VEHICLE WHEEL END ASSEMBLIES AND METHODS OF ASSEMBLY THEREOF

摘要

A wheel end assembly (10) for a vehicle includes an axle tube (16) and a housing (12) secured to the end of the axle tube (16). A hub (14) includes a drive flange (30) located beyond the housing (12) and a hub spindle (34) projecting from the drive flange (30) into the housing (12). The hub spindle (34) has a substantially solid body with drive splines (52) about an external surface of the hub spindle (34). Rolling elements (46) are located between the hub spindle (34) and the housing (12) for enabling the hub (14) to rotate about an axis. An axle shaft (18) is positioned within the axle tube (16) and includes splines (56) that are coupled to the external drive splines (52) of the hub (14).