Apparatuses and systems for monitoring wheel alignment and/or for controlling vehicle suspension settings to adjust alignment. Described herein are alignment monitoring apparatuses for determining wheel alignment (e.g., camber, castor and/or toe). Also described herein are alignment adjusting or control apparatuses for adjusting one or more of camber, caster and/or toe.

A rear axle for a two-track vehicle includes a first trailing arm, a first wheel carrier with a first wheel center and a first longitudinal strut, which form a first coupling mechanism that is effective in a longitudinal and/or a vertical direction of the vehicle. A second trailing arm and a second wheel carrier with a second wheel center and a second longitudinal strut form a second coupling mechanism that is effective in a longitudinal and/or a vertical direction of the vehicle, and a crossmember is firmly connected to the first trailing arm and to the second trailing arm and has a shear center. The first coupling mechanism has a first instantaneous center of rotation located on the front side and above the first wheel center, and the second coupling mechanism has a second instantaneous center of rotation located on the front side and above the second wheel center. A two-track vehicle having a chassis or an underbody includes such a rear axle arranged on the chassis or on the underbody.

The twist axle assembly includes a cross beam that extends along a length between opposite ends, and a pair of trailing arms are fixedly attached with the opposite ends. A spindle plate is fixedly attached with each of the trailing arms. For each spindle plate and trailing arm combination, the spindle plate and trailing arm are provided with cooperating orbital adjustment features which allow an orientation of the spindle plate relative to the trailing arm to be adjusted prior to the spindle plate being fixedly attached with the trailing arm for allowing preselection of a camber angle, a caster angle, and a toe angle for a wheel to be coupled with the spindle plate.

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 steering system for a wheel of a vehicle includes a pivot member having multiple pivot-node locations. The pivot member is connectable at a first pivot-node location to a sub-frame of the wheel. A steering rod is actuatable to rotate the wheel about a steering axis and is mechanically coupled with the pivot member to be co-pivotable with the pivot member. A suspension-connector rod has a first end that is connected to the pivot member at a second pivot-node location, and has a second end that is connectable to a suspension arm linking the wheel of the vehicle to the sub-frame. When the steering system is installed in a vehicle, a lateral force acting upon the wheel is transmitted via the steering rod to the pivot member so as to rotate the pivot member, and the rotation is effective to transmit a substantially-vertical force vector to the sub-frame.

Electromechanical apparatuses for controlling vehicle suspension settings. Described herein are electromechanical apparatuses for controlling wheel alignment (e.g., camber, castor and/or toe). In particular, described herein are camber adjusting apparatuses for electromechanically adjusting camber or camber and toe that may be retrofitted onto existing vehicle suspensions.

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 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.

According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, a vehicle knuckle used in a steering device of a vehicle is provided. The vehicle knuckle according to one embodiment of the present disclosure may comprise a knuckle body constituting a basic body of the vehicle knuckle; and one or more flanges formed on one side of the knuckle body and configured to be used to connect the knuckle to other components of the vehicle. According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, all or a portion of the knuckle body may comprise a closed-box-section structure in which a hollow space portion is defined, and the closed-box-section structure may be configured such that the knuckle body integrally encloses around the hollow space portion.

A steering device includes a steering power unit, a transmission unit, an upper control arm, a steering element, an eccentric bolt and a steering knuckle. The steering power unit has at least one torque-output end. The transmission unit is connected with the torque-output end. The steering element is connected with the transmission unit. The eccentric bolt, installed at the upper control arm, is connected with the steering power unit. The steering knuckle, mounted to a wheel disc, is connected with the steering element and the upper control arm, and used for controlling the wheel disc. The steering power unit drives the steering element to push or pull the steering knuckle for controlling a turning angle, and simultaneously drives the eccentric bolt to have the upper control arm to push or pull the steering knuckle for varying a camber angle of the wheel disc. In addition, a steering method is provided.