The ball socket assembly includes a housing with at least one open end and with an inner surface that surrounds an inner bore which extends along a central axis. The ball socket assembly also includes a ball stud that has a ball portion and a shank portion. The ball portion is disposed in the inner bore of the housing and has an outer diameter which is in a spherical fit relationship with the inner surface of the housing. The shank portion of the ball stud extends out of the inner bore through the at least one open end of the housing. The ball portion is out of contact with any bearings on opposite axial sides of the ball portion such that the ball stud is able to move along the central axis relative to the housing.

A suspension link, such as a control arm, has a detachable ball joint end which attaches to a ball joint connected to the wheel hub of a vehicle. The detachable ball joint end also attaches to a housing member of an opposite facing intermediate portion of the suspension link. There is an adjustable set off between opposite facing surfaces of the detachable ball joint end and the housing member. Adjustments in the set off, which adjust the camber of the vehicle wheel, may be made by placing one or more shims between the detachable ball joint end and the bolt housing.

An apparatus is described for interconnecting a steering knuckle and lower suspension arm. The apparatus includes a ball joint assembly having a height adjustment feature and a non-concentric ball and shaft that together allow for increased range of camber adjustment.

A ball joint has a ball stud, a housing and a ball seat. The seat is an elastic body in a tubular shape with the top and the bottom being open, and has a spherical space to accommodate a ball portion. The housing has a spherical inner face that is close to an outer periphery of the ball portion, to accommodate the ball portion in the inner face via the seat so as to support the ball stud. A clamped portion arranged at a peripheral end of the housing is clamped to press the seat so that the ball stud can be swung and rotated.

A suspension is provided for coupling a front wheel with a chassis of an off-road vehicle. The suspension comprises upper and lower suspension arms that each includes two inboard mounting points to the chassis and one outboard rod-end joint to a spindle assembly coupled with the front wheel. A ball comprising each outboard rod-end joint is fastened by way a bolt between a pair of parallel prongs extending from the spindle assembly. The upper suspension arm is configured to facilitate coupling a strut between the lower suspension arm and the chassis. A steering rod is coupled with the spindle assembly by way of a steering rod-end joint that is disposed forward of a drive axle, thereby decreasing leverage of the front wheel on the steering rod and substantially eliminating bump steer that may occur due to rough terrain.

A joint for a vehicle, the joint having an outer sleeve, a joint shell for receiving a movably supported joint inner portion, and an inner sleeve, at least part of which is arranged between the joint shell and the outer sleeve. The inner sleeve has two radially outwardly projecting rim cylinders which are axially mutually spaced and run around the outer periphery of the inner sleeve, and the two rim cylinders define a peripheral recess on the outer periphery of the inner sleeve. The joint is characterized in that a press-fit device designed integrally with the inner sleeve extends in the region of at least one rim cylinder of the inner sleeve radially outwards beyond the outer diameter of the rim cylinder.

A leading-edge steering system is provided for a front suspension of an off-road vehicle. The leading-edge steering system is comprised of a spindle assembly that supports a drive axle assembly to conduct torque from a transaxle to a front wheel. A first rod-end joint pivotally couples an upper suspension arm and the spindle assembly, and a second rod-end joint pivotally couples a lower suspension arm and the spindle assembly. A steering rod-end joint pivotally couples a first end of a steering rod with a leading-edge portion of the spindle assembly. A steering gear is coupled with a second end of the steering rod and configured to move the steering rod, such that the spindle assembly rotates with respect to the upper and lower suspension arms. The leading-edge portion is configured to exert primarily tensile forces on the steering rod during travel over rough terrain.

A wheel support for a motor vehicle, including a main part and a track lever extending from the main part for attaching a track rod via a track rod joint, wherein the track rod joint is fixed or can be fixed to the track lever at an attachment point by a pin on one side of the track lever. A holding protrusion which covers the attachment point forms a securing means for the track rod on the wheel support. The disclosure additionally relates to a method for mounting a wheel support for a motor vehicle.

A vehicle suspension component (16), such as a lower control arm, that includes first and second stamped metal shells (30, 32) and several connection nodes (36, 38, 40) for operably connecting the suspension component to the rest of the vehicle suspension system. The first and second stamped metal shells may be stamped from next generation steel that is lightweight and strong, and are joined together in a clam shell or box-style type design. Each of the connection nodes includes a fixed attachment end (92, 192) and a movable attachment end (94, 194), wherein the fixed attachment end may be sandwiched between the shell connection node portions of the first and second stamped metal shells and welded thereto, whereas the movable attachment end movably or pivotably attaches the vehicle suspension component to the vehicle suspension system.

A vehicle suspension system includes a frame, a damper and a rocker arm. The frame is connected with the rocker arm through the damper, the swing part of swing arm limits the swing arm's rotation angle by matching the limit structure on the frame; the bottom of damper is provided with the universal structure, the damper is connected with the rocker arm through the universal structure, and the universal structure controls the damper in free deflection. A deviation motion of vehicle wheels on both ends by coordinating the swing arm, vibration damper, etc. to avoid the slipping and rollover due to great sides way upon vehicle steering and the lateral wheels disengagement from ground and to enhance the safety of cornering driving of vehicles.