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2021

New Product
Development of “Small and Lightweight CVJ for Rear of Sub-axle”
May 26, 2021New Products

CVJ for rear that realizes the world's highest level in small and lightweight optimized for 4WD vehicles

NTN Corporation (hereafter, NTN) has developed the “Small and Lightweight CVJ for Rear of Sub-axle,” a constant velocity joints for sub-axles of rear that realizes the world's highest level in small and lightweight for the driven wheels (sub-axles) of FF-based 4WD vehicles.

Constant velocity joints (CVJs) are sized according to the power of the engine or motor (load capacity) and operating angle for turning the steering wheel.

Since the CVJ for rear does not require a large operating angle for turning the steering wheel, NTN developed the “Lightweight Driveshaft for FR vehicle*1” in 2015, which is a small and lightweight CVJ with the limited operating angle required for the rear. The “Lightweight Driveshaft for FR vehicle” is manly used for FR vehicles and FR-based 4WD vehicles.

The newly developed “Small and Lightweight CVJ for Rear of Sub-axle” is an improved product for the rear of FF-based 4WD vehicles by applying the concept of the “Lightweight Driveshaft for FR vehicle.” As the rear as a driven wheel requires the smaller load capacity, the developed product has dramatically reduced the size and weight from the conventional product.

We reviewed each of the fixed CVJ placed on the tire side and the plunging CVJ placed on the differential side for its maximum operating angles and optimized designs of the components. And we achieved small size and lightweight for each of CVJs while maintaining the required strength by adopting thin and small components.

In automotive market, while the shift to low fuel consumption has been accelerating against environmental impact reductions, SUVs have been becoming increasingly popular globally particularly in North America. A series of electric 4WD vehicles with motors installed on both the front and rear sides has been launched and further increase in FF-based 4WD vehicles is expected in the future.

In recent years when the development of vehicles has to consider environmental performance, NTN will propose the developed product which has realized dramatic reductions in size and weight to the market, and will contribute to the reduction of vehicle weight and low fuel consumption.

NTN will exhibit this product at “AUTOMOTIVE ENGINEERING EXPOSITION 2021 ONLINE” which will be held from May 26 to July 30.

  1. Press Release October 28, 2015: Development of “Lightweight Driveshaft for FR vehicle”
    https://www.ntnglobal.com/en/news/new_products/news201500074.html

Features (compared to conventional products)

1. Weight reduction (without stem) Fixed CVJ 6.2%, Plunging CVJ 29% reduction
⇒ Reduction in fuel efficiency by approximately 0.02% when converted to fuel efficiency for vehicles (calculated based on NTN's method)
2. Compactness (outer race outer diameter) Fixed CVJ 1.9%, Plunging CVJ 12.3% reduction

Comparing the developed product with conventional product

Fixed CVJ
Developed products Conventional product *
Maximum operating angle (°) 30 30
Outer diameter (mm) φ67.6
Compared to conventional products -1.9%
φ68.9
Number of ball 6 6
Weight (g) 834
Compared to conventional products -6.2%
889

* 30°design product using maximum operating angle 47° internal components with short axial length of outer race to reduce the weight

Plunging CVJ
Developed products Conventional product
Maximum operating angle (°) 20 23
Outer diameter (mm) φ60.5
Compared to conventional products -12.3%
φ69
Number of ball 8 6
Weight (g) 910
Compared to conventional products -29%
1284
Fixed CVJ Fixed CVJ Plunging CVJ Plunging CVJ

Product photo

Product photo

Applied parts

Applied parts

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