Cooling system for axle assembly

A drive axle assembly comprising:

• an axle housing defining an internal housing cavity at least partially filled with a fluid;
• a rotating component supported for rotation relative to said axle housing to drive a pair of laterally spaced wheels about a lateral axis of rotation;
• a braking member operatively coupled to said rotating component and movable between a braking condition where the speed of said rotating component is reduced and a non-braking condition wherein heat within said axle housing increases during said braking condition;
• a heat dissipation member supported by an external surface of said axle housing, said heat dissipation member being in fluid communication with said housing cavity;
• and
• a fluid pump driven by said rotating component to direct said fluid through said heat dissipation member to reduce heat.

A method for cooling an axle assembly comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing an axle housing having an internal cavity, a rotating component supported for rotation relative to the axle housing, and a braking component operatively coupled to the rotating component;
• (b) mounting a heat dissipation member to an external surface of the axle housing to extend in a lateral direction along a predetermined length of the axle housing;
• and
• (c) generating fluid flow for interaction with the heat dissipation member to reduce heat generated when the braking component is activated.