A UTV portal axle system is disclosed, including a spindle with a housing for housing input and output drive gears coupled by one or more idler gears. The output drive gear is disposed lower than the input drive gear to provide additional ground clearance to the UTV. The king pin axis angle is substantially the same as that of a stock UTV, while maintaining a scrub radius of substantially one inch or less. This is accomplished by the lower control arm ball joint being located within a recess of the output drive gear. This allows the UTV to be properly controlled when driven at high speeds over rough or uneven terrain. The gears may be interchangeable to allow the gear ratio to be adjusted to be more suitable for use at various driving speeds. A method of changing the gear ratio is also disclosed.

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.

A method and apparatus for lowering the height of a wheeled vehicle for cargo height constraints during transportation. The rear leaf spring shackle on each side of the vehicle is connected to a sliding frame mount. In the transport configuration, fasteners are removed from the sliding frame mount, and the mount slides forward, rotating the rear leaf spring shackle from a near vertical to a near horizontal position, effectively lowering the height of the vehicle. To return the vehicle to the ride configuration, a screw jack member is attached to the sliding frame mount and a rear attachment point on the vehicle, pulling the sliding frame mount back, aligning attachment points of the mount with the frame member in the original position. The fasteners are reinstalled to lock the sliding frame mount into the ride configuration.

A modular electronic damping control system is described and includes a damping component located at a vehicle suspension location. The modular electronic damping control system also includes a control system configured to control the damping component, and determine the type of damping component present. Also, the control system is configured to automatically tune a vehicle's suspension based on the type of damping component present, and automatically monitor the damping component and determine when a change has been made to the damping component so that the control system can then automatically re-tune the vehicle's suspension based on the change to the damping component.

A vehicle suspension arrangement includes a mounting bracket, a trailing arm, an air spring assembly configured to bias a second end of the trailing arm from a vehicle frame member, an axle assembly couple to the trailing arm, and a trailing arm connection assembly that includes a connector having a first portion received within an aperture of the mounting bracket, and a second portion extending outwardly from the first portion and including an aperture, a bushing member received within a first end of the trailing arm, a pin member received within the bushing member and including a first aperture, and a first mechanical fastener received within the first aperture of the pin member and within the aperture of the second portion of the first connector, thereby pivotably securing the trailing arm to the mounting bracket.

A shock absorber includes i) a hollow base defining an axial direction and having a first mounting portion, ii) an outer axial tube, having first and second longitudinal ends, and being coaxially mounted into the hollow base via its first longitudinal end so as to allow adjusting a distance of the second longitudinal end relative to the base; and iii) an inner axial tube slidably mounted into the outer axial tube therein; the inner axial tube having a second mounting portion. The hollow tube has an opening therein that defines a window to allow visualizing a part of the outer axial tube therethrough which includes the first longitudinal end thereof.

A vehicle suspension having a first load-bearing component assembly and a second load-bearing component assembly. The first and second load bearing component assemblies are adapted to be transversely positioned across from each other on a vehicle chassis. A directionally-dependent heave spring assembly is adapted to be transversely secured to a vehicle chassis, the heave spring assembly is coupled to the first load-bearing component assembly and to the second load-bearing component assembly and exhibits resiliency in opposition to upward vertical movement of both wheel hub assemblies relative to their rest states, and exhibits substantially no resiliency in opposition to downward vertical movement of both wheel assemblies relative to their rest states.

A vehicle includes a vehicle wheel, a vehicle frame and an adjustment mechanism configured to move the vehicle wheel relative to the vehicle frame. The adjustment mechanism includes a cam stud and a cam spacer. The cam stud extends at least partially through the vehicle frame. The cam spacer is rotationally fixed to the cam stud. Rotating the cam spacer moves the vehicle wheel relative to the vehicle frame.

Techniques regarding a vehicle suspension assembly are provided herein. For example, one or more embodiments described herein can regard an apparatus that can comprise a locking plate that can be located between a first spring and a second spring in a first direction. Also, the locking plate can comprise a locking pin. Moreover, the apparatus can comprise a locking sleeve that can surround the first spring and the locking plate. The locking sleeve can comprise a first channel that traverses the locking sleeve in the first direction. The locking sleeve can further comprise a second channel that is connected to the first channel and traverses the locking sleeve in a second direction.

An exemplary system for aligning a relative position between two components includes a locating member and an alignment insert member configured to couple with the locating member. The alignment insert member includes a radially-extending tab. The radially-extending tab has a plurality of identifying markers to identify a radial position of the locating member. The locating member is rotatable within the alignment insert member to adjust a radial position of the locating member.