A wheel end (A, B, C) for mounting a road wheel (W) of an automotive
vehicle includes a knuckle (2) having a bearing cavity (20, 24, 26), a
hub having a spindle (40) that projects into the bearing cavity of the
knuckle and a flange (42) at one end of the spindle, with the road wheel
being attached to it, and a bearing (6) located within the bearing cavity
and around the spindle of the hub to enable the hub to rotate on the
spindle. The bearing includes tapered rollers (72) organized in outboard
and inboard rows as well as raceways (60, 76, 82) along which they roll.
The rollers of the inboard row roll along tapered raceways on a cup
pressed into the bearing cavity and a cone (66) pressed over the spindle.
The bearing is closed at that end by an inboard seal (12, 174, 184, 208)
which includes a case (130) pressed into a bore (24) that forms part of
the bearing cavity, a shield (132) pressed over a thrust rib at the end
of the cone, and a seal element (134, 178) bonded to the case and
establishing a fluid barrier with the shield. The shield has a wall (142,
188) which serves as a tone ring, and this ring is monitored by a sensor
(14, 186, 212) which is fitted to the knuckle at the inboard end of the
bearing cavity. A CV joint (8) engages the spindle, and it carries a
slinger (16) which flings contaminants and debris away from the cavity
and further has a seal element (154) which establishes a fluid barrier
around the end of the cavity.