A wheel support bearing assembly excellent in the strength and the creep
resistance is provided. An inner member (3) of the bearing assembly
includes a hub axle (4) made of carbon steel and having a radially
outwardly extending hub flange (22) formed on an outer peripheral surface
of the hub axle (4) at a location adjacent the outboard end thereof, and
an inner race member (5). The hub axle (4) has a radially inwardly
depressed mount (4a) defined on the outer peripheral surface thereof at a
location adjacent the inboard end thereof, and the inner race member (5)
is fixedly mounted on the depressed mount (4a). A raceway (3b) is defined
in an outer peripheral surface of the inner race member (5). The inner
race member (5) has a radially inner end edge, delimited between an inner
peripheral surface thereof and an annular inboard end face thereof, which
edge is chamfered to represent a rounded inner end corner (5a), and is
fixed on the depressed mount (4a) by means of an annular end stop (4c)
that is formed by staking the inboard end of the hub axle so as to
protrude radially outwardly. The hub axle (4) also includes a hardened
layer (20) formed on a surface portion of the outer peripheral surface
thereof at a region between a root (22a) of the hub flange (22) and the
depressed mount (4a). An inboard end of the hardened layer extends to a
position between the raceway (3b) and the rounded inner end corner (5a)
of the inner race member (5).