Patent ID: 6364426
Filing Date: 2002-04-02
Classification: B24B,Y10T

Abstract:
A method for producing a vehicle wheel hub and bearing unit assembly comprising the steps of:(a) providing a vehicle wheel hub including a body having an inboard end, an outboard end, and a main body having an outwardly extending flange, the flange having a plurality of circumferentially spaced holes formed therein, the flange including an inner surface and an outer surface, at least a portion of the outer surface of the flange defining an outer brake rotor mounting surface of the vehicle wheel hub; (b) providing a bearing unit adapted to be secured to a non-rotatable component of a vehicle so as to rotatably support the vehicle wheel hub relative thereto; (c) assembling the bearing unit onto the vehicle wheel hub to produce a vehicle wheel hub and bearing unit assembly which defines a longitudinal axis; (d) preloading the bearing unit; (e) providing a microfinishing assembly having a microfinishing wheel; (f) supporting the vehicle wheel hub and bearing assembly on the microfinishing assembly; and (g) subsequent to the step (f), operating the microfinishing assembly whereby the microfinishing wheel engages at least a portion of the outer brake rotor mounting surface of the vehicle wheel hub and bearing unit assembly to remove material therefrom and produce the finished vehicle wheel hub and bearing unit assembly, the outer brake rotor mounting surface being microfinished relative to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle wheel hub and bearing unit assembly such that the outer brake rotor mounting surface has an axial runout of about 10 microns or smaller.