A drivable axle for a vehicle, in particular a rigid axle. The drivable axle has an axle body designed to accommodate an axle shaft and a receiving structure for receiving a vehicle element which is integrated into a drive-train of the vehicle. The receiving structure is connected to the axle body and is designed to receive a drive unit of the vehicle and has openings for connection to the axle shaft. The receiving structure has at least one fixing area for fixing the drive unit to the receiving structure.

A suspension interconnection assembly comprises first and second saddle brackets and a fastener. Each saddle bracket comprises a base, a pair of arms spaced apart and have the base disposed therebetween, and a pair of shoulders. Each shoulder is disposed between the base and a respective arm. Each shoulder has a first beveled surface. The pair of shoulders cooperates with the base and the pair of arms to at least partially define a U-shaped pocket. The U-shaped pockets of each saddle bracket are sized to partially receive an axle housing. The fastener interconnects the saddle brackets to couple the saddle brackets and a spring to the axle housing. The beveled surfaces of each saddle bracket are adapted to operatively engage the peripheral wall. The pairs of arms of each saddle bracket are adapted to operatively engage one another after the beveled surfaces operatively engage the peripheral wall.

An oblong cantilevered support includes a pair of latitudinally spaced apart oblong resilient members connected by a pair of longitudinally spaced apart blocks. The longitudinal spacing between the blocks can be adjusted. One or both of the members can have a tapered profile causing the stiffness of the member to vary along its length. Adjusting the spacing between the blocks and/or sliding a variable stiffness member longitudinally with respect to the blocks can adjust the stiffness of the overall support. Each member can be made from a unitary piece of fiber composite material such as a carbon fiber infused polymer wherein the orientations of the fibers are varied to provide both bending and torsional strength and stiffness that varies along the length of the member. The tapered geometry can be formed by a pair of parallely spaced apart oblique trapezoidal truncated pyramids interconnected by a webbing strip.

An apparatus includes at least one pressurized air source, at least one switching valve is in fluid communication with the pressurized air source, and at least one bump stop assembly is in fluid communication with the at least one switching valve. The at least one bump stop assembly includes a body member that at least partially defines a pressure chamber that is in fluid communication with the at least one pressurized air source. A bump stop contact member is coupled to the pressure chamber. A controller is configured to vary a fluid pressure within the pressure chamber in response to an input from at least one vehicle sensor.

A bearing bush for supporting a motor vehicle part includes an inner tube made of a metal, a sliding sleeve made of a first plastic material and mounted rotatably on the inner tube, and an elastomer bearing which surrounds the sliding sleeve and has at least a first elastomer body and an outer sleeve. A sliding layer made of a second plastic material is applied to an outer circumferential surface of the inner tube, the first plastic material and the second plastic material forming a tribological pairing either of two different polymers from the groups of polyamides, polyoxymethylenes, polyketones, fluoropolymers, polyethylene terephthalates or polybutylene terephthalates, or the tribological pairing being formed from polyketone against polyketone, wherein the polymers of the tribological pairings each are present in a continuous thermoplastic polymer phase.

A suspension system for a vehicle includes a first chassis rail and a second chassis rail, each extending longitudinally in an axial direction of the vehicle. Also included is a first leaf spring element extending longitudinally in the axial direction of the vehicle, the first leaf spring element operatively coupled proximate ends thereof to the first chassis rail and at an intermediate location to an axle assembly of the vehicle. Further included is a second leaf spring element extending longitudinally in the axial direction of the vehicle, the second leaf spring element operatively coupled proximate ends thereof to the second chassis rail and at an intermediate location to the axle assembly of the vehicle. Yet further included is at least one leaf spring extending in a transverse direction of the vehicle, the at least one leaf spring having a spring rate that is actively variable.

A suspension travel control system (1046) for a vehicle suspension is disclosed. The suspension travel control system includes a stop post (834) secured to the vehicle frame and a suspension travel control formation that includes a base (1042) and a body (1048). The stop post (834) is positioned in a space defined by the body (1048). The suspension travel control formation may be secured to the axle, the main support member or incorporated into the axle coupling assembly to provide a rebound and jounce stop as well as longitudinal redundancy in the event of the failure or loss of a longitudinal linkage.

The disclosure concerns a spring assembly with a leaf spring. The leaf spring extends in a vehicle longitudinal axis, supports a vehicle axle and is connected at least indirectly to a vehicle superstructure at a front end and at a rear end. In order to provide a wheel suspension with advantageous springing and damping behavior that is optimized with regard to weight and complexity, according to the disclosure it is provided that at least one damping region, which is at least partially fluid-filled, is integrated in the leaf spring.

A vehicle suspension system includes a leaf spring. The vehicle suspension system also includes a sensor embedded within the leaf spring and in operative communication with a vehicle system.

In a method for producing a spring leaf (2) for a leaf spring, in particular a parabolic spring or suspension spring, wherein the spring leaf (2) comprises two end regions, a central region, a top side which is subjected to tensile stress in the operative state, and a bottom side (1) which is subjected to pressure in the operative state, at least one hole (3) is introduced into the bottom side (1). The bottom side (1) is peened locally in the region around the hole (3).