Dana Corporation

Jeffrey L Colbert

Gregory Allen Fett

Two-piece friction welded motor vehicle axle shaft which includes an axle portion which is frictionally welded to a flange portion. The flange portion is preferably fabricated from a relatively high carbon steel material, such as SAE 1050 Mod (Mn 0.80-1.10%), to satisfy the hardness requirement for the bearing race and the axle portion is preferably fabricated from a steel barstock material, such as SAE 1038, SAE 1040 or SAE 8630, having a somewhat lower carbon content to maximize its strength and ductility. The friction weld is preferably positioned inboard of the bearing race and, once welded, the two-piece motor vehicle axle shaft is machined to part profile, heat treated and then machined to final print dimensions.

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Fort Wayne, IN, United States of America

Jeffrey L Colbert