AXLE ASSEMBLY WITH OUTBOARD AXLE BEARINGS

摘要

An axle assembly having an axle housing, a wheel end cover and an axle shaft. The axle housing has a tubular member with an end flange coupled thereto. A pair of axle bearings are mounted to the axle shaft and the end flange and support the axle shaft for rotation relative to the axle housing. The wheel end cover is mounted to the end flange and carries a seal that is engaged to the axle shaft. A method for assembling an axle assembly is also provided.

主权项

1. An axle assembly comprising:
an axle housing having a tubular member and an end flange that is fixedly coupled to the tubular member, the end flange defining a central body and a first flange that extends radially outwardly from the central body, the central body defining a through bore, a first flange mount and an outer seal surface, the through bore having first and second bearing bore portions, the first flange mount having a first annular shoulder; an axle shaft that defines an inner seal surface, a first bearing mount and a second bearing mount; a dust shield mount abutted to the first annular shoulder on the first flange mount; a wheel end cover having an annular body and a second flange that extends radially outwardly from the annular body, the second flange abutting the dust shield on a side of the dust shield opposite the first shoulder, the annular body being engaged to the outer seal surface of the central body; a seal that is mounted to the annular body of the wheel end cover and sealingly engages the inner seal surface of the axle shaft; and first and second axle bearings, the first axle bearing being located on the first bearing mount and the first bearing bore portion, the second axle bearing being located on the second bearing mount and the second bearing bore portion, the first and second axle bearings supporting the axle shaft for rotation relative to the axle housing.