How are the wheels of the car arranged?

The hub is a part that is a bearing assembly that provides the connection of the wheels with the suspension. Sometimes the concept of "hub" implies the entire complex of parts, and sometimes only one part (the bearing unit). In today's article, we will tell you in detail about how this mechanism works and what function it performs.

Appointment

The wheel hubs serve to install the disc with special bearings on the pivot axis (pivot). The design of this mechanism assumes the presence of flanges. The latter attach the disc itself or the rim of the wheel to which the drum joins (on modern cars - the brake disc).

Wheel hub function

This mechanism ensures free rotation of the entire wheel around its axis. This rotation is due to bearings. To date, wheel hubs are equipped with roller or double-row ball bearings.

In most modern devices, the entire body of the device performs the function of the last parts. Because of this, the wheel hub can not be repaired. When they fail, the mechanism is completely replaced.

Where are they located?

Each car has at least 4 hubs, which can be placed on the front and rear axle, right and left axle shafts. Each wheel has its own mechanism, ensuring free rotation of the tire.

Bearing arrangement

As noted above, these parts can be roller or ball type. Regardless of it, these bearings can take radial and axial loads, which are transferred from the wheel to the hub. However, they have their differences. For example, roller mechanisms, in contrast to ball-type mechanisms, have a large load-bearing capacity. Therefore, they provide a linear zone of contact with the treads of the bearing rings. Ball devices also form a point contact zone.

The rear wheel hub, complete with roller bearings, has a small axial clearance. Its values during the operation of the car can increase. This is due to the gradual wear of spare parts. Therefore, to ensure that the gap does not exceed the allowable values, such a hub has a special adjusting device.

Cars are most often equipped with ball radial-thrust devices. Such bearings in the mechanism are filled with lubricant, which is present in the system all the time of operation. Since the lubricant here is durable, the front wheel hub does not require periodic maintenance, respectively, adjustments, too. By the way, now many manufacturers equip the hubs with special sensors (such as ABS and others), so even the cheapest part today costs about 2.5 thousand rubles.

And finally, we note a few manufacturers who supply the Russian market with quality parts. These products are NSK, NTN, KOYO and SNR. Hubs from these manufacturers are distinguished by their high reliability and low cost.