Development of lightweight hub unit for compact vehicles
～30% reduction in weight while maintaining rigidity and strength～

JTEKT Corporation has developed a lightweight hub unit for compact vehicles that maintains the rigidity and strength of conventional hub units while having 30 percent less weight.

Automakers, desiring to reduce the weight below the springs in order to improve vehicle maneuvering performance and fuel efficiency, have sought the further compactness of hub units in order to expand the design freedom of axle periphery parts. At the same time, significant advances in vehicle behavior control have been made in recent years, and various system control technologies beginning with horizontal slip prevention mechanisms have been introduced in order to raise levels of safety and driving pleasure; however, such additional mechanisms increase the weight placed on suspension parts. Accordingly, reducing both the size and weight of hub units while maintaining their rigidity and strength has become essential.

JTEKT was able to develop this new hub unit with reduced size and weight by utilizing a design method based on CAE analysis of the axle assembly, which composes the hub unit and its peripheral parts the brake drum and wheel. JTEKT utilized its wealth of experience, technology and know-how in the field of analysis to create this design method.

Annual sales of this lightweight hub unit, which is mainly for application on compact vehicles, are expected to reach approximately three billion yen by 2011.

* The hub unit, a part of the suspension, is a unit composing a hub and bearings and connects the vehicle's chassis and wheels.