Patent ID: 7731427

Claim:
A wheel bearing apparatus incorporating a wheel speed detecting apparatus formed by a unit of a wheel hub, a double row rolling bearing and a constant velocity universal joint, the double row rolling bearing comprising: an outer member integrally formed, on its outer circumference, with a body mounting flange to be mounted on a knuckle (N) forming part of a suspension apparatus, and said outer member formed, on its inner circumference, with double row outer raceway surfaces; an inner member including the wheel hub with an integrally formed wheel mounting flange at one end and a cylindrical portion axially extending from the wheel mounting flange, an inner raceway surface formed on the outer circumference of the cylindrical portion, said inner raceway surface corresponding to one of the double row outer raceway surfaces, and an outer joint member of the constant velocity universal joint, the outer joint member formed with another inner raceway surface corresponding to the other of the double row outer raceway surfaces and having a shaft portion axially extending from said other inner raceway surface; double row rolling elements rollably arranged between the outer and inner raceway surfaces; seals mounted in annular spaces formed at opposite ends of the outer member and the outer joint member; a wheel speed detecting apparatus comprising a magnetic encoder fit onto the outer joint member; a wheel speed sensor arranged opposite to the magnetic encoder via a predetermined air gap and mounted on the end of the outer member; said wheel hub and said outer joint member integrally connected by caulking the shaft portion of the outer joint member onto the wheel hub: said wheel speed detecting apparatus further comprises a sensor holder, the sensor holder including a steel annular fitting ring to be fit onto the end of the outer member, and a holding portion of plastic resin integrally molded with the annular fitting ring and having the wheel speed sensor embedded therein; inboard side seal of said seals is arranged between the sensor holder and the outer joint member; and that the maximum diameter of the sensor holder and the constant velocity universal joint is smaller than the inner diameter of the knuckle.