Method of making a wheel end assembly with a machined hub having reduced on-vehicle runout

A method of making a wheel end to be installed on a vehicle for reduced lateral runout, the method comprising:

• assembling a hub, and components with bearing surfaces to define an assembled module configured to be mounted to the vehicle, the hub having a hub shaft with inboard and outboard ends and a flange extending from the hub shaft at the outboard end, the flange having an open face with an annular groove formed thereon to define an inner portion and an outer portion;
• preloading the bearing surfaces of the assembled module to be mounted to the vehicle by applying a set amount of radial load and thrust load on the bearing surfaces to define a preloaded condition;
• mounting the assembled module on a fixture;
• rotating the assembled module on the fixture;
• machining a final hub cut on the open face of the flange on the inner and outer portions to a flange depth, while rotating, after assembling and preloading the assembled module, to define the wheel end of the vehicle;
• affixing a rotor to the open face of the flange;
• and
• maintaining the wheel end in the preloaded condition before installing the wheel end on the vehicle.

A method of making a wheel end to be installed on a vehicle for reduced lateral runout, the method comprising:

• assembling a hub and components with bearing surfaces to define an assembled module configured to be mounted to the vehicle;
• preloading the components with bearing surfaces of the assembled module to define a preloaded condition of the assembled module;
• mounting the assembled module on a holding fixture;
• rotating the assembled module on the holding fixture;
• machining a final hub cut on the hub to a hub width, while rotating;
• affixing the rotor to the hub of the assembled module on the holding fixture;
• rotating the assembled wheel end on the holding fixture;
• machining a final rotor cut on the rotor to a rotor width, while rotating;
• and
• maintaining the wheel end in the preloaded condition before installing the wheel end on the vehicle.