Patent ID: 7673390

Claim:
A method of manufacturing a hub assembly, said method including the steps of: placing a hub having a first end opposite a second end, and an inner wall surface defining a bore extending between the first end and second end; inserting a first mandrel having a plurality of bearings into the bore from the first end of the hub, wherein the plurality of bearings are arranged in a predetermined configuration; providing a second mandrel spaced apart the first mandrel, and a stub having an outwardly biased detent, wherein the second mandrel is operable to push the stub axially into the bore from the second end of the hub so as to displace the first mandrel from the bore; biasing the bearings radially and circumferentially against the inner wall surface of the hub with the outwardly biased detent of the stub so as to facilitate retention of the bearings in the predetermined configuration within the bore; and transporting the hub, stub and plurality of bearings to a final assembly station, wherein the hub, stub and plurality of bearings are transported as one unit so as to maintain the plurality of bearings in the predetermined configuration and ready the hub assembly for installation of a receiving shaft of a final hub assembly.