A vehicle has a frame, a motor, a driveshaft operatively connected to the motor, a front differential operatively connected to the driveshaft, a pair of front half-shafts operatively connecting the front differential to front wheels, at least one rear wheel, a steering wheel, a steering column operatively connected to the steering wheel, a rack and pinion assembly operatively connected to the steering column, the rack and pinion assembly being disposed rearward of the front differential, a right tie rod having a left end operatively connected to a rack of the rack and pinion assembly and a right end operatively connected to the right wheel, and a left tie rod having a right end operatively connected to the rack and a left end operatively connected to the left wheel. The inner ends of the tie rods are disposed forwardly of a vertically and laterally extending central plane of the rack.

A low suspension arm strut coupling is provided for a suspension of an off-road vehicle. The suspension comprises a lower suspension arm that is hingedly coupled between a chassis of the off-road vehicle and a spindle assembly that is coupled with a front wheel. An upper suspension arm is hingedly coupled between the chassis and the spindle assembly. A strut is coupled between the lower suspension arm and the chassis. A lower pivot couples the strut to the lower suspension, and an upper pivot couples the strut to the chassis. The upper and lower pivots provide a lower center of gravity of the off-road vehicle and a relatively smaller shock angle. The lower suspension arm is reinforced to withstand forces due to movement of the front wheel and operation of the strut in response to travel over terrain.

A suspension module having a subframe assembly. The subframe assembly may include a lower subframe that may pivotally support at least one lower control arm. An upper control arm mounting plate may be mounted to the lower subframe. The upper control arm mounting plate may pivotally support an upper control arm.

A damper assembly includes an outer cylinder, an inner cylinder positioned at least partially within the outer cylinder, a plunger positioned at least partially within the inner cylinder and coupled to a rod, an aperture extending through the rod, an annular piston coupled to the inner cylinder, and a valve assembly. The rod is positioned at least partially within the inner cylinder and has an outer dimension that is smaller than an inner dimension of the inner cylinder. The plunger and an interior of the inner cylinder at least partially define a first chamber. The valve assembly is in fluid communication with the first chamber and a second chamber. The annular piston extends between the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder, and the annular piston, an exterior surface of the inner cylinder, and the outer cylinder at least partially define the second chamber.

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 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 damper system for a vehicle is provided that includes a damper and actuator. The damper extends longitudinally along a damper axis between first and second damper ends. The actuator is separate and spaced apart from the damper. The actuator extends longitudinally along an actuator axis between first and second actuator ends. The damper and the actuator are arranged next to one another where the actuator axis is spaced from and substantially parallel to the damper axis. The damper and the actuator are positioned within a cylindrical packaging envelope that has a diameter of 300 millimeters or less. The cylindrical packaging envelope is an imaginary cylinder, which may be defined by one or more components of a vehicle's suspension system such as a coil spring or an upper suspension arm. The damper and the actuator are completely contained within the cylindrical packaging envelope.

A rod-end front suspension is provided for an off-road vehicle. The rod-end front suspension comprises a spindle assembly that is pivotally coupled with an upper suspension arm by way of a first rod-end joint and pivotally coupled with a lower suspension arm by way of a second rod-end joint. A steering rod-end joint coupled with the spindle assembly pivotally receives a steering rod. An axle assembly coupled with the spindle assembly conducts torque from a transaxle to a wheel coupled with the spindle assembly. Each of the first and second rod-end joints comprises a ball rotatably retained within a casing. The ball is fastened within a recess between parallel prongs extending from the spindle assembly. A threaded shank extending from the casing is threadably fixated with the suspension arm, such that the spindle assembly may be moved with respect to the casing and the suspension arm.

Systems, methods, and devices for a vehicle windshield are disclosed herein. A vehicle includes a vehicle body comprising a front, a first side, and a second side, wherein the first side and the second side are opposite one another on the vehicle body. The vehicle comprises a cabin located within the body of the vehicle, wherein the cabin comprises an interior that is configured to accommodate at least one person. The vehicle comprises at least one door that provides ingress and egress to the interior of the cabin of the vehicle. The vehicle comprises a windshield that provides a visual line of sight out of the cabin for a user located within the interior of the cabin, and wherein the windshield extends across the front and at least partially on to at least one of the first side or the second side.

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.