Drive axle truss assembly

A truss assembly for a drive axle of a vehicle, said drive axle having a lower side which faces a ground surface, said drive axle having a differential and a pair of axle housings extending laterally outwardly from opposite sides of the differential and a suspension spring attached to each axle housing, said truss assembly comprising:

• a first elongated truss member, said first truss member comprising a first elongated channel member having a surface which substantially conforms to and abuts against the lower surface of one axle housing along substantially the entire length of said one axle housing between the differential and its suspension spring, a first elongated reinforcing rib longitudinally secured to said first channel member so that said rib depends downwardly toward the ground surface,
• means for securing said first truss member to said one axle housing comprising at least two longitudinally spaced clamps disposed around said one axle housing and secured to said first truss member,
• a second elongated truss member, said second truss member comprising a second elongated channel member having a surface which substantially conforms to and abuts against the lower surface of the other axle housing along substantially the entire length of said other axle housing between the differential and its suspension spring, a second elongated reinforcing rib longitudinally secured to said second channel member so that said rib depends downwardly toward the ground surface,
• means for securing said second truss member to said one axle housing comprising at least two longitudinally spaced clamps disposed around the other axle housing and secured to said second truss member,
• an elongated bar fixedly secured at one end to the end of the first truss member adjacent the differential and extending underneath said differential toward said second truss member, said bar being positioned so that a midpoint of the bar abuts along the bottom of the differential, and
• means for longitudinally adjustably securing the other end of the bar to the end of the second truss member adjacent the differential whereby the tension on said bar can be varied.