An independent wheel suspension includes a knuckle which is supported on a spring support connected to a vehicle body. The knuckle is connected to the spring support via a knuckle pin and is arranged so as to be mounted rotatably around a longitudinal axis A of the knuckle pin. The transverse control arms are mounted at the upper end and lower end, respectively, of the knuckle pin. The spring support is connected to the knuckle pin so as to be fixed with respect to rotation relative to it so that the knuckle pin connects the spring support, the knuckle and the upper transverse control arm and lower transverse control arm together. The independent wheel suspension has a further safety component which prevents the knuckle pin from rotating in an uncontrolled manner around its longitudinal axis A.

A bumper stopper installed on the shock absorber of a vehicle to respond to the impact of a cylinder lifting or lowering in the vertical direction depending on the running state of the vehicle. The bumper stopper is constructed such that a cylindrical dust cover having an opening formed at the lower end thereof is connected to a buffer member formed of peaks and troughs. The buffer member has a through hole through which a cylinder and rod of a shock absorber passes via a connection plate so that the buffer member and the dust cover are integrated with each other. It prevents air from being compressed inside the buffer member, thereby preventing component damage due to high pressure. Also, it prevents abnormal noise from occurring in the process of contact and separation between the cylinder and the connection plate, thereby providing improved ride comfort.

A bumper stopper installed on the shock absorber of a vehicle to respond to the impact of a cylinder lifting or lowering in the vertical direction depending on the running state of the vehicle. The bumper stopper is constructed such that a cylindrical dust cover having an opening formed at the lower end thereof is connected to a buffer member formed of peaks and troughs. The buffer member has a through hole through which a cylinder and rod of a shock absorber passes via a connection plate so that the buffer member and the dust cover are integrated with each other. It prevents air from being compressed inside the buffer member, thereby preventing component damage due to high pressure. Also, it prevents abnormal noise from occurring in the process of contact and separation between the cylinder and the connection plate, thereby providing improved ride comfort.

A suspension limiter includes a diaphragm element configured to be placed in operable communication with a suspension such that a rate of increase in load per unit travel of compression of the suspension is reduced near a full travel of the suspension than would exist for the suspension if the diaphragm element were not present, the diaphragm element arranged to deform only elastically through the full travel of the suspension. Suspension arrangements and methods of loading suspension arrangements are also described.

A suspension limiter includes a diaphragm element configured to be placed in operable communication with a suspension such that a rate of increase in load per unit travel of compression of the suspension is reduced near a full travel of the suspension than would exist for the suspension if the diaphragm element were not present, the diaphragm element arranged to deform only elastically through the full travel of the suspension. Suspension arrangements and methods of loading suspension arrangements are also described.

A suspension includes a jounce bumper, and a striker. A spring biases the knuckle toward a first position. One of the spring and the jounce bumper is disposed forward of a kingpin axis of the knuckle and the other of the spring and the jounce bumper is disposed rearward of the kingpin axis. When in a first position, the spring is a first spring length. When in a second position, the spring is shorter than in the first position and the jounce bumper contacts the striker. When in a third position, the spring is shorter than in the second position and the jounce bumper is compressed against the striker to be shorter than in the second position. When moving between the second and third positions, the spring and jounce bumper impart moments on the knuckle that approximately balance each other to maintain a desired caster angle.

A suspension includes a jounce bumper, and a striker. A spring biases the knuckle toward a first position. One of the spring and the jounce bumper is disposed forward of a kingpin axis of the knuckle and the other of the spring and the jounce bumper is disposed rearward of the kingpin axis. When in a first position, the spring is a first spring length. When in a second position, the spring is shorter than in the first position and the jounce bumper contacts the striker. When in a third position, the spring is shorter than in the second position and the jounce bumper is compressed against the striker to be shorter than in the second position. When moving between the second and third positions, the spring and jounce bumper impart moments on the knuckle that approximately balance each other to maintain a desired caster angle.

The bushing includes an outer cylinder, an inner cylinder, and an elastic body therebetween. The outer cylinder has a central recess portion formed in a curved shape. The inner cylinder has a central convex portion being formed in a curved shape. A distance between a vertex of the central recess portion and the vertex of the central convex portion is smaller than a distance between a point other than the vertex of the central recess portion and a point at which a straight line extending from the point other than the vertex of the central recess portion to an intersection point of the perpendicular line and the axis of the inner cylinder intersects the central convex portion.

The bushing includes an outer cylinder, an inner cylinder, and an elastic body therebetween. The outer cylinder has a central recess portion formed in a curved shape. The inner cylinder has a central convex portion being formed in a curved shape. A distance between a vertex of the central recess portion and the vertex of the central convex portion is smaller than a distance between a point other than the vertex of the central recess portion and a point at which a straight line extending from the point other than the vertex of the central recess portion to an intersection point of the perpendicular line and the axis of the inner cylinder intersects the central convex portion.

An axle-to-beam connection for a suspension assembly of an axle/suspension system of a heavy-duty vehicle including an axle, a beam, and a top pad. The beam includes an alignment assembly for aligning the axle with the beam. The top pad includes an integrally-formed bump stop boss and is fixedly attached to the axle and removably attached to the alignment assembly of the beam.