20100327559 | STEER AXLE ASSEMBLY - An improved steer axle assembly for a trailer is provided in which a tapered roller thrust bearing extends between each lower kingpin yoke thrust face and each lower kingpin sleeve thrust face to transfer load between the lower yoke sleeve and the kingpin sleeve while allowing the yokes to swivel about the kingpins. Upper and lower needle bearing assemblies extend respectively between the upper and lower yoke sleeves and the kingpins to guide the swivelable movement of the yokes about the kingpins. Upper and lower kingpin caps are secured across the upper and lower yoke sleeves respectively above and below the kingpins to seal the opposite ends of the kingpins within the yoke sleeves. At least one of the upper and lower kingpin caps associated with each kingpin has a grease passage extending therethrough for admitting grease into an interior of the yoke sleeves and a grease fitting releaseably coupleable to a pressurized grease supply and sealingly engaging the grease passage to introduce grease into the grease passage. | 12-30-2010 |