What are the characteristics of the first generation of automotive wheel hub bearings

The characteristics of the first generation of automotive wheel hub bearings are mainly reflected in the following aspects:

Structural composition: The first generation wheel hub bearings were mainly composed of an outer ring, two inner rings, steel balls, and a retaining structure, forming the structure of double row angular contact ball bearings or double row tapered roller bearings. This structural form gives the bearing high stability and load-bearing capacity.

Pre tightening and installation: The first generation of wheel hub bearings paid attention to the application of pre tightening force during design. By setting the initial bearing clearance in advance, the pre tightening load after installation was ensured to be within the specified range. This feature eliminates the need for adjusting the preload spacer on the automotive assembly line, simplifying the installation process. At the same time, due to the high precision requirements for groove center distance, the grinding wheel needs to be shaped with a rotary forming shaper with high dimensional accuracy to achieve ideal machining accuracy.

Sealing performance: The first generation wheel hub bearings come with sealing rings, which eliminates the need for manual external installation of sealing rings and improves the sealing performance of the bearings. Excellent sealing structure can effectively prevent external mud, dust, and water vapor from entering the interior of the bearing, thereby extending the service life of the bearing.

Usage and maintenance: Although the first generation wheel hub bearings have undergone many structural optimizations, regular lubrication is still required to maintain the normal operation of the bearings. This requirement increases the maintenance cost and workload of the bearings. However, compared with traditional car wheel bearings, the first generation wheel hub bearings are more convenient to install, without the need for cumbersome tools such as gaskets, saving assembly time.

Performance and stability: The first generation wheel hub bearings improved the stability and durability of the bearings through their compact structural design and optimized pre tensioning force application method. This type of bearing can withstand large loads and maintain good operating conditions during the driving process of the car.

In summary, the first generation of automotive wheel hub bearings played an important role in the automotive industry with their unique structural design, excellent sealing performance, convenient installation process, and stable operating performance. However, with the continuous advancement of technology and the increasing demand for automotive performance, the first generation wheel hub bearings have gradually been replaced by more advanced and efficient second-generation and third-generation wheel hub bearings.