An end damper capable of providing an impact absorbing function with a short stroke is provided. A steering system includes: a large-diameter members attached one to each axial end of a rack shaft; a rack housing having stopper portions which the corresponding large-diameter members approach and separate from, the rack housing holding the rack shaft and the large-diameter members movably in an axial direction; and end dampers each of which absorbs impact by being held between the corresponding large-diameter member and the corresponding stopper portion in the axial direction. Each end damper includes: a first elastic member that is elastically deformed by being held; and a second elastic member that is elastically deformed such that an elastic modulus of the entire end damper is greater than an elastic modulus of the first elastic member, by receiving a load resulting from the elastic deformation of the first elastic member.

A tension rod supporting part (14) is provided at a sub-frame front structure (10) of a front part of a front sub-frame (5); the side member (6) is disposed upward in one side and extended rearward from the tension rod supporting part (14); a rack arrangement step (A) opened downward for arranging a steering rack (55) is formed behind the tension rod supporting portion (14) and under the side member (6); and a stabilizer support part (62) is provided in the rack arrangement step (A).

Axial ball joint (1), particularly for use in a steering gear (7), which includes a joint housing (2) open on a first side for receiving a joint ball (4) attached to a joint stud (5). A housing stud (3) is arranged on the joint housing (2). A damping device (10) is provided on the side of the joint housing (2) on which the housing stud (3) is formed. The damping device (10) includes an elastic damping element (11) made of plastic with a metallic insert (12). The metallic insert (12) is embedded in the material of the elastic damping element (11) by injection molding.

In the damper device, when the large diameter portion does not apply an impact force on the flange portion, the elastic body is disposed in one of the housing and the cylindrical portion with a gap and when the large diameter portion applies the impact force on the flange portion, the elastic body is compressed by the restricting surface and the flange portion in an axial direction to be deformed into a state that the elastic body is brought into contact with all of the housing, the restricting surface, the cylindrical portion and the flange portion to be filled in the gap. The impact receiving member is restricted from a movement relative to the housing by the deformed elastic body when the end portion of the cylindrical portion is advanced into the relief portion and the impact receiving member keeps a non-contact state with the housing.

Provided are a linear damper capable of reducing great collision sound or impact even when a great load rapidly acts and a steering device including the linear damper. A steering device 100 includes a linear damper 120 between a rack bar 103 and a rack end 106. In the linear damper 120, a relative displacement body 140 is provided to be reciprocatably displaceable in an inner chamber forming body 121 formed in a cylindrical shape. In the inner chamber forming body 121, a first inner chamber 125a and a second inner chamber 125b are formed on both sides of a valve support portion 123 supporting first flow control valves 127 and a second flow control valve 128. An end portion of the inner chamber forming body 121 facing a rack housing 104 is provided with a bumper portion 131. The bumper portion 131 is produced in such a manner that an elastically-deformable elastic body is formed into a circular ring shape.

A rack-and-pinion type steering device includes a ball joint for connecting a rack shaft and a tie rod. The ball joint includes a socket and a ball. The socket is provided with a regulated surface allowed to contact a regulating surface of a rack housing, and a screw projecting from the regulated surface to be connected to the rack shaft. The regulated surface includes an intermediate portion having a curved surface shape that recedes from a regulating surface in a longitudinal direction of the rack shaft toward the outer circumference, and the regulated surface has such a shape that a pointed portion toward the regulating surface is less likely to be formed on the regulated surface even if a processing error occurs in the processing for forming the regulated surface of the socket.

A vehicle steering device may prevent a return tube from falling off from a ball nut, being deformed or being damaged despite continuous steering during driving, allow a ball to correctly circulate to the ball nut through the return tube, and prevent the lubricant from leaking from the return tube to correctly transfer steering assistance force.

A front axle assembly includes an axle and a steering assembly. The steering assembly includes a pair of wheel hubs coupled to opposing ends of the axle, a steering gear mechanism configured to be positioned between (a) a first vertical plane defined by a first frame rail of the vehicle and (b) a second vertical plane defined by a second frame rail of the vehicle, and a linkage assembly coupling the steering gear mechanism to the pair of wheel hubs to facilitate steering the pair of wheel hubs through actuation of the steering gear mechanism. Components of linkage assembly do not extend through the first frame rail or the second frame rail.

A vehicle includes a chassis and a front axle assembly. The chassis includes a first frame rail defining a first vertical plane and a second frame rail defining a second vertical plane. The front axle assembly includes an axle and a steering assembly. The axle is coupled to a front end of the first frame rail and the second frame rail. The steering assembly includes a pair of wheel hubs coupled to opposing ends of the axle, a steering gear mechanism including a first gear box and a second gear box, and a linkage assembly coupling the steering gear mechanism to the pair of wheel hubs to facilitate steering the pair of wheel hubs through actuation of the steering gear mechanism. The first gear box and the second gear box are positioned between the first vertical plane and the second vertical plane.

A vehicle with driving and steering rear wheels includes a rear suspension system having a support frame mounted on the vehicle body. For each rear wheel, a wheel support is connected to the frame by oscillating arms. An actuator is mounted on the frame, with control rods, protruding from opposite ends of the actuator body, and connected to the wheel supports by control arms. Within a space between the rear wheels, there is a rear motor or differential. The actuator body is mounted on the frame along a transverse direction spaced apart from an axis of the rear wheels to avoid interference with the motor or differential. The control arms are substantially parallel to a transverse direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, or form an angle therewith not exceeding 15 degrees. The control rods are connected to the control arms with the interposition of a transmission.