New Schaeffler Wheel Hubs Reduce Friction, Improve Economy

SCHWEINFURT, Germany – A new wheel hub that reduces friction and extends the life of the bearings inside will show up in a North American SUV next year.

Engineers at Schaeffler Group replaced two banks of tapered roller bearings with four banks of cheaper ball bearings.

Low-profile Schaeffler, which does about $5 billion a year in automotive sales under three OEM brands, is with Sweden’s SKF, Japan’s NTN and Ohio’s Timken Co., a leader in automotive bearings. It is home ...