Protective boot supporting sleeve for universal joint in wheel assembly

In a wheel bearing assembly for a vehicle wheel including a hub having an axis, a wheel carrier member encircling said hub, roller bearing means rotatably supporting said hub on said wheel carrier member, said roller bearing means including an inner bearing member axially affixed on said hub inwardly of said wheel carrier member, a universal joint for transmitting torque to said hub including an inner joint member rotatively affixed with said hub, said universal joint extending from said hub in the axial direction thereof, a protective sealing boot encircling said universal joint, said boot having a first end adjacent said hub and a second end spaced more remote from said hub and said second end secured to said universal joint, and a sleeve encircling the axis of said hub and located between said hub and said universal joint, said sleeve having a first end close to said hub and a second end more remote form said hub with said sealing boot attached thereto, the improvement comprising:

• that said sleeve is a shaped metal part;
• said sleeve at the first end thereof is permanently plastically deformed in press-fitted engagement with a groove formed in and encircling said hub;
• and
• said sleeve adjacent the first end thereof has a radially extending annular region pressed in abutting engagement with said inner bearing ring.