Steer Axles for Forklifts - The definition of an axle is a central shaft meant for turning a wheel or a gear. Where wheeled motor vehicles are concerned, the axle itself could be connected to the wheels and rotate with them. In this instance, bushings or bearings are provided at the mounting points where the axle is supported. On the other hand, the axle can be connected to its surroundings and the wheels could in turn turn all-around the axle. In this particular instance, a bushing or bearing is located in the hole in the wheel to allow the gear or wheel to revolve around the axle.
If referring to cars and trucks, some references to the word axle co-occur in casual usage. Generally, the word refers to the shaft itself, a transverse pair of wheels or its housing. The shaft itself turns together with the wheel. It is normally bolted in fixed relation to it and known as an 'axle' or an 'axle shaft'. It is likewise true that the housing surrounding it that is usually known as a casting is likewise referred to as an 'axle' or at times an 'axle housing.' An even broader sense of the word refers to every transverse pair of wheels, whether they are attached to one another or they are not. Therefore, even transverse pairs of wheels within an independent suspension are frequently called 'an axle.'
The axles are an integral part in a wheeled vehicle. The axle works in order to transmit driving torque to the wheel in a live-axle suspension system. The position of the wheels is maintained by the axles relative to one another and to the vehicle body. In this system the axles must even be able to bear the weight of the motor vehicle together with any cargo. In a non-driving axle, like for instance the front beam axle in some two-wheel drive light trucks and vans and in heavy-duty trucks, there will be no shaft. The axle in this condition serves only as a steering component and as suspension. Many front wheel drive cars consist of a solid rear beam axle.
The axle serves just to transmit driving torque to the wheels in various kinds of suspension systems. The position and angle of the wheel hubs is part of the functioning of the suspension system found in the independent suspensions of newer sports utility vehicles and on the front of many new light trucks and cars. These systems still consist of a differential but it does not have connected axle housing tubes. It can be fixed to the motor vehicle frame or body or also could be integral in a transaxle. The axle shafts then transmit driving torque to the wheels. The shafts in an independent suspension system are like a full floating axle system as in they do not support the vehicle weight.
Last but not least, in reference to a vehicle, 'axle,' has a more vague definition. It means parallel wheels on opposing sides of the vehicle, regardless of their mechanical connection kind to one another and the motor vehicle body or frame.
Click to Download the pdf