Evaluation of Dimensional and Property Tolerances of Wheel Mounting Studs Pressed into Automotive Hubs

This study has determined the influence of interference fit, hub hardness and stud hardness within their normal manufacturing tolerance ranges on various characteristics of two different hub assemblies. These characteristics include the forces necessary to both install and drive out the studs in a hub, the torque required to twist the studs in their seats (or shear them off) and the distortion of the hub mounting face resulting from the inserted stud. Using an analysis of means technique (ANOM) it was concluded that interference fit between the stud and the hub is by far the major factor involved while the hardness levels of the component parts within the specification limits are of minor concern.