Abstract: A compact multistage planetary final drive mechanism includes a housing structure and associated wheel rotatably mounted on a hollow spindle, and a planetary gear apparatus for driving the housing structure at a relatively high speed reduction ratio in response to rotation of an input shaft. The planetary gear apparatus includes a first stage cluster gear set operatively connected to a second stage planetary gear set. A plurality of planet gears of the planetary gear set are rotatably mounted on the spindle, a parking brake mechanism is mounted within the spindle, and a first trough is defined annularly about the spindle. A second trough is defined within the housing structure, first and second pairs of wire raceways are seated within the respective troughs, and a plurality of roller bearing elements are cross connected within the wire raceways to transmit thrust and radial loads from the wheel to the spindle.