Compound steering mechanism

A vehicle steerable and driven axle mounting assembly comprising:

• a steerable axle having a pair of opposing steerable elements pivotally connected to the respective transverse ends of a casing of said steerable axle for pivotal movement relative thereto about respective pivot axes;
• drive shafts extending within the casing to each respective from a casing input shaft located in a central region of the casing;
• an axle support;
• a substantially rigid connecting member extending between and attachable to the axle support and a said steerable element of said steerable axle;
• wherein the steerable axle is attached to the axle support by first, second and third flexible couplings, each coupling providing for three planes of movement, the first flexible coupling attaching the axle casing to the axle support rearward of said axle, the second flexible coupling attaching the axle casing to a first end of a link forward of said axle casing and the third flexible coupling attaching a second end of said link to said axle support upwardly of said axle casing, the link including a suspension damping means to suspend the axle casing from the axle support, and steering actuator means for steering acting between a said steerable element of the steerable axle and the axle casing.