Patent ID: 6792680
Filing Date: 2004-09-21
Classification: B60B,Y10S,Y10T

Abstract:
A method of making a wheel end of a vehicle for reduced lateral runout, the method comprising:assembling a hub and components with bearing surfaces to define an assembled module configured to be mounted to the vehicle, the hub having a hub shaft with inboard and outboard ends and a hub flange extending from the hub shaft at the outboard end, the hub flange defining an outboard face for axially supporting a rotor, and the components with bearing surfaces cooperating to define bearings supporting the hub for relative rotation within the assembled module; preloading the bearings within the assembled module to a set amount to thereby define a preloaded condition of the assembled module; mounting the assembled module within a knuckle; fixturing the knuckle in a holding fixture so as to permit relative rotation of the hub without adding any additional preload on the bearing surfaces, whereby the preloaded condition is maintained while the knuckle is fixtured; machining a cut on the outboard face of the hub flange while rotating the hub of the mounted assembled module about a reference axis to define the wheel end of the vehicle; and removing the wheel end from the holding fixture while maintaining the assembled module in the preloaded condition before installing the wheel end on the vehicle.