Unitary bracket for mounting a brake assembly and brake actuator

A bracket for mounting a brake assembly and a brake actuator, comprising:

• a unitary body including
• a tube configured to receive a camshaft of the brake assembly;
• an actuator mounting arm disposed proximate a first end of the tube, the actuator mounting arm configured to receive the brake actuator;
• and,
• a brake spider disposed proximate a second end of the tube, the brake spider defining a central aperture configured to receive an axle and configured to support a pair of brake shoes for a drum brake
• wherein a radially inner surface of the tube defines at least one radially inwardly projecting helical rib.

A method of manufacturing a plurality of different brackets for mounting a brake assembly and a brake actuator, comprising:

• creating three-dimensional models of a first bracket having a first length and a second bracket having a second length different than the first length;
• converting the three-dimensional models into program instructions for an additive manufacturing machine;
• and,
• successively depositing layers of material, responsive to the program instructions, using the additive manufacturing machine to form the first bracket and the second bracket, each of the first bracket and the second bracket comprising a unitary body defining
• a tube configured to receive a camshaft of the brake assembly;
• and,
• an actuator mounting arm disposed proximate a first end of the tube, the actuator mounting arm configured to receive the brake actuator
• wherein the first bracket and the second bracket are configured to have the same torsional stiffness.