The disclosed method checks the state of degradation of the suspension of a vehicle without having to carry out tests that immobilize the vehicle or to use non-objective expertise. The method processes data provided by at least one front camera in an on-board visual system. The checking method includes steps for periodically acquiring images provided by the camera or cameras, followed by storage of the positional data of the three-dimensional road in relation to a flat road and basic positional parameter data for the path of the vehicle. The error between the ideal values of the suspension parameters of a chosen suspension model and the values of these parameters corresponding to the stored path data from the positional data is then minimized. By iteration, the accuracy of the error reaches a predetermined value sufficient to diagnose a state of the suspension.

The invention relates to a device for adjusting the height of a vehicle body, having two components, which can be moved longitudinally relative to each other, and a movement thread, which is arranged between these components. The movement thread includes a partial thread which is designed as a spindle paired with a first component and a partial thread which is designed as a spindle nut paired with the other component. The partial threads are designed to be axially movable relative to each other by a rotational drive. The device also includes a locking device which bridges the movement thread in at least three longitudinal positions and which comprises an axially fixed locking ring that is arranged on the spindle in a rotatable manner and has locking cams distributed over the circumference and a shifting gate that is rigidly connected to the spindle nut in an axial manner, receives the locking cams, and includes locking stops, which are arranged at end positions of the at least three longitudinal positions and are distributed over the circumference, and switching ramps, which lie axially opposite the locking stops, are provided with slopes that decrease in the circumferential direction, and are arranged over the circumference. A movement of the locking cams towards the locking stops and towards the switching ramps in the shifting gate is provided by an axial movement of the spindle relative to the spindle nut, this displacement depending on a rotational direction of the rotational drive, and a selection of the locking stops is carried out by rotating the locking ring by the rotated locking cams resting against switching stops provided between the switching ramps. In order to shorten the switching paths and the switching times of the locking device, at least one switching ramp arranged between two locking stops is expanded relative to the remaining switching ramps in a direction of the locking stops.

A vibration damper is provided for a vehicle, preferably for a motor vehicle, having a wheel carrier made of metal for rotatably receiving a wheel, a damper tube arrangement at least partly made of a fiber-reinforced plastic for forming a damper fluid volume, a piston which is guided in the damper tube arrangement and includes a piston rod. The damper tube arrangement is rigidly connected to the wheel carrier and the piston rod can be connected to a body of the vehicle. A wheel carrier fluid volume is formed in the wheel carrier and which is connected to the damper fluid volume. The fluid in the wheel carrier fluid volume is in direct contact with the metal of the wheel carrier in order to transfer heat.

Provided are a shock absorber and a bracket which are improved in attachment rigidity. A cylindrical portion is shaped by press-forming first and second holes in sheet material (flat plate) and then curving the sheet material into a tube, in which a bridge portion is formed between the first and second holes. The bracket is thus improved to have higher formability as compared to conventional brackets which are not provided with a bridge portion. This improves the accuracy (cylindricity, in particular) of the cylindrical portion. It is then possible to improve the shock absorber in attachment rigidity against a lateral force to the anteroposterior direction of a vehicle in a situation where the bracket is used to attach the shock absorber to the knuckle.

A device for adjusting the height of a vehicle body, containing a movement thread, which is arranged between the vehicle body and a wheel carrier. The movement thread has two threaded parts that can be rotated in relation to each other, which are formed by a spindle and a spindle nut, and a locking apparatus, which bridges the movement thread at at least two axial positions in a positive-locking manner and which has a locking sleeve having locking stops arranged over the periphery at different axial positions. The device is characterized in that the locking sleeve is modularly formed of a stack of at least one locking element containing locking stops and groove sections and at least one intermediate element containing only groove sections.

A shock absorber according to the present invention includes: a shock absorber main body having an outer shell and a rod; and a knuckle bracket attached to an outer circumference of the bottom end of the outer shell. The knuckle bracket includes: a holding portion having a cylindrical shape with a C-shaped cross section, and that holds the outer circumference of the outer shell; a pair of attachment portions extending radially outwards, and in parallel with each other, from respective circumferential ends of the holding portion; and reinforcing portions formed by bending top ends of the attachment portions in directions approaching each other; and a C-shaped welded portion having a C-shaped surface that is formed by top ends of the reinforcing portions and a top end of the holding portion, the C-shaped welded portion being formed by welding the C-shaped surface to the outer shell, across a range from a position spaced from one circumferential end of the C-shaped surface, traversing across an upper part of a rear side of the holding portion, to the other circumferential end of the C-shaped surface.

Provided are a shock absorber and a bracket which are improved in attachment rigidity. A cylindrical portion is shaped by press-forming first and second holes in sheet material (flat plate) and then curving the sheet material into a tube, in which a bridge portion is formed between the first and second holes. The bracket is thus improved to have higher formability as compared to conventional brackets which are not provided with a bridge portion. This improves the accuracy (cylindricity, in particular) of the cylindrical portion. It is then possible to improve the shock absorber in attachment rigidity against a lateral force to the anteroposterior direction of a vehicle in a situation where the bracket is used to attach the shock absorber to the knuckle.