Abstract: A method for making a non-driving vehicle axle beam includes selecting a straight section of elongate tube of hardenable steel. The tube is cut to length, and positioned in a die cavity which corresponds to the shape of the finished axle beam. Pressurized fluid is communicated with the interior of the tube to inelastically deform the same into conformance with the shape of the die cavity. The formed tube is removed from the die and selectively heat treated at the areas of high stress during use to define the finished axle beam.