Patent ID: 7383914

Claim:
Apparatus for assembling an axle and a vehicle chassis, comprising: a plurality of locating surfaces on the chassis against which mating surfaces on the axle can be urged for positioning the axle in a desired position in relation to the chassis; a plurality of connectors extending in a predetermined direction for rigidly connecting the axle to the chassis in the desired position; wedge surfaces on the chassis and on the axle, respectively, disposed so as to be in opposing relation at a predetermined acute angle one relative to the other and define a space therebetween when the axle is in the desired position in relation to the chassis; and a tapered block having oppositely facing outer surfaces angularly related at about the predetermined acute angle, the tapered block being positionable in the space between the wedge surfaces and having an extent between the outer surfaces thereof sufficiently large so as to simultaneously contact the wedge surfaces when the tapered block is positioned in the space, and an adjusting member for connecting the tapered block to at least one of the chassis and the axle and adjustable for moving the tapered block to a position for applying forces against the wedge surfaces urging the wedge surfaces apart for reducing at least some of any shear forces acting against the connectors connecting the housing to the chassis and thereby maintaining a rigidly fixed relationship between the chassis and the axle.