Patent ID: 6227624
Filing Date: 2001-05-08
Classification: B60B,F16C,Y10T

Abstract:
A method for producing a vehicle wheel hub and bearing retention system comprising the steps of:(a) providing a wheel hub including an inboard end, an outboard end, and a main body, the wheel hub defining a bearing seat and a wheel hub shoulder, the inboard end of the wheel hub having a reduced diameter non-threaded outermost end directly adjacent thereto, the reduced diameter non-threaded outermost end defining an inboard end outer diameter, the main body of the wheel hub defining a main body outer diameter which is greater than the inboard end outer diameter, the bearing seat of the wheel hub defining a generally constant bearing seat outer diameter which is the generally the same as the main body outer diameter;(b) providing a bearing unit onto the bearing seat of the wheel hub adjacent the wheel hub shoulder;(c) providing a bearing unit retention and preload device on the inboard end of the wheel hub adjacent the bearing unit; and(d) re-shaping the material of reduced diameter non-threaded outermost end of the inboard end of the wheel hub against the bearing unit retention and preload device to thereby secure the bearing unit retention and preload device on the wheel hub and prevent axial movement of the bearing unit relative to the wheel hub.