Patent ID: 6402169
Filing Date: 2002-06-11
Classification: B60G,B62D,Y10T

Abstract:
A tractor comprising:a frame; upper and lower control arms mounted to the frame and extending laterally outward for pivotal motion about upper and lower axes respectively for up and down motion of distal ends of the control arms; a steering knuckle attached to the distal ends of the control arms through upper and lower ball joints respectively to define a turning axis for the steering knuckle and to allow the knuckle to move up and down relative to the frame; a steering tie rod coupled to the steering knuckle through a steering ball joint spaced from the turning axis whereby the tie rod can apply a steering force to the knuckle to rotate the knuckle about the turning axis; and the upper, lower and steering ball joints each having a ball stud with a spherical ball portion and a pair of oppositely extending studs fixed to the steering knuckle, with one stud of each ball stud is press fit into a corresponding aperture in the steering knuckle while the other stud of each ball stud is fixed to- the knuckle through a cap fixed to the steering knuckle, the cap including a bore receiving the other stud of the ball stud and a pair of apertures with threaded fasteners extending there through and into the steering knuckle for fixing the cap to the steering knuckle.