Wheel bearing assembly mount with force attenuation

A support member ( 14 ) for rotatably coupling a first element to a second element. The support member includes a sleeve ( 50 ) for rotatably supporting the first element, and a flange ( 56 ) having a concave central portion. The flange ( 56 ) is coupled to the sleeve ( 50 ). The flange ( 56 ) has bearing surfaces ( 68 a , 68 b) formed thereon along which the flange ( 56 ) is mounted to the second element. In one embodiment, the first element is a spindle ( 12 ) of a vehicle wheel assembly ( 11 ) and is rotatably supported in the sleeve ( 50 ) by rollable bearing elements positioned therein. Multiple tapered lobes ( 64 ) extend outwardly from the sleeve ( 50 ), and the support member ( 14 ) is mounted to a vehicle via bearing surfaces ( 68 a , 68 b) along the lobes ( 64 ). Due to the concave portion of the flange ( 56 ), the bearing surfaces ( 68 a , 68 b) are the only portions of the flange ( 56 ) in contact with the vehicle when the support member ( 14 ) is secured to the vehicle, reducing the contact area between the flange ( 56 ) and the vehicle, and reducing impact forces transferred to the bearings. A portion of the flange ( 56 ) may act as a spring member, enabling the flange ( 56 ) to flex in response to an impact load experienced by the wheel bearing assembly ( 11 ). This enables the flange ( 56 ) to absorb a portion of the side impact load, thereby attenuating the portion of the load transmitted to the bearings. A wheel bearing assembly ( 10 ) incorporating the support member ( 14 ) is also disclosed.