Axle housing suspension seat assembly

Abstract

A vehicle axle assembly is provided including an axle housing having legs extending along an axis. Each housing leg has a wall defining an interior cavity with the wall having a first locating feature formed therein. The first locating feature may be an indentation in the wall of the axle housing that may be in the shape of a concave dimple or a trough running transverse to the axis. The first locating feature may also be a protrusion instead of an indentation. A suspension component is secured to the housing leg by clamps. A suspension component includes a second locating feature of a complimentary shape to the first locating feature. The locating features cooperate to axially locate the suspension component on the housing leg preventing lateral movement.

1 .- 7 . (canceled)  
   
   
       8 . A method of manufacturing a vehicle axle assembly comprising the steps of: 
 a) forming an axle housing having an axle housing leg; and    b) forming a suspension component locating feature in the axle housing leg.    
   
   
       9 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein step a) includes forming first and second housing portions and securing the first and second housing portions with a weld bead.  
   
   
       10 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein step a) includes plastically deforming the axle housing leg.  
   
   
       11 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein step b) includes forming a depression in the axle housing leg.  
   
   
       12 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein steps a) and b) occur simultaneously.  
   
   
       13 . The method according to  claim 8 , further including step c) assembling a suspension component having a second locating feature complimentary to the suspension component locating feature in the axle housing leg.  
   
   
       14 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein step c) includes installing a clamp applying a preload to the axle housing leg and suspension component to secure them to one another.