A hub-bearing unit is provided with: a rotatable hub, with an axially outer flange portion configured for engagement with a rotatable element of a motor vehicle, a bearing unit provided with a fixed radially outer ring, configured for engagement with a fixed element of the motor vehicle, a first, axially outer, crown of rolling bodies, and a second, axially inner, crown of rolling bodies, interposed between the radially outer ring and the hub. The hub also assumes the function of the radially inner ring of the bearing unit and the bell of a constant velocity joint. The hub-bearing unit is designed so that the axial distance between the center of the axially inner crown of rolling bodies and the rolling center of the constant velocity joint lies within a predetermined range according to the following formula:

[00001]$\{\begin{array}{cc}\mathrm{with}.Math..Math.L\ge 0,& 0.4\le \frac{P_B}{S+A+L}\le 4\\ \mathrm{with}.Math..Math.L<0,& 0.5\le \frac{P_B}{S+A}\le 4.Math.\end{array}\hspace{1em}$

A hub-bearing unit is provided with: a rotatable hub, with an axially outer flange portion configured for engagement with a rotatable element of a motor vehicle, a bearing unit provided with a fixed radially outer ring, configured for engagement with a fixed element of the motor vehicle, a first, axially outer, crown of rolling bodies, and a second, axially inner, crown of rolling bodies, interposed between the radially outer ring and the hub. The hub also assumes the function of the radially inner ring of the bearing unit and the bell of a constant velocity joint. The hub-bearing unit is designed so that the axial distance between the center of the axially inner crown of rolling bodies and the rolling center of the constant velocity joint lies within a predetermined range according to the following formula:

[00001]$\{\begin{array}{cc}\mathrm{with}.Math..Math.L\ge 0,& 0.4\le \frac{P_B}{S+A+L}\le 4\\ \mathrm{with}.Math..Math.L<0,& 0.5\le \frac{P_B}{S+A}\le 4.Math.\end{array}\hspace{1em}$

A wheel bearing apparatus has an outer member with a body mounting flange and double row outer raceway surfaces, an inner member with double row inner raceway surfaces opposing the double row outer raceway surfaces, and double row rolling elements contained between the inner raceway surfaces and the outer raceway surfaces, respectively, of the inner member and the outer member. A plurality of bolt insertion holes formed in the outer member body mounting flange. An abutment surface, to abut against the body-side member, is formed around each bolt insertion hole as a surface projecting from the inner-side surface of the body mounting flange with a step height. A relative difference between the step heights of the abutment surfaces is limited to a minimum.

An axle assembly that is configured with reduced weight and an internal configuration that is configured to reduce losses through, for example, higher efficiency gearing, low viscosity lubricant and reduced lubricant levels as compared with current production automotive axle assemblies that are configured with a similar overall gear ratio and capacity.

An axle assembly that is configured with reduced weight and an internal configuration that is configured to reduce losses through, for example, higher efficiency gearing, low viscosity lubricant and reduced lubricant levels as compared with current production automotive axle assemblies that are configured with a similar overall gear ratio and capacity.

An axle assembly having an axle housing, an axle shaft, a plurality of axle shaft bearings and a seal. The axle housing has a tubular member and an end flange that is coupled to the tubular member. The axle shaft bearings and the seal are received in the end flange and are engaged to the axle shaft. The axle shaft bearings support the axle shaft for rotation relative to the axle housing. The seal is sealingly engaged to the end flange and the axle shaft. A method for assembling an axle assembly is also provided.

An axle assembly having an axle housing, an axle shaft, a plurality of axle shaft bearings and a seal. The axle housing has a tubular member and an end flange that is coupled to the tubular member. The axle shaft bearings and the seal are received in the end flange and are engaged to the axle shaft. The axle shaft bearings support the axle shaft for rotation relative to the axle housing. The seal is sealingly engaged to the end flange and the axle shaft. A method for assembling an axle assembly is also provided.

An axle assembly for a vehicle including a differential assembly, a first axle tube extending outwardly from a first side of the differential assembly and defining an axle bore, a first axle shaft rotatably received in the first axle tube, and defining an annular groove extending radially inwardly from its outer surface, a retainer nut axially fixed to a distal end of the first axle tube, the retainer nut having an annular flange extending inwardly into the axle bore and defining an annular outer raceway, a snap ring received in the annular groove, and an axial thrust component disposed in the axle bore of the first axle tube between the snap ring and the outer raceway of the retainer nut.

An axle assembly for a vehicle including a differential assembly, a first axle tube extending outwardly from a first side of the differential assembly and defining an axle bore, a first axle shaft rotatably received in the first axle tube, and defining an annular groove extending radially inwardly from its outer surface, a retainer nut axially fixed to a distal end of the first axle tube, the retainer nut having an annular flange extending inwardly into the axle bore and defining an annular outer raceway, a snap ring received in the annular groove, and an axial thrust component disposed in the axle bore of the first axle tube between the snap ring and the outer raceway of the retainer nut.

A wheel bearing apparatus has a double row angular contact ball bearing. A height of a shoulder of a shoulder portion (18) of an outer member (12) with respect to a ball diameter of a double ball (14) row is set in a range of 0.35 to 0.50 mm. A corner (19) of the shoulder portion (18) has a relief surface (19a) and a chamfered portion (19b). The relief surface is on a straight line that is on a tangent line of an outer raceway surface (12a). The chamfered portion (19b) is round in a circular arc with a predetermined radius of curvature r. The corner (19) is formed simultaneously by a formed grinding wheel forming the double row outer raceway surface (12a). The corner is formed smoothly continuous from each outer raceway surface (12a). A length in the radial direction of the relief surface (19a) is set greater than or equal to 0.2 mm.