Axle hubs attach wheels to the end of an axle or trailer and provide mounting locations for braking components. They are commonly attached using a splined connection and bearings, and an axle nut is used to tighten them. Semi-floating and fully floating axle hubs are used, and maintaining proper service and greasing intervals is critical.
Axle hubs are devices used to attach wheels to the end of an axle or trailer. The axle shafts also provide mounting locations for braking components. Commonly attached to an axle using a splined connection, some axle hubs may be connected to an axle via universal joints (U-joints) or constant velocity joints (CV joints), especially in steering axle or axle design. independent suspension. In trailer manufacturing, a full floating style hub is commonly used due to the superior strength of this style of hub. This style of bushing is also used in performance vehicles and heavy trucks.
Most axle hubs are attached to the axle through the use of bearings and an axle nut. Bearings, typically roller bearings, are mounted on a bearing race that is mounted inside the hub, while the shaft is placed through the bearing and hub. The axle nut, a large castle nut, is tightened to the recommended torque and locked in place with a cotter key pushed through the slots in the nut and axle and then bent to prevent the nut from dislodging the threads. From the axis. A bearing or axle cap is then snapped into place, covering the axle nut to keep the axle grease inside the hub assembly where it lubricates the bearing assembly.
These types of axle hubs are known as semi-floating and use the axle to support a portion of the load carried in the assembly. Another style of axle bushings, fully floating bushings, do not rely on the axle to carry any of the load. This type of hub is supported by two axle bearings and a stub axle mounted to the vehicle or trailer frame. This is the same hub assembly used on trucks and heavy equipment. In a trailer application, these axle hubs do not require an axle, whereas in a drive axle assembly, the axle is attached to the hub via a drive plate or flange.
On some front wheel drive vehicles, the axle hubs are part of a hub assembly that includes a wheel bearing and splined drive flange. In this style of driveline, the axle hubs are replaced as a unit when any individual component in the assembly has failed and requires replacement. Maintaining proper service and greasing intervals is critical to the survival of any axle hub assembly. It is also critical that only high temperature axle bearing grease is used to lubricate an axle hub.
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