Forklift Parts Rear Axle Mainly contain the following systems:
1. Housing and Structural Group
- Axle Housing: The main, rigid cast-iron or fabricated steel structure that supports the weight of the load and the truck.
- Axle Tubes: press-fitted at both ends of the housing to provide a mounting surface for the wheel hubs.
2. Final Drive and Power Transmission Group
This group reduces engine speed and increases torque.
- Pinion Gear: It is the power input to the axle.
- Ring Gear: It turns the power flow by 90 degrees and provides the primary speed reduction.
Differential Assembly:
- Differential Case: The housing that holds the differential gears
- Planetary Gears: The small gears mounted on a cross pin inside the differential case.
- Side Gears: The two gears that mesh with the planetary gears and are splined to the inner ends of the axle shafts.
- Axle Shafts: Two solid steel shafts that transmit torque from the differential side gears to the wheel hubs.
3. Wheel End and Bearing Group
- Wheel Hubs: The assemblies that the wheels mount to. They rotate on bearings mounted on the axle tubes.
- Bearings: Tapered roller bearings are most common, supporting the hub and allowing smooth rotation.
- Oil Seals: Critical seals located at the end of the axle tubes and on the hubs to prevent gear oil from leaking out.
4. Braking Group
The service brake is almost always located on the drive axle.
Brake Drum or Brake Disc (Rotor): The rotating friction surface.
Brake Assembly:
A: Drum Brakes: Brake Shoes, Wheel Cylinders, Return Springs.
B: Disc Brakes: Brake Caliper, Brake Pads.
Parking Brake : Often a small drum brake assembly integrated inside the brake disc or a mechanical lever mechanism
acting on the service brake.
5. Steering Group
- Steering Knuckles: The pivoting joints that allow the wheels to turn for steering.
- Steering Arm (Tie Rod Arm): The arm attached to the king pin that the tie rod connects to.
6. Mounting and Suspension Group
- Spring Pads: The flat, machined surfaces on the top of the axle housing where the leaf springs or other suspension
components are mounted.
- U-Bolts: The bolts that clamp the axle housing to the springs.
- Shock Absorber Mounts: Brackets for attaching shock absorbers (if equipped).
