A subframe assembly for a vehicle and a method for manufacturing the same is disclosed. The subframe assembly includes a crossmember, a straight arm, and a side bracket. The crossmember includes an end bracket disposed at an end thereof. The straight arm is received into and metallurgically bonded to the end bracket of the crossmember. The side bracket includes a base, and a rear bracket arm. The base is metallurgically bonded to a side of the straight arm adjacent to the end of the crossmember. The rear bracket arm extends from an end of the base and defines a hole adapted to receive a screw or pin for connecting a control arm of a wheel suspension to the subframe assembly. The rear bracket arm is at least partially received into and metallurgically bonded to the end bracket of the crossmember.

Shock absorber assembly structures are disclosed. An example shock absorber disclosed herein includes a shock absorber mount coupled to an end of the shock absorber, the shock absorber mount including a recess to receive a locating rib of a vehicle body, and an aperture to receive a fastener to couple the shock absorber mount to an attachment boss of the vehicle body.

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.

An independent wheel suspension for a two-track vehicle has a wheel carrier, a vibration damper designed and arranged in the manner of a damper strut, and a leaf spring element, which has, in particular, a fiber composite material or is made from a fiber composite material. The leaf spring element is oriented at least approximately in the transverse direction of the vehicle and is designed to provide a suspension function and, together with the vibration damper, to guide a vehicle wheel fastened to the wheel carrier when the independent wheel suspension is installed in a vehicle for functional usage. The leaf spring element is connected, on the wheel carrier end, to the wheel carrier via two rubber bearings, each having a bearing axis and a central bearing point, so as to be rotatable about the respective bearing axis of each rubber bearing and is designed to be connected, on the vehicle body end, to an axle support in a torsion-resistant manner and/or directly to a vehicle body.

Aspects of the present invention relate to a system for a vehicle comprising: a hydraulic suspension actuator comprising a piston, a first upper fluidic chamber and a second lower fluidic chamber, the first and second fluidic chambers separated by the piston; at least one actuator system module mounted to a subframe and laterally separated from the hydraulic suspension actuator, the at least one actuator system module comprising one or more actuator system components; a longitudinal beam located laterally between the hydraulic suspension actuator and the at least one actuator system module; and at least one conduit fluidly connecting the hydraulic suspension actuator and the at least one actuator system module, wherein the at least one conduit passes over the longitudinal beam.

Aspects of the present invention relate to an actuator system for a vehicle suspension system comprising: a first actuator comprising a piston, a first upper fluidic chamber and a second lower fluidic chamber, the first and second fluidic chambers separated by the piston; a second actuator comprising a piston, a first upper fluidic chamber and a second lower fluidic chamber, the first and second fluidic chambers separated by the piston; a first hydraulic gallery fluidly connecting the first upper fluidic chamber of the first actuator and one of the first and second fluidic chambers of the second actuator; a second hydraulic gallery fluidly connecting the second lower fluidic chamber of the first actuator and the other of the first and second fluidic chambers of the second actuator; and at least one pump configured to pump fluid between the first and second hydraulic galleries.

A wheel suspension system can include a wheel interface having a wheel interface axis about which a wheel rotates when connected to the wheel interface, and an arm connected to the wheel interface and rotatable with respect to the wheel interface about a first axis, wherein the arm is connectable to a reference frame and rotatable with respect to the reference frame about a second axis. In some embodiments, the first axis and the second axis are offset with respect to the wheel interface axis. In some embodiments, the first axis and the second axis are off-parallel.

A leaf spring apparatus for a vehicle suspension includes a leaf spring, a carrier disposed on an end portion of the leaf spring and mounted on a wheel of a vehicle, a first connection unit connecting the end portion of the leaf spring and the carrier to each other, a cross member disposed on top of the leaf spring and supporting a body of the vehicle, and a second connection unit connecting the leaf spring and the cross member to each other.

Shock absorber assembly structures are disclosed. An example shock absorber disclosed herein includes a shock absorber mount coupled to an end of the shock absorber, the shock absorber mount including a recess to receive a locating rib of a vehicle body, and an aperture to receive a fastener to couple the shock absorber mount to an attachment boss of the vehicle body.

Shock absorber assembly structures are disclosed. An example apparatus disclosed herein includes a body of a vehicle having a first longitudinal structural member adjacent a wheel arch area of the body, a first locating rib integrally formed in the first longitudinal structural member to position a shock absorber of a chassis of the vehicle during assembly of the vehicle body to the chassis, and a first attachment boss integrally formed in the first longitudinal structural member adjacent to the first locating rib to receive a first fastener to fasten the shock absorber to the body.