Patent ID: 8021054

Claim:
A vehicle wheel bearing apparatus comprising: an outer member formed with a body mounting flange on its outer circumference, the body mounting flange to be mounted on a knuckle forming part of a suspension apparatus, the outer member inner circumference includes double row outer raceway surfaces, the outer member including an outer diameter on its outboard side and an outer diameter on its inboard side wherein the outboard outer diameter and the inboard outer diameter are substantially the same; an inner member includes a wheel hub and at least one inner ring or an outer joint member of a constant velocity universal joint, the wheel hub being formed on one end with a wheel mounting flange and on its other end with an axially extending cylindrical portion, the inner ring is press-fit onto the cylindrical portion of the wheel hub, the inner member is formed with inner raceway surfaces on its outer circumference, the inner raceway surfaces oppose the double row outer raceway surfaces; double row rolling elements are freely rollably contained between the inner and outer raceway surfaces of the inner and outer members; the body mounting flange is formed with a plurality of screw apertures to receive fastening bolts an inner side flange surface of the body mounting flange is formed by machining to have a flat vertical surface relative to a longitudinal axis of the wheel hub, an outer side flange surface of the body mounting flange is formed by forging to have a tapered surface formed extending across the screw apertures, the tapered surface of a predetermined inclined angle so that the thickness of the body mounting flange is gradually reduced radially outward.