Live spindle hub with inboard bearing retention

In a vehicle wheel assembly including a rotating axle, a locking hub, a mounting member and a wheel bearing engaged with the mounting member, said improvement comprising:

• a live spindle including a body having inboard end and an outboard end, said body being rotatably supported by the wheel bearing in the mounting member, a central bore defined in said body and in which the axle is supported for rotation, said body being connected at said outboard end to the locking hub for coupling to the axle such that said live spindle is driven in rotation by the axle, said body including exterior surfaces generally adjacent to said inboard end defining at least part of a bearing seat for the wheel bearing, said inboard end of said live spindle having portions defining at least one radial slot therein;
• a bearing retainer adapted to engage an exterior surface of said inboard end for rotation with said live spindle, said bearing retainer including portions defining a central aperture through which the axle extends and providing a radial portion providing inboard bearing retention so as to restrain inboard movement of the wheel bearing relative to said live spindle, said bearing retainer including portions defining at least one radial slot therein adjacent to said inboard end of said live spindle;
• and
• a retainer lock engaged with said inboard end of said live spindle adapted to prevent disengagement of said bearing retainer from said live spindle, said retainer lock including an interfering portion configured to be received in said slot of said bearing retainer and to be received in said slot of said inboard end of said live spindle, said interfering portion preventing disengagement of said bearing retainer from said live spindle by interferingly preventing relative movement therebetween.

In a vehicle wheel assembly having a driven axle, a locking hub, a mounting member and a wheel bearing supported in the mounting member, said improvement comprising:

• a live spindle including a body having inboard and outboard ends, said body being rotatably supported by the wheel bearing in the mounting member, a central bore defined in said body and through which the axle extends, the body being connected at said outboard end to the locking hub for coupling to the axle such that said live spindle can be driven in rotation by the axle, said body including exterior surfaces generally adjacent to said inboard end defining at least a portion of a bearing seat for the wheel bearing, at least one formed slot in said inboard end of said live spindle;
• a bearing retainer adapted to engage an exterior surface of said inboard end of said spindle for rotation therewith, said bearing retainer including a radial flange providing inboard bearing retention so as to restrain inboard movement of the wheel bearing relative to said spindle, at least one radial slot formed in said bearing retainer and generally being movable therewith into a predetermined position relative to said slot in said inboard end of said live spindle;
• and
• locking means cooperating with said bearing retainer and said live spindle for preventing disengagement of said bearing retainer from said live spindle, said locking means including a one-piece retainer lock adapted to engage said live spindle and prevent disengagement of said bearing retainer therefrom, said retainer lock including a bearing portion extending coaxially with said central bore and having a central passageway through which the axle extends, said bearing portion including a bearing surface in sporting contact with the axle and permitting rotation of the axle therein, said retainer lock also having at least two tabs formed thereon located such that one of said tabs is positionable within said slot of said bearing retainer and the other of said tabs is positionable within said slot of said inboard end when said slots are in said predetermined positions relative to one another, said tabs interferingly preventing disengagement of said bearing retainer from said live spindle by interferingly preventing relative movement therebetween, said retainer lock also including a washer portion having a radial surface defining a face directed inboard therefrom, said face forming a thrust face for receiving axial thrust loads in the wheel assembly and being located axially inboard of said bearing retainer.