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 suspension arm includes a ball stud including a spherical ball; a bearing in which the ball is accommodated; a housing having an inner peripheral portion, an outer peripheral portion, and a lower end portion that connects a lower end of the inner peripheral portion and a lower end of the outer peripheral portion, and configured to accommodate the ball and the bearing in a state in which the ball and the bearing are spaced apart from the inner peripheral portion; an arm body coupled to a portion of the outer peripheral portion of the housing; and an insert molding part formed on an outer peripheral portion of the bearing, the inner peripheral portion of the housing, and the lower end portion of the housing to couple the bearing with the housing. A convex-concave portion is formed on the inner peripheral portion of the housing along a circumferential direction.

Techniques for using ball joint sensor data to determine conditions relevant to a vehicle are described in this disclosure. For example, in one example, the ball joint sensor data may be used to determine a ride height at a portion of the vehicle, which may be used to determine roll data and/or pitch data. The ride height, roll data, and/or pitch data may be directly used to navigate through an environment, such as by the vehicle relying on the data when interpreting sensor data or planning driving operations. Also, the ride height, roll data, and/or pitch data may be used to verify the reliability of other sensor data used to navigate through the environment.

Disclosed herein are system, method, and computer program product embodiments for detecting potentially unsafe wear levels in vehicle suspension systems. An embodiment operates by receiving acoustic signals of a vehicle suspension system, processing, the acoustic signals to generate training data, training a predictive learning algorithm to generate a predictive wear model and classifying the processed acoustic signals to indicate wear levels of one or more components of the vehicle suspension system. The trained predictive wear model subsequently predicts wear levels of the vehicle suspension system for notification to a cloud-based repository. Fleets of driverless vehicles may continuously monitor wear levels for timely maintenance before failure occurs.

An attachment interface is provided for connecting a vehicle composite component having a plate portion that is made of a fiber reinforced polymer and has a passage extending in a through manner along an axis. The attachment interface provides a metal attachment device, which includes an inner portion engaging the passage and an outer portion defining a connection point suitable to be connected to another vehicle element. The plate portion is axially sandwiched between two layers made of a fiber reinforced polymer composite material selected from the group consisting of BMC (Bulk Molding Compound), LFT (Long Fiber Thermoplastic) and DLFT (Direct Long Fiber Thermoplastic).

Adjustable and rebuildable ball joint assemblies are disclosed. Methods for installation, adjustment, and rebuilding ball joint assemblies are described. In some embodiments, the ball joint assembly includes a washer with tabs to restrain rotation of the cap relative to the housing. In some embodiments, the ball joint assembly includes a locking mechanism to restrain rotation of the bearing relative to the housing.

Systems are provided for suspensions that deliver desirable wheel kinematics at prescribed conditions. A system includes a vehicle body structure with an engine cradle, and an associated wheel assembly. A suspension system links the wheel assembly with the engine cradle, and includes a link coupled with the engine cradle and coupled with the wheel assembly. A joint at the link includes a flange that has an opening, an edge, and at least one undercut defined in edge of the flange. The joint allows release of the wheel assembly from the engine cradle by designed tearing between the opening and the at least one undercut. The release is initiated only under loads above a select threshold at the joint, to provide select kinematics of the wheel assembly for specific operational cases.

A wheel suspension for a vehicle includes: a steering knuckle support; a steering knuckle mounted at the steering knuckle support so as to be swivelable around a steering axis; a vehicle wheel mounted at the steering knuckle so as to be rotatable around a wheel rotational axis; and a plurality of links by which the steering knuckle support is articulated at a vehicle frame such that the steering knuckle support is moveable in a vertical direction of the vehicle relative to the vehicle frame. A first one of the links is configured as a first control arm configured as a four-bar link, and a second one of the links is configured as a second control arm arranged offset relative to the first link in the vertical direction of the vehicle, and wherein the second link is configured as a two-bar link that is adjustable in length.

Aspects of the disclosure relate to a mechanical joint with five degrees of freedom. In certain embodiments, the mechanical joint includes first and second triangular linkages The first triangular linkage includes a base end configured to hingedly couple to a first body to pivot relative to the first body and a vertex end that includes a first rotational member. The second triangular linkage includes a base end configured to hingedly couple to a second body to pivot relative to the second body and a vertex end that includes a second rotational member. The first rotational member and the second rotational member are rotationally coupled to form a all joint. With this joint, the second body is moveable in two translational degrees of freedom and restricted in one translational degree of freedom relative to the first body. Such a configuration allows vertical movement and/or reduces stress on the joint.

A ball socket assembly, dust boot assembly therefor, and method of construction thereof are provided. The ball socket assembly includes a housing with an inner bore extending along a central axis. A bearing is disposed in the inner bore. A ball portion of a ball stud is disposed in sliding engagement with the bearing and a shank portion extends outwardly from the housing. A dust boot assembly having a tubular wall extends along the central axis between a distal end disposed about the shank portion and a proximal end in sealed engagement with the housing. The dust boot proximal end has an annular flange extending radially outwardly from the central axis. The annular flange has a cylindrical outer surface, a lower surface and an upper shoulder. An annular metal ring is disposed about and substantially encapsulates the cylindrical outer surface, lower surface and upper shoulder of the annular flange.