American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc.

Linamar Gmbh

Michael Cabaj

A differential for a rear wheel drive vehicle is previewed comprising a differential case for rotationally supporting and housing a pinion shaft with the pinion shaft extending axially through an opening in the differential case. A pinion seal extends around the pinion shaft and has an outer edge abutting a cavity wall defining the opening in the differential case. The pinion seal has an axial lip projecting in an axial direction. A plastic deflector has a discshaped main body formed of a plastic material, a passageway extending through the plastic deflector, and a stainless steel ring fixedly coupled to the disc-shaped main body providing a stainless steel running surface. The plastic deflector is assembled on the pinion shaft such that the pinion shaft extends through the deflector passageway and the stainless steel running surface abuts the axial lip of the pinion seal.

Stainless steel running surface on a plastic deflector

A shaft seal for an axle assembly can include a support body with a circumferentially-extending outer wall member and a radial wall member coupled to the outer wall member and extending radially inwardly therefrom. Sealant disposed on an outside circumferential surface of the outer wall member can form a seal with a surface of a housing bore. A lip can be coupled to the radial wall member and extend radially inward thereof. The lip can form a seal between the radial wall member and an outer surface of a shaft. An annular flange can be coupled to the outer wall member and extend radially outward of an intersection of the outer wall member and the radial wall member, while having a maximum diameter that is smaller than a maximum diameter of the outer wall member. The flange and outer wall member can cooperate to define an annular channel.

Axle assembly and contamination self-trapping seal

A seal for an axle assembly can include a support, sealant layer, lip, and flange. The support can include an outer member and a wall. The outer member can extend axially. The wall can extend radially inward from a first end of the outer member. The sealant layer can coat an outer surface of the outer member to form a fluid-tight seal between the outer surface of the outer member and a bore of the housing. The lip can extend radially inward of the wall. The lip can form a fluid-tight seal between the wall and an outer surface of the shaft. The flange can extend radially outward of a first end of the outer member while not forming a fluid-tight seal with the interior bore. The flange and the outer member can define a channel axially between the first end of the outer member and the sealant layer.

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Canton, MI, United States of America

Michael Cabaj