The socket assembly includes a housing with an inner bore which extends between open first and second ends. A ball stud is partially disposed within the inner bore of the housing and includes shank, ball and protrusion portions with the shank portion extending out of the housing through the first end. A first bearing is disposed in the inner bore and includes a passage. The protrusion portion of the ball stud extends into the passage, and the passage is shaped to cooperate with the protrusion portion to allow the ball stud to rotate relative to said housing in one rotational direction by a greater magnitude than in another rotational direction. A cover plate closes the second open end of the housing, and a spring is disposed between the cover plate and the first bearing and biases the first bearing into contact with the ball portion of the ball stud.

A ball joint press includes a first frame including a first member and a first adaptor, and a second frame including a second member and a second adaptor. A link is pivotally coupled to the first member and to the second the second member. An actuating screw is rotatably coupled to the first member and to the second member. Rotation of the actuating screw in a first rotational direction causes the first member and second member to undergo a first pivoting action relative to the link to move the first adaptor toward the second adaptor. Rotation of the actuating screw in a second rotational direction opposite the first rotational direction causes the first member and second member to undergo a second pivoting action relative to the link, opposite to the first pivot action, to move the first adaptor away from the second adaptor.

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 connecting arrangement is provided between joining partners which are braced separably against each other in the chassis region of a vehicle, wherein the joining partners are braced against each other via their contact surfaces by at least one releasable fastening element. Hard particles are applied to the contact surface at least of one of the joining partners before the production of the connecting arrangement and therefore before the bracing mounting of the joining partners and of the fastening element. The hard particles at least partially project into the respectively other contact surface as a result of the bracing mounting. The hard particles are applied so as to be at least approximately abrasion-proof, for example by a blasting process.

The present invention provides embodiments of modified upper and lower control arms for attachment to the steering knuckle that came with the vehicle, or for attachment to a modified steering knuckle of an embodiment of the invention, such that the steering knuckle, and in particular the wheel hub opening of the steering knuckle, are located at positions that are closer to the front of the vehicle than the positions provided by the control arms that came with the vehicle. The forward position of the wheel hub relative to the position provided by the factory or stock control arms moves the wheel and tire forward by the same distance, thereby allowing much larger wheels and tires to be mounted on the vehicle which do not rub against or interfere with the wheel well, fender or body mount, thereby increasing the approach angle of the vehicle for use in off-road climbing.

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).

The tie rod is designed to elongate when subjected to an overload in tension that is placed on the tie rod. A plurality of threads and a reduced diameter section on the tie rod elongated when subjected to a tension overload that exceeds the design parameters of the tie rod. The elongation of the tie rod is designed to provide a warning to the operator of the vehicle that the tie rod has been subjected to an overload and should be inspected and repaired as needed. The deformation and elongation of the tie rod absorbs energy and protects other components of the steering and suspension systems of the vehicle.

A sealing comprises a seal portion and a plate portion fixed to the seal portion. The seal portion can have an undulating configuration of at least one peak and at least one valley, and the plate portion can circumferentially surround the seal portion. The seal portion can be made of a first material and the plate portion can be made of a second material more rigid than the first material. The seal portion can have a radially inward facing contact surface that defines a central opening of the sealing.

A link arm member of the present invention is used in a vehicle for connecting a suspension and a stabilizer, and includes: a support bar that is sealed by plastically deforming a hollow metal pipe at both ends thereof; and a housing part made of resin that is arranged at each end of the support bar and has a receiving hole for receiving a ball part of a ball stud to which the suspension or the stabilizer is fixed, wherein the housing part is formed by insert molding with the support bar.

A ball joint press includes a first frame including a first member and a first adaptor, and a second frame including a second member and a second adaptor. A link is pivotally coupled to the first member and to the second the second member. An actuating screw is rotatably coupled to the first member and to the second member. Rotation of the actuating screw in a first rotational direction causes the first member and second member to undergo a first pivoting action relative to the link to move the first adaptor toward the second adaptor. Rotation of the actuating screw in a second rotational direction opposite the first rotational direction causes the first member and second member to undergo a second pivoting action relative to the link, opposite to the first pivot action, to move the first adaptor away from the second adaptor.