NTN Develops World's Lightest Super-Lightweight Gen3 Hub Bearing for Minicars

NTN Corporation has developed a “Super Lightweight 3rd Generation Hub Bearing” for the minicar market. This bearing is the lightest of its kind in the world !

Hub bearings support the wheels of the automobile. The use of Gen3 hub bearings is becoming more popular in small vehicles because no pre-load adjustment of the bearing is needed and installation on the vehicle is simple. Manufacturers constantly demand that hub bearings be made even lighter for better fuel economy, especially in compact and minicars.

To make this possible, NTN dramatically lightened the hub bearing by using newly developed high-strength carbon steel, proprietary heat treatment technology, and by optimizing the shapes of the hub wheel flanges. With a total weight savings of 1 kilogram, NTN's new bearings provide a 30% weight reduction compared to conventional hub bearings. NTN has succeeded in developing the world's lightest “Super Lightweight 3rd Generation Hub Bearing for Minicars”.

Features

To create this super lightweight hub bearing, NTN applied knowledge and expertise gained from years of producing Gen3 bearings.

1. Weight has been reduced by optimizing the shape of each part using CAE strength analysis.
2. Fatigue strength has been improved and high bearing rigidity has been achieved by utilizing newly developed high-strength carbon steel and proprietary heat treatment technology.
3. Bearing life has been extended by optimizing the inner race design specifications and using long-life grease and seals.

Left:	Super-lightweight Gen3 hub bearing (weight: 1kg)
Right:	Conventional Gen3 hub bearing (weight: 1.3kg)