Hub assembly having minimum runout and process for producing the same

A process for rendering a hub assembly more suitable for accepting a brake disk having friction surfaces, the hub assembly including a hub having a spindle and a flange at one end of the spindle, a housing around the spindle of the hub and generally behind the flange, and an antifriction bearing located between the spindle and the housing and establishing an axis of rotation for the hub, the flange of the hub having an annular relief that extends circumferentially around the axis and opens out of the face of the flange that is presented away from the housing, the flange further having holes which extend axially through it and open out of the annular relief;

• said process comprising:
• holding the housing fast;
• rotating the hub on the bearing while the housing is held, with the rotation being about the axis of the bearing;
• while the hub rotates, machining the face of the flange that is presented away from the housing by advancing a cutting tool over the face of the flange both inside and outside the annular relief so as to provide a mounting surface against which the brake disk may be installed.

A process for manufacturing an automotive hub assembly, said process comprising:

• installing a housing and an antifriction bearing over a spindle on a hub that also includes a flange which is attached to one end of the spindle, all such that the flange is located in front of the housing, the bearing having rolling elements organized in two rows and raceways along which the rolling elements roll, with the raceways being oblique to the axis and oriented such that the bearing will transfer between the housing and the spindle radial loads as well as thrust loads in both axial directions, the flange of the hub having an annular relief which extends circumferentially around the axis and opens out of the face of the flange that is presented away from the housing, the flange also having holes which extend axially through it and open into the relief;
• installing threaded studs in the holes of the flange such that they project beyond the face of the flange that is presented away from the housing;
• capturing the bearing on the spindle, with the bearing being in preload so that no axial or radial free motion exists between the housing and the hub;
• holding the housing in a fixed position;
• rotating the hub about the axis of the bearing;
• and while the hub is rotating, machining a face of its flange.

A process for manufacturing an automotive hub assembly, said process comprising:

• installing a housing and an antifriction bearing over a spindle on a hub that also includes a flange which is attached to one end of the spindle, all such that the flange is located in front of the housing, the bearing having rolling elements organized in two rows and raceways along which the rolling elements roll, with the raceways being oblique to the axis and oriented such that the bearing will transfer between the housing and the spindle radial loads as well as thrust loads in both axial directions, the flange of the hub having holes which extend axially through it;
• installing threaded studs in the holes of the flange such that they project beyond the face of the flange that is presented away from the housing;
• capturing the bearing on the spindle, with the bearing being in preload so that no axial or radial free motion exists between the housing and the hub;
• holding the housing in a fixed position;
• rotating the hub about the axis of the bearing;
• and while the hub is rotating, machining a face of its flange to provide a mounting surface for the brake disk;
• and installing the brake disk over the thread studs and against the machined mounting surface of the flange of the hub, the brake disk having a machined reference surface that is against the machined mounting surface of the flange and machined friction surfaces that are located radially outwardly from the reference surface.