Method and apparatus for producing full face vehicle wheel

Abstract

This invention relates to a method for producing a full face vehicle wheel and comprises the steps of: (a) providing a rim including an inboard tire bead seat retaining flange, an inboard tire bead seat, a well portion, an outboard tire bead seat, the inboard tire bead seat retaining flange including an outer surface, the inboard tire bead seat including an outer surface, an the outboard tire bead seat including an outer surface; (b) providing a disc including a generally centrally located inner wheel mounting portion and an outer annular portion, the outer annular portion including an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner wheel mounting portion including at least one of a fully formed center pilot hole and a plurality of fully formed lug bolt mounting holes, the center pilot hole defining a pilot hole axis and each of the lug bolt holes defining a lug bolt hole axis; (c) providing a wheel fixture tooling assembly for supporting the rim and the disc relative to one another, the wheel fixture tooling assembly operative to locate the rim on the outer surfaces of the inboard and outboard tire bead seats whereby the inboard and outboard tire bead seats are located relative to the axis of the center pilot hole and the axis of the lug bolt holes; and (d) subsequent to step (c), securing the wheel disc to the wheel rim by a weld.