Patent ID: 6796029
Filing Date: 2004-09-28
Classification: B60B,Y10S,Y10T

Abstract:
A method of making a wheel end to be installed on a vehicle featuring reduced lateral runout, wherein the wheel end as installed on the vehicle requires a set amount of radial and thrust bearing preload, the method comprising:assembling a hub and components with bearing surfaces to define an assembled module configured to be mounted to the vehicle, wherein the hub includes a hub flange defining an outboard face for axially supporting a rotor, and the components with bearing surfaces cooperate to define bearings supporting the hub for relative rotation within the assembled module; preloading the bearings of the assembled module to the set amount to thereby define a preloaded condition of the assembled module; mounting the assembled module on a holding fixture rotatable about a reference axis; while rotating the assembled module on the holding fixture about the reference axis, machining the face of the hub flange; securing a rotor to the hub flange face while maintaining the assembled module on the holding fixture; while rotating the assembled module and secured rotor about the reference axis, machining a cut on the rotor to a rotor width to define the wheel end; and removing the wheel end from the holding fixture while maintaining the assembled module in the preloaded condition.