Abstract: Motor vehicle wheel end assembly with hub lock which includes a wheel bearing and hub assembly attached to a knuckle, shown as a steering knuckle, but not required, pursuant to standard industry practice. A hub trunnion is extended inwardly beyond a wheel bearing cone, is grooved to accept a snap ring retainer and is splined to receive an adapter flange. A constant velocity (CV) joint stub shaft is piloted and retained within a bore in the hub trunnion by utilizing ball bearings and a retaining ring. The outside diameter of the constant velocity (CV) joint body is splined to match the outside diameter of the adapter flange. A locking collar with internal spline teeth is piloted on the constant velocity (CV) joint body and is movable laterally to selectively engage, or not engage, with the adapter flange outside diameter splines. When engaged, torque can be transmitted from the constant velocity (CV) joint to the wheel hub.

Abstract: Bevel gears having a carbon content of at least about 0.4% by weight, preferably 0.5% by weight are manufactured by a process which includes forging a steel blank having a carbon content of at least 0.4% by weight until a bevel gear precursor having essentially the tooth configuration and dimensions of the desired product gear is obtained, and hardening the teeth of the gear precursor by induction heating without machining of the teeth. The initial forging is precise enough so that no further machining of the teeth is required. This requires forging to a tolerance specified in AGMA class 6. The gear is then induction hardened, first by preheating at a lower frequency, say 10 KHz, then induction heating at a higher frequency, say 50 KHz, in order to obtain a desired hardness profile. The desired hardness profile includes the surface hardness of at least 50, preferably 60, on the Rockwell C scale and a core hardness not over Rockwell C 45, preferably from Rockwell 25 to Rockwell 40.