Patent ID: 8720055

Claim:
A method for assembling a cam shaft, comprising: providing a cam shaft; pre-finishing at least one cam lobe; positioning the at least one pre-finished cam lobe directly on an outer surface of the cam shaft; positioning at least one roller bearing on an outer surface of the cam shaft, wherein the roller bearing supports the cam shaft in a first direction, and the at least one roller bearing is at least one of thermally adhered to and thermally interference fitted onto the cam shaft outer surface; positioning at least one thrust bearing on an outer surface of the cam shaft, wherein the thrust bearing supports the cam shaft in a second direction, the thrust bearing includes at least one of a ball bearing and a roller bearing, and wherein the thrust bearing is at least one of thermally adhered to and thermally interference fitted onto the cam shaft outer surface; wherein at least one of the at least one roller bearing, and the at least one thrust bearing are finished prior to joining the cam shaft; a bearing ring engaging the at least one thrust bearing, the bearing ring including an outer circumferential groove; and attaching a connecting element to a cylinder head of an internal combustion engine; and engaging the outer circumferential groove of the bearing ring with the connecting element.