Wheels and axles
From
Technique: Wheels and axles
| Reusability | Reversible |
|---|---|
| Designers: | Phil Jergenson, Timothy Schmidt |
| Tools: | Wrenches |
| Parts: | Frames, Nuts, Bolts, End caps, Axial bearings, Keyed shafts, Keys, Shaft collars, Wheel hubs, Wheels |
| Techniques: | Tri joints |
Introduction
A beam axle, rigid axle or solid axle is a dependent suspension design, in which a set of wheels is connected laterally by a single beam or shaft. Beam axles were once commonly used at the rear wheels of a vehicle, but historically they have also been used as front axles in four-wheel-drive vehicles. In most automobiles, beam axles have been replaced with front and rear independent suspensions.
Challenges
Approaches
Light duty: Modular go kart drive
Medium duty: Integrated transaxle
Variations
Heavy duty: 9 inch Ford bolt-on rear axle
- housing
- third member
- pinion yoke
- gearset
- axles
- bearings
