A vehicle comprising a first leaf spring connected to a chassis so as to, while deflecting, allow relative vertical movement between the chassis and a wheel axle and thereby also between the chassis and wheels, and a control circuitry configured to: compare the signal indicative of the actual path followed by the wind-up center with a representation of a reference path that the wind-up center of the first leaf spring should follow when the first leaf spring is well-functioning and deflects as intended; determine whether a difference between the actual path and the reference path is greater than a threshold value; and, in response to the determined difference greater than the threshold, generate an alarm signal indicative of a detected or possibly detected leaf spring failure.

An air-ride axle/suspension system for a heavy-duty vehicle. A frame and at least a pair of suspension assemblies support opposite ends of an axle for movement relative to the frame. An air spring is associated with one of the suspension assemblies that establishes a first relative position between the axle and the frame as a function of fluid pressure in the air spring. A tire and wheel assembly is operatively mounted to an end portion of the axle associated with the air spring. A sensor detects an inflation condition of the tire and wheel assembly. A venting system exhausts fluid pressure from the air spring to establish a second relative position between the axle and the frame that is different than the first relative position in response to detecting a predetermined inflation condition of the tire and wheel assembly.

A method of producing a control arm for a motor vehicle, in particular a multi-point control arm, preferably a transverse control arm, which is substantially formed by a fiber-plastic composite structure. The method includes the steps: creating of a preform structure with load-adapted fiber orientation, introducing the preform structure into a forming tool, consolidating the preform structure in the tool by application of pressure and/or temperature, and removing and further processing of the control arm.

A system may monitor a vibration isolating connection between a first part and a second part. The system may include a light source, an optical sensor mounted to receive light from the light source, and a processing unit for providing an output indicative of the deformation of the vibration isolating connection based on the output of the optical sensor.