Mounting arrangement for lower steering arm

An axle assembly comprising:

• an axle beam laterally extending between first and second axle ends;
• a first knuckle with a first king pin to secure said first knuckle to said axle beam at said first axle end;
• a second knuckle with a second king pin to secure said second knuckle to said axle beam at said second axle end;
• a first tie rod arm mounted to said first knuckle;
• a second tie rod arm mounted to said second knuckle;
• a tie rod having opposing ends respectively coupled to said first and said second tie rod arms;
• at least one steer arm positioned on an opposite side of one of said first and said second knuckles from a respective one of said first and said second tie rod arms, said at least one steer arm being fixed to said respective one of said first and said second tie rod arms and including an input mount interface to receive steering input;
• wherein said tie rod arm and said steer arm are integrally formed together as a single-piece component, said single-piece component having a first arm end coupled to said tie rod and a second arm end that is coupled to a steering input structure;
• and
• wherein said first and said second knuckles each include a mount flange, and wherein said single-piece component includes an intermediate portion that includes a first mount interface connected to said one of said first and said second knuckles and a second mount interface connected to said mount flange.

An axle assembly comprising:

• an axle beam laterally extending between first and second axle ends;
• a first knuckle with a first king pin to secure said first knuckle to said axle beam at said first axle end;
• a second knuckle with a second king pin to secure said second knuckle to said axle beam at said second axle end;
• a first tie rod arm mounted to said first knuckle;
• a second tie rod arm mounted to said second knuckle;
• a tie rod having opposing ends respectively coupled to said first and said second tie rod arms;
• and
• at least one steer arm positioned on an opposite side of one of said first and said second knuckles from a respective one of said first and said second tie rod arms, said at least one steer arm being fixed to said respective one of said first and said second tie rod arms and including an input mount interface to receive steering input, and wherein said steer arm and said tie rod arm comprise a single structure that is attached to said one of said first and second knuckles as a unit, and wherein said single structure comprises a continuous and uninterrupted surface extending from a first end at said input mount interface to a second end at a tie rod connection interface, and wherein said single structure includes an intermediate portion that is mounted to an inboard face of a lower boss of said one of said first and second knuckles with at least one fastener.

A knuckle comprising:

• a spindle to support a wheel:
• an upper boss extending inwardly of said spindle;
• a lower boss extending inwardly of said spindle and spaced vertically below said upper boss wherein said lower boss includes a tie rod arm mount interface;
• a tie rod arm associated with said tie rod arm mount interface;
• and
• a steer arm positioned on an opposite side of said knuckle from said tie rod arm, said steer arm being fixed to said tie rod arm and including an input mount interface to receive steering input to turn the wheel, and wherein said steer arm and said tie rod arm comprise an integrally formed one-piece structure that is attached to said lower boss with at least one fastener, and wherein said one-piece structure comprises a continuous and uninterrupted surface extending from a first end at said input mount interface to a second end at a tie rod connection interface, and wherein said one-piece structure includes an intermediate portion that is mounted to said lower boss with said at least one fastener.