Precision axle spindle and wheel end assembly for heavy-duty vehicles

A method for manufacturing a precision formed axle spindle and wheel end assembly combination for a heavy-duty vehicle, said method comprising the steps of:nproviding an axle spindle;forming on said axle spindle in a first single-chuck process a bearing surface for an inboard bearing and a bearing surface for an outboard bearing disposed longitudinally outboardly of said inboard bearing surface, said axle spindle inboard and outboard bearing surfaces being in parallel alignment with one another;forming on said axle spindle in said first single-chuck process a shoulder for retaining the longitudinal position of said inboard bearing, said shoulder being perpendicular to said axle spindle inboard and outboard bearing surfaces;forming on said axle spindle threads for receiving a spindle nut, said axle spindle threads being aligned with said axle spindle inboard and outboard bearing surfaces;providing a wheel hub;forming on said wheel hub in a second single-chuck process a bearing surface for said inboard bearing and a bearing surface for said outboard bearing, said wheel hub inboard and outboard bearing surfaces being in parallel alignment with one another;forming on said wheel hub an axial stop surface for retaining the longitudinal position of the inboard bearing and an axial stop surface for retaining the longitudinal position of said outboard bearing, each one of said axial stop surfaces being perpendicular to said wheel hub inboard and outboard bearing surfaces;immovably mounting said inboard bearing on said axle spindle at said axle spindle inboard bearing surface and said shoulder;immovably mounting said outboard bearing on said axle spindle at said axle spindle outboard bearing surface;rotatably mounting said wheel hub on said inboard and outboard bearings;providing a spindle nut;forming on said spindle nut a flat inboard surface and threads on an inner periphery of said spindle nut, said flat inboard surface being perpendicular to a projected pitch diameter of said spindle nut threads; andmounting said spindle nut on said axle spindle, whereby said axle spindle, said wheel hub, and the spindle nut cooperate to enable an axle spindle nut assembly to provide a light preload on a bearing cone and spacer group of said wheel end assembly.