To provide a rolling bearing device for a vehicle capable of solving a problem of difficulty in correctly recognizing life of the rolling bearing device because of difficulty in correctly recognizing size of prepressure, in the case of providing a prescribed preload (the amount of preload) by forming a negative gap by caulking an end surface of a circular member to enlarge diameter of one axial end side end surface of a hub shaft.

An ultrasonic sensor 26 is fixed to an outer ring member 7, and ultrasonic waves are continuously or discontinuously generated from the ultrasonic sensor 26 during traveling. Echo height of received ultrasonic waves is computed by a computing element 28 connected to the ultrasonic sensor 26, and surface pressure at a contact part of an outer ring race surface 2a to a ball 4 is computed by the computing element 28 based on result of above computation. Preload provided to the rolling bearing device is also computed by the computing element 28 based on the surface pressure. Life of the rolling bearing device 1 can thus be recognized based on difference from predetermined preload.

COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO