Vehicle wheel hub and brake rotor and method for producing same

A method for producing a vehicle wheel hub, brake rotor and bearing unit comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing wheel hub portion formed from a first material and including a main body having an inboard end and an outboard end, the main body provided with a radially outwardly extending wheel hub flange and defining a bearing surface adapted to support at least a portion of a bearing unit, the wheel hub flange provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced wheel stud receiving holes formed therein and adapted to receive lug bolts to secure a vehicle wheel to the vehicle wheel hub and brake rotor for rotation therewith;
• (b) placing the wheel hub portion in a mold;
• (c) casting a brake rotor portion formed from a second different material in situ therewith, the brake rotor portion including an outer friction ring and a brake rotor flange which is operatively joined to the wheel hub flange during the in situ casting process to thereby join the wheel hub portion to the brake rotor portion;
• and
• (d) providing a bearing unit which is carried by the bearing surface of the wheel hub portion.