An apparatus and a method are provided for an offset tie rod joint for vehicle steering systems. The offset tie rod joint comprises a ball rotatably retained within a casing that is disposed in an opening of an offset housing. A threaded shank fixedly coupled with the offset housing is received by a steering rod. The opening is displaced from a longitudinal axis of the threaded shank by a distance that provides clearance between the offset housing and a spindle assembly during articulation of the spindle assembly during steering. A rear backstop and a front snap-ring in a groove retain the casing within the opening. A bore extending through the ball receives a bolt that fixates the ball between parallel prongs of the spindle assembly. A misalignment spacer on each side of the ball provides clearance for rotation of the ball within the offset housing.

A gear casing for a wheel-hub assembly comprises a gear housing comprising a drive-gear volume for accommodating therewithin a gearing assembly that is positioned to mediate between a drivetrain member and a wheel-hub member, the drive-gear volume being in fluid communication with opposing first and second openings formed in the gear housing for respective gearing-assembly connections therethrough with the drivetrain member and the wheel hub member; and a lubricant compartment radially displaced from the drive-gear volume and in fluid communication therewith exclusively via an array of one or more lubricant passages disposed circumferentially around a portion of the gear housing, the lubricant-passage array arranged for flow therethrough of a gearing-assembly lubricant between the lubricant compartment and the gear housing.

A dual-mode active rear-wheel steering device, including: a steering motor, a main shaft, an intermediate gear, a transmission gear, a planetary gear coupling mechanism and a mode switching assembly. An output end of the steering motor is provided with a first input gear. An end of the main shaft drives a first rear wheel to rotate by a two-stage gear transmission system and a first rear-wheel motion conversion mechanism, and the other end of the main shaft drives a second rear wheel to rotate by the planetary gear coupling mechanism and a second rear-wheel motion conversion mechanism. The intermediate gear, the transmission gear and a sun gear of the planetary gear coupling mechanism are provided on the main shaft. The intermediate gear meshes with the first input gear.

A modular chassis is provided for an off-road vehicle to improve assembly, servicing, and repairing of a drivetrain of the off-road vehicle. The modular chassis includes a chassis to support components of the off-road vehicle. A front frame module couples with a front of the chassis, and a rear frame module couples with a rear of the chassis. The front frame module supports lower suspension arms of the off-road vehicle by way of inboard bushing joints. The front frame module supports at least a steering gear and a front differential of the off-road vehicle. The rear frame module is a tube-frame structure that supports components of the off-road vehicle. A lower portion of the rear frame module extends rearward and acutely upward to a top frame member that couples with upper side portions of the chassis. Several cross-members impart structural integrity to the rear frame module.

A modular chassis is provided for an off-road vehicle to improve assembly, servicing, and repairing of a drivetrain of the off-road vehicle. The modular chassis includes a chassis to support components of the off-road vehicle. A front frame module couples with a front of the chassis, and a rear frame module couples with a rear of the chassis. The front frame module supports lower suspension arms of the off-road vehicle by way of inboard bushing joints. The front frame module supports at least a steering gear and a front differential of the off-road vehicle. The rear frame module is a tube-frame structure that supports components of the off-road vehicle. A lower portion of the rear frame module extends rearward and acutely upward to a top frame member that couples with upper side portions of the chassis. Several cross-members impart structural integrity to the rear frame module.

A motor vehicle with driving and steering rear wheels—comprises includes a rear suspension system having a support frame mounted on the vehicle body. For each rear wheel, a wheel support is connected to the frame by oscillating arms. An actuator is mounted on the frame, with control rods, protruding from opposite ends of the actuator body, and connected to the wheel supports by control arms. Within a space between the rear wheels, there is a rear motor or differential. The actuator body is mounted on the frame along a transverse direction spaced apart from an axis of the rear wheels to avoid interference with the motor or differential. The control arms are substantially parallel to a transverse direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, or form an angle therewith not exceeding 15 degrees. The control rods are connected to the control arms with the interposition of a transmission.

A motor vehicle with driving and steering rear wheels—comprises includes a rear suspension system having a support frame mounted on the vehicle body. For each rear wheel, a wheel support is connected to the frame by oscillating arms. An actuator is mounted on the frame, with control rods, protruding from opposite ends of the actuator body, and connected to the wheel supports by control arms. Within a space between the rear wheels, there is a rear motor or differential. The actuator body is mounted on the frame along a transverse direction spaced apart from an axis of the rear wheels to avoid interference with the motor or differential. The control arms are substantially parallel to a transverse direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, or form an angle therewith not exceeding 15 degrees. The control rods are connected to the control arms with the interposition of a transmission.

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.

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.

A universal axle-hub assembly is provided for an off-road vehicle. The universal axle-hub assembly comprises a wheel hub that receives a constant velocity (CV) axle snout into an opening extending through an axle support of the wheel hub. An outboard-most portion of the opening is a splined portion that engages with similar splines disposed on an outboard-most portion of the CV axle snout. An inboard-most portion of the opening is a smooth portion that receives a smooth portion of the CV axle snout. The axle support extends through an entirety of the width of a bearing that supports the wheel hub, such that the bearing supports the smooth portion of the CV axle snout and substantially eliminates shear forces acting on the splined portion of the CV axle snout. A bearing carrier supports the bearing and may be fastened onto a trailing arm or a spindle of the off-road vehicle.