Wheel bearing assembly

Claim 1

Wheel bearing assembly such as used on a motor vehicle and arranged to be attached to a wheel carrier of the motor vehicle comprising a wheel hub including an axially extending tubular part having an axially extending inner surface and an axially extending outer surface, a rotary constant velocity joint arranged to drive said wheel hub, said tubular part having a first end and a second end spaced apart in the axial direction, a bearing located on the outer surface of said tubular part and including an outer bearing ring arranged to be connected to the wheel carrier of the motor vehicle, an inner bearing ring located within said outer bearing ring and comprising a first ring part and a second ring part arranged in contacting relation one following the other in the axial direction of said tubular part, said constant velocity joint including an outer joint member and an inner joint member, said outer joint member is formed integrally with said tubular part and is located adjacent the second end of said tubular part, the outer surface of said tubular part forming an annular shoulder facing toward the second end of said tubular part, said first ring part bearing against said shoulder on said tubular part, an annular groove formed in the outer surface of said tubular part between said shoulder and the second end of said tubular part, a retaining ring fitted within said groove in the outer surface of said tubular part and bearing against said second ring part for pressing said second ring part against said first ring part and pressing said first ring part against said shoulder, said ring comprising at least two surfaces extending angularly of one another and said surfaces extending angularly of the axis of tubular part, and said retaining ring is formed of a plastically deformable material so that after said retaining ring is plastically deformed as it is pressed into said groove, said ring produces a pretensioning effect on said ring parts.