A constant velocity joint includes a shaft and an inner race coupled to the shaft. The inner race has a shaft groove formed thereon. A boot assembly engages the shaft and covers the inner race. A pair of grooves is axially formed in the boot assembly. The shaft groove provides communication between the pair of grooves.

A plunging type constant velocity universal joint 1 for a propeller shaft includes an outer joint member 2, an inner joint member 3, eight torque transmitting balls 4, and a cage 5. A center of curvature O1 of a spherical outer surface 12 and a center of curvature O2 of a spherical inner surface 13 of the cage 5 each have an equal and axially opposite offset (f) with respect to a center O3 of pockets 5a. A ratio f/PCD.sub.BALL between the offset (f) of the cage 5 and a pitch circle diameter (PCD.sub.BALL) of the torque transmitting balls 4 is 0.07 or more and 0.09 or less.

A boot assembly for a joint includes a boot and a boot can coupled to the boot at a connecting portion. The boot can includes a mounting portion including a flange having an inner surface and a retainer. The retainer is connected to the flange at a first location and is separate from the flange at a second location spaced from the first location. The retainer includes an inward portion spaced from the first location, and the inward portion is arranged closer to the axis than is the inner surface of the retainer between the first location and a midpoint of the retainer. The inner surface of the retainer is not at a constant angle relative to the axis along the length of the retainer.

A constant velocity universal joint includes an outer joint member and an inner joint member between which torque is transferred through intermediation of balls while allowing angular displacement. A power transmission shaft is coupled to the inner joint member to allow torque transmission therebetween. A mounting and dismounting mechanism configured to mount and dismount the power transmission shaft to and from the inner joint member is provided between the inner joint member and the power transmission shaft. The mounting and dismounting mechanism includes a tubular member, a snap ring mounted inside the tubular member, a pushing member arranged on a radially outer side of the snap ring to be movable in a radial direction, and an annular member arranged on an outer peripheral surface of the tubular member to be movable in an axial direction.

Provided is a boot mounting method for a constant velocity universal joint in which a boot end portion is mounted and fixed to a mating member made of metal. After the boot end portion is fitted over a receiving surface being a radially outer surface of the mating member, a high-frequency induction heating coil having a ring shape is fitted over the boot end portion. Only a top portion of the receiving surface of the mating member is heated by high-frequency induction through application of a high-frequency current to the high-frequency induction heating coil. With this action, a mounting surface being a radially inner surface of the boot end portion and the receiving surface being the radially outer surface of the mating member are integrally joined to each other.

A joint assembly for a motor vehicle. The joint includes an inner race, an outer race, a plurality of balls and a cage. The inner race is drivingly connected to a sleeve having an axially inboard portion, an intermediate portion and an axially outboard portion. Circumferentially extending from the intermediate portion of the sleeve is an abutment portion. At least a portion of the abutment portion is in direct contact with an end of the inner race. Axially outboard from the abutment portion is a stepped portion. A shaft is drivingly connected to an inner surface of a hollow interior portion of the axially outboard portion of the sleeve. A first end portion of a boot is connected to an outer surface of the outer race and a second end portion of the boot is connected to an outer surface of the axially outboard portion of the sleeve.

A constant velocity joint and flexible boot assembly. The constant velocity joint includes an outer race having a first end portion and a second end portion. The first end portion of the outer race is connected to a first shaft. A second end portion of a flexible boot includes an attachment portion having a groove circumferentially extending along at least a portion of an outer surface of the attachment portion. The attachment portion of the flexible boot is connected to an outer surface of a second shaft. A retaining member has a first and second boot retention leg extending radially inward from at least a portion of an inner surface of the retaining member. At least a portion of the first leg is disposed within the groove and at least a portion of the second leg is disposed axially outboard from a second end of the flexible boot.

An apparatus for correcting an imbalance in a rotating shaft and a method for correcting the imbalance in a rotating shaft is identified. The joint assembly includes a first joint member that is drivingly connected to at least a portion of second joint member via one or more torque transmission elements. At least a portion of a first shaft is drivingly connected to at least a portion of a first joint member and at least a portion of a second shaft is drivingly connected to at least a portion of a second end portion of the second joint member. A boot can is connected to at least a portion of a first end portion of the second joint member and one or more balancing elements are attached to at least a portion of the boot can.

A constant velocity joint includes a joint body, a boot adapter and a rubber boot, a plurality of fasteners for attaching the boot adapter to the joint body, the fasteners being receivable in a plurality of holes in the boot adapter and a plurality of holes in the joint body, a propeller shaft extending from the boot adapter, and a load distributing washer located between the boot adapter and the plurality of fasteners. The load distributing washer includes an annular disk having a first side and a second side, the annular disk having a clearance shape through which a boot portion of the boot adapter may be inserted, a flange extending perpendicularly from an outer edge of the second side of the annular face, and a plurality of fastener holes for receiving the plurality of fasteners for fixedly attaching the boot adapter to the joint body.

A boot is provided in which the formation of an internal pressure inside the boot during assembly is prevented. The boot has a first fastening region and a first diameter and having a second fastening region with a second diameter, wherein the first diameter is smaller than the second diameter, and wherein the first fastening region comprises a binder seat region on its outer circumference, wherein at an inner circumference of the first fastening region at least one first and at least one second aerating means are arranged axially spaced from each other at the inner circumference which is formed with a flat surface, and protrude beyond said surface of the inner circumference.