A motor vehicle with driving and steering rear wheels—comprises 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.

An attachment interface is provided for connecting a vehicle composite component having a plate portion that is made of a fiber reinforced polymer and has a passage extending in a through manner along an axis. The attachment interface provides a metal attachment device, which includes an inner portion engaging the passage and an outer portion defining a connection point suitable to be connected to another vehicle element. The plate portion is axially sandwiched between two layers made of a fiber reinforced polymer composite material selected from the group consisting of BMC (Bulk Molding Compound), LFT (Long Fiber Thermoplastic) and DLFT (Direct Long Fiber Thermoplastic).

A wheel end assembly having upper and lower arms and a tie rod coupled to a wheel carrier at an outer tie rod joint. A pin member is disposed between upper and lower mounting extensions of the wheel carrier or extends from a single mounting extension. The pin member includes a first end, a second end and an expanded ball portion between the first and second end. The expanded ball portion is offset toward one of the first and second ends. The tie rod joint is defined by a pivotal coupling of the tie rod end to the pin member. An adjustable height pin for the tie rod allows adjust of height on the tie rod.

A universal axle-hub assembly is provided for an off-road vehicle. The universal axle-hub assembly comprises a wheel hub that receives a constant velocity (CV) axle snout into an opening extending through an axle support of the wheel hub. An outboard-most portion of the opening is a splined portion that engages with similar splines disposed on an outboard-most portion of the CV axle snout. An inboard-most portion of the opening is a smooth portion that receives a smooth portion of the CV axle snout. The axle support extends through an entirety of the width of a bearing that supports the wheel hub, such that the bearing supports the smooth portion of the CV axle snout and substantially eliminates shear forces acting on the splined portion of the CV axle snout. A bearing carrier supports the bearing and may be fastened onto a trailing arm or a spindle of the off-road vehicle.

A ball joint assembly, a ring for use in a ball joint assembly, a seat for use in a ball joint assembly, and a method of assembly a ball joint are provided. The ball joint assembly includes a ball stud with a spherical portion and a tapered portion, wherein the spherical portion is positioned in a seat. The ring is formed as an annulus shape and includes a ring projection positioned at an outer surface of the ring, the ring for mounting between the seat and a housing of the ball joint assembly to press-fit high load to the seat. The ball joint assembly includes a seat for attaching to the ball stud at the spherical portion and to support the ring with high stress. The seat includes a seat projection comprising a portion of the seat extending beyond an outer surface of the seat towards the housing.

An electric power steering system includes an electric motor including a motor output shaft. The system also includes a worm operatively coupled to the motor output shaft. The system further includes a worm gear in contact with the worm and operatively coupled to an auxiliary shaft. The system yet further includes a drive gear operatively coupled to the auxiliary shaft. The system also includes a driven gear in contact with the drive gear and operatively coupled to an input shaft to drive a manual recirculating ball steering gear.

A ball joint assembly includes a stud and a two-piece cup. The stud has a shank that is connectable to a first vehicle suspension component, and a ball end. The cup is (indirectly) connectable to a second vehicle suspension component, and that holds the ball within. A locking plate prevents the two pieces of the cup from unthreading, and allows the joint to be adjusted as the friction surfaces wear.

A ball joint assembly includes a stud and a two-piece cup. The stud has a shank that is connectable to a first vehicle suspension component, and a ball end. The cup is (indirectly) connectable to a second vehicle suspension component, and that holds the ball within. A locking plate prevents the two pieces of the cup from unthreading, and allows the joint to be adjusted as the friction surfaces wear.

A low suspension arm strut coupling is provided for a suspension of an off-road vehicle. The suspension comprises a lower suspension arm that is hingedly coupled between a chassis of the off-road vehicle and a spindle assembly that is coupled with a front wheel. An upper suspension arm is hingedly coupled between the chassis and the spindle assembly. A strut is coupled between the lower suspension arm and the chassis. A lower pivot couples the strut to the lower suspension, and an upper pivot couples the strut to the chassis. The upper and lower pivots provide a lower center of gravity of the off-road vehicle and a relatively smaller shock angle. The lower suspension arm is reinforced to withstand forces due to movement of the front wheel and operation of the strut in response to travel over terrain.

A universal axle-hub assembly is provided for an off-road vehicle. The universal axle-hub assembly comprises a wheel hub that receives a constant velocity (CV) axle snout into an opening extending through an axle support of the wheel hub. An outboard-most portion of the opening is a splined portion that engages with similar splines disposed on an outboard-most portion of the CV axle snout. An inboard-most portion of the opening is a smooth portion that receives a smooth portion of the CV axle snout. The axle support extends through an entirety of the width of a bearing that supports the wheel hub, such that the bearing supports the smooth portion of the CV axle snout and substantially eliminates shear forces acting on the splined portion of the CV axle snout. A bearing carrier supports the bearing and may be fastened onto a trailing arm or a spindle of the off-road vehicle.