Thanks, @spikeyxxx for your tips. The “Bevel Modifier” is certainly not easy to use since you can easily mess up things with the wrong settings and on such a complicated part like this, it’s obviously better to use holding edge loops. Changing the “Inner Miter” type from “Sharp” to “Arc” makes things even worse. But it was worth a try. The axle end housing is by far the most difficult part that I’ve modeled on the rear axle.
Another difficulty for me is to contain additional geometry as local as possible. But when it fits in one part, it often does not / no longer fit in another part. Furthermore, keeping geometry as local as possible can generate a relatively dense geometry which will be visible as sharp edges in smooth shading like scars. It’s a really sensible balance that you have to keep and just a little step too far to the left or to the right can produce a really ugly result. Nonetheless, this part is an excellent opportunity for training your skills in terms of creating a clean topology and my top candidate for a future “CGCookie Topology Basecamp”.
