| 摘要 |
There is provided a constant velocity (CV) joint and wheel bearing arrangement for transmitting motive power to an axially adjustable drive axle hub mounted in a suspension upright for vehicles, wherein the constant velocity (CV) joint's outer race is fully integrated to the wheel bearing's rolling elements, thus transforming the constant velocity (CV) joint's outer race into the inner race of the inboard wheel bearing, all in conjunction with a method devised for wheel bearing preload adjustment. This arrangement places the inboard and outboard bearings further apart, thus hub bending moments are greatly reduced when the wheel is subjected to lateral loading. Since the constant velocity joint has full bearing support, as opposed to being cantilevered, hub bending loads are reduced or eliminated with the application of driving torque in the presence of joint angularity. This integration of the wheel bearing to the constant velocity joint's outer race permits the CV joint to be close to the wheel center plane, making negative scrub radius with low kingpin inclination easily achievable, which in turn leads to reduced camber loss as steering lock is added, and to minimize steering force variations resulting from drive torque application with steer angle, as well as to reduced brake torque reaction on road surfaces having uneven friction coefficients.
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