A vehicle suspension axle wrap is a composite tubular structure of cast or
forged shells of part-tubular shape. The shells are assembled into a
tubular form and welded together at juxtaposed edges. The shells can be
cast or forged accurately to shape and profile to provide an improved
quality axle wrap. Wall thickness variations can be designed into the
shells. The juxtaposed edges are shaped to space the welding at the edges
from the interior of the assembled axle wrap. The edges are beveled
adjacent the external circumferential surfaces of the shells to provide a
V-shaped groove at which the welding is made. There is a stepped
engagement at the edges between the V-shaped groove and the internal
surface of the axle wrap to prevent the welding from extending to the
internal surface. Each shell is formed with an aperture at which a welded
joint can be made between the axle wrap and an axle.