Hub
Forged Aluminum Wheel Hub: Five-Arm Hub with Integrated Center Cup
The forged aluminum wheel hub is the core of a wheel assembly, connecting the wheel to the bearing and drive shaft. This design has a central cup with internal ribs, five arms extending outward, each ending in a wheel-stud boss, and a cylindrical bearing/shaft seat below. A hub carries vehicle weight, cornering side loads, and drive and braking torque at the same time, making it a typical vehicle safety part.
Al Forge Tech (AFT) closed-die hot forges the cup, five arms and shaft seat in one operation, so grain flow runs continuously from the center into every stud boss, avoiding the porosity and shrinkage common in castings. After in-house T6 heat treatment, the bearing seat, internal spline or fit surfaces, stud holes and mounting faces are turned and machined on 4.5-axis CNC, and stud pitch circle and runout are verified on CMM. AFT's hub experience also includes forged aluminum truck wheel hubs.
Key Features
- Cup, five arms and shaft seat hot forged in one piece with continuous grain flow
- Dense forged structure free of casting porosity and shrinkage
- Bearing seat, stud holes and mounting faces turned and machined on 4.5-axis CNC
- Stud pitch circle, runout and flatness measured on CMM
Forged Aluminum Wheel Hub Specifications and Manufacturing Capability
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Product category | Aluminum Forging Automobile Parts |
| Application | Wheel hub assemblies for passenger, performance and light vehicles; forged aluminum truck wheel hub experience |
| Primary process | Closed-die hot forging (hot forging presses 600T–8,000T) |
| Material | Per customer specification; 6xxx alloys such as 6082 and 6110 are common for automotive chassis arms, 7xxx evaluated for higher strength |
| Heat treatment | In-house T4 solution treatment (8 units) and T6 artificial aging (7 units), set by alloy and strength requirement |
| Secondary machining | CNC machining (52 machining centers, 30 lathes), deburring, vibratory finishing |
| Surface finish | Anodizing (including hard anodizing), shot blasting, e-coating or painting, as required |
| Inspection | Zeiss CMM (4 units), hardness testers, spectrometer, fluorescent penetrant line; tensile and fatigue testing available |
| Dimensions and tolerances | Per customer 2D/3D drawings |
| Quality system | IATF 16949:2016, ISO 14001:2015 |
Forged Aluminum Wheel Hub Manufacturing Process
- Drawing review and DFM: we confirm alloy, load direction and critical dimensions, then run QForm simulation to predict metal flow and defect risk.
- Die design and manufacturing: the number of die sets (for example, blocker and finisher dies) is planned around part complexity, and die contours are checked with a portable 3D scanner.
- Hot forging: closed-die forming on 600T–8,000T hot forging presses creates a continuous grain flow that follows the part contour.
- Heat treatment: T4 solution treatment and T6 artificial aging are performed in-house, with parameters set by alloy and strength requirement.
- CNC machining and finishing: holes, threads and mating surfaces are machined, followed by deburring, vibratory finishing, shot blasting or anodizing as required.
- Inspection and shipment: dimensions, hardness and chemical composition are verified with CMM, hardness testers and a spectrometer, with lot traceability kept under IATF 16949.
FAQ
How does a forged aluminum wheel hub compare with a cast hub?
A cast hub can take more complex shapes, but residual porosity and shrinkage can become fatigue-crack initiation sites under repeated bending and torsion. A forged hub is formed in the solid state under pressure, giving a dense structure with grain flow continuous along each arm, so a lighter section can achieve the same strength and reduce unsprung mass. As a safety part, the final design must still be validated against the vehicle's loads and test standards.
How are stud pitch circle and runout controlled on the hub?
The stud pitch circle diameter (PCD) determines whether the wheel mounts correctly, and runout of the bearing seat and mounting face affects how smoothly the wheel turns. After T6 heat treatment, AFT machines the bearing seat, mounting face and stud holes from one datum to minimize re-clamping error, then measures PCD, indexing, runout and flatness on Zeiss CMM, with records kept under IATF 16949.
Is heat treatment for the Forged Aluminum Wheel Hub done in-house?
Yes. Al Forge Tech operates 8 T4 solution treatment units and 7 T6 artificial aging units on site, so the Forged Aluminum Wheel Hub can be solution treated, quenched and aged in the same facility before machining and inspection. Keeping heat treatment in-house removes inter-plant transport, reduces lead-time risk and keeps lot traceability within one quality system. Parameters are set according to the alloy grade and your specification.
How do you keep the Forged Aluminum Wheel Hub consistent from lot to lot?
Al Forge Tech runs incoming (IQC), in-process (IPQC) and final (FQC) inspection under IATF 16949:2016, supported by 4 Zeiss CMMs, hardness testers, a spectrometer and a fluorescent penetrant inspection line. First, middle and last pieces of every lot are checked against the die; when wear causes dimensional drift, the die is reworked to keep the Forged Aluminum Wheel Hub stable across lots.
What information do you need to quote the Forged Aluminum Wheel Hub?
Please send a 3D model and 2D drawing, alloy grade and temper, critical tolerances, surface finish requirements, estimated annual volume and target delivery date. Complete data lets our engineers judge forging feasibility, the number of die sets and the machining scope for the Forged Aluminum Wheel Hub at the quotation stage. If the design is still conceptual, a sketch is enough to start a DFM discussion.
Request a Quote for the Forged Aluminum Wheel Hub
Developing a new Forged Aluminum Wheel Hub or converting an existing part to aluminum forging? Send us your 3D/2D drawings, alloy and temper, annual volume and finishing requirements. Our engineering team will reply with a feasibility review, die plan and quotation.
- Online inquiry: Contact Us
- Email: aft@aft-forge.com.tw
To compare similar parts, browse Aluminum Forging Automobile Parts and our automotive aluminum forging applications, or visit About Us for our equipment and certifications.