L<0,& 0.5\le \frac{P_B}{S+A}\le 4.Math.\end{array}\hspace{1em}$