# How does the wheel mount for a lowered-floor bus work?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-the-wheel-mount-for-a-lowered-floor-bus-work/684115>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [March 19, 2014, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-the-wheel-mount-for-a-lowered-floor-bus-work/684115 "2014-03-19T21:32:07Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![dstarfire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dstarfire/32/5762_2.png) [@dstarfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dstarfire)\
**Post date:** [March 19, 2014, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-the-wheel-mount-for-a-lowered-floor-bus-work/684115/1 "2014-03-19T21:32:07Z")

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I’ve always wondered what sort of structure transfers a lowered-floor bus’s weight to the (front) wheels?

There’s a lot of weight riding on those wheels, and not much space in that wheel well for bracing or anything to keep the wheel from splaying out.

And unfortunately, a web search turns up nothing but bus dealers, repair shops, bus accessories, and news reports of transit agencies switching to this style of bus.

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**Author:** ![Mr\_Downtown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Mr\_Downtown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Downtown)\
**Post date:** [March 20, 2014, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-the-wheel-mount-for-a-lowered-floor-bus-work/684115/2 "2014-03-20T03:47:12Z")

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Google Images for _low floor bus front axle_ produces several diagrams that may be helpful.

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**Author:** ![dstarfire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dstarfire/32/5762_2.png) [@dstarfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dstarfire)\
**Post date:** [March 20, 2014, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-the-wheel-mount-for-a-lowered-floor-bus-work/684115/3 "2014-03-20T20:54:32Z")

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Thanks for the tip. Those images do explain quite a bit, but it looks like most of them attach at the top, which leads back to the question of how support is transferred to the frame which has to sit 2-3 feet below the the center-point of the wheel.

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**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\
**Post date:** [March 20, 2014, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-the-wheel-mount-for-a-lowered-floor-bus-work/684115/4 "2014-03-20T21:32:15Z")

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Also, try a search for _kneeling bus._ It allows passengers in wheelchairs to board easily.

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**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\
**Post date:** [March 20, 2014, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-the-wheel-mount-for-a-lowered-floor-bus-work/684115/5 "2014-03-20T23:00:40Z")

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And it’s the back axle that carries the weight. That’s where the engine is.

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**Author:** ![Incubus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c68b51/32.png) [@Incubus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Incubus)\
**Post date:** [March 20, 2014, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-the-wheel-mount-for-a-lowered-floor-bus-work/684115/6 "2014-03-20T23:11:00Z")

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The front axle is shaped like a U. The suspension is a series of air bladders. The bus “kneels” by venting the air out.