Wheel hub assembly and method of installing a hub on an axle

A method of installing a wheel hub on an axle, the wheel hub including a hub body having a bore extending from an outboard side of the body to an inboard side of the body, the hub further including an inboard bearing and an outboard bearing, and a spacer located between the bearings and within the bore wherein the spacer and the bearings define an inner surface within the bore for receiving the axle, the method comprising:

• (a) installing a temporary alignment member into the bore to be in contact with the inner surface of the spacer and a bearing thereby causing the spacer and bearing to be in alignment;
• (b) installing a cap on the body, the cap having an aperture that is large enough to receive the alignment member therethrough;
• (c) positioning the inboard side of the bore onto the axle and guiding the hub further onto the axle;
• and
• (d) removing the alignment member through the aperture in the cap whereby the alignment of the spacer and bearing is maintained by the alignment member as the alignment member moves past the spacer.

A wheel hub providing easy mounting onto an axle, comprising:

• (a) a hub body having an inboard side and an outboard side and a longitudinal bore through the body from the inboard side to the outboard side;
• (b) a first bearing assembly and a second bearing assembly in spaced apart arrangement located within the bore, the bearing assemblies having inner surfaces;
• (c) a spacer located within the bore and between the bearing assemblies, the spacer having an outboard end including an inner surface that is in flush alignment with the inner surface of the first bearing assembly;
• (d) a temporary alignment member frictionally engaging the inner surface of the spacer and at least the first bearing assembly to maintain the inner surface of the spacer in flush alignment with the inner surface of the first bearing assembly;
• and
• (e) a cap coupled to the body in a position to retain the first bearing assembly within the bore.

A wheel hub assembly which is ready to install onto the end of an axle, comprising:

• (a) a hub body having an inboard side and an outboard side and defining an axially extending axle bore;
• (b) an inboard bearing positioned within the axle bore and an outboard tapered roller bearing positioned within the axle bore and having an inner race with an outboard end surface and an outer race;
• and
• (c) a a bearing retainer coupled to the outboard side of the hub in a position to cause a bearing retaining force to be applied to outboard end surface of the inner race of the outboard bearing assembly to retain the outboard bearing within the axle bore.

A wheel hub assembly which is ready to install onto the end of an axle, comprising:

• (a) a hub body having an inboard side and an outboard side and defining an axially extending axle bore;
• (b) an inboard bearing positioned within the axle bore and an outboard bearing positioned within the axle bore;
• and
• (c) a cap coupled to the outboard side of the hub in a position to retain the outboard bearing within the axle bore;
• and in which the cap is a temporary cap which is detachably coupled to the wheel hub and removable following installation of the wheel hub onto the axle.