Patent ID: 6865809

Claim:
A method of achieving a desired preload on tapered roller bearings which rotatably support a rotatable device between first and second transmission housing members in the assembly of a transmission without measuring the rotatable device, the method comprising: measuring a first distance between a bottom of a first pocket and a mating face of the first transmission housing member; selecting a first shim having a desired width based upon the measured first distance; positioning the first shim in said first pocket; measuring a second distance between a bottom of a second pocket and a mating face of the second transmission housing member; selecting a second shim having a desired width based upon the measured second distance; positioning the second shim against the bottom of said second pocket; positioning tapered roller bearings in said first and second pockets to rotatably support the rotatable device between the tapered roller bearings; and mating faces of the first and second transmission housing members together after measuring the first and second distances without measuring the rotatable device to thereby achieve the desired preload on the tapered roller bearings.