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 vehicle suspension system smoothly changes a vehicle posture with respect to a steering force and a steering angle by minimizing a kinematic roll at an initial turning stage, thereby allowing a driver to obtain the sensation of maneuvering the vehicle well. The suspension system includes a front suspension having geometry satisfying that a caster angle is +3° to +5°, a caster trail is +20 to +30 mm, an intersection point between a kingpin axis and ground is located on an inner side in a vehicle width direction of a center of a tire contact patch, and an anhedral angle of a lower arm is +2.8° to +7.2°. A rear suspension includes five links and has geometry satisfying that a virtual kingpin axis extends near the center of a tire contact patch of a rear wheel assembly and extends vertically at −2° to 0°.

Chassis arrangement for a motor vehicle for passenger transportation, having two axles which are arranged at a spacing from one another in the motor vehicle longitudinal direction and in each case have wishbones with the incorporation of a spring element for the independent wheel suspension system. A first axle, lying at the front in a driving direction, is lowered from a neutral position by from 5 to 50 mm, 10 to 20 mm, in order to drive in said driving direction, and a second axle, lying at the rear in the driving direction, is raised by from 5 to 50 mm, 10 to 20 mm, in each case by way of adjustment of the spring elements, it being possible for the driving direction to be reversed.

A multilink suspension assembly for a motor vehicle includes a steering knuckle rotatably mounting thereon a wheel unit, and a tie bar mounted to a respective swivel joint of the steering knuckle. Two lower control links are located aft of the tie bar and have inboard ends mounted to respective mounting junctions on the vehicle chassis and outboard ends mounted to respective swivel joints at a lower end of the steering knuckle. Two upper control links, which are located aft of the tie bar and vertically spaced from the lower control links, have inboard ends mounted to respective mounting junctions on the vehicle chassis and outboard ends mounted to respective swivel joints at an upper end of the steering knuckle. The swivel joints mount the upper and lower control links to the steering knuckle inboard from the wheel unit and below an upper extent of the wheel unit's tire.

Movable skid plates for a vehicle are described that are configured to move in response to movement of a first or second link to which the skid plate is coupled. Preferred vehicles comprise a multi-link suspension system having a plurality of links, at least some of which can move independently of one another. The skid plate is preferably disposed below the two bottom links of the suspension system. The skid plate can be fixedly attached to one of the two bottom links. The skid plate can be coupled to the other of the two bottom links such that the skid plate can move with respect to that link.

A five-link automobile suspension device is configured to support a lower end of a damper with a lower arm, and is capable of reducing sliding friction while ensuring a road clearance. Embodiments include a lower arm connecting a wheel support and a vehicle body, and a damper that has a lower end connected to the lower arm and is disposed to incline upward toward a vehicle-width-direction inner side in a rear view. A wall surface of the lower arm has a damper mounting portion, which supports a pivot of the damper, at a position lower than a straight line connecting a pivot on a wheel side and a pivot on a vehicle-body side of the lower arm. A bottom surface of the lower arm has a bulge formed at a position under the damper mounting portion.

A modular chassis is provided for an off-road vehicle to improve assembly, servicing, and repairing of a drivetrain of the off-road vehicle. The modular chassis includes a chassis to support components of the off-road vehicle. A front frame module couples with a front of the chassis, and a rear frame module couples with a rear of the chassis. The front frame module supports lower suspension arms of the off-road vehicle by way of inboard bushing joints. The front frame module supports at least a steering gear and a front differential of the off-road vehicle. The rear frame module is a tube-frame structure that supports components of the off-road vehicle. A lower portion of the rear frame module extends rearward and acutely upward to a top frame member that couples with upper side portions of the chassis. Several cross-members impart structural integrity to the rear frame module.

Multi-link suspension systems for vehicles are described having various linkages or links that connect to distinct points of a wheel mount or knuckle. Each of the linkages are preferably coupled to the wheel mount via a spherical ball joint and mounted such that they can independently move or rotate with respect to the other linkages. A shock assembly is preferably mounted between two of the linkages on a separate link and is rotatably mounted to each of the two linkages.

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.

An off-highway recreational includes a frame, a prime mover, a transmission, an intermediate shaft and a main shaft. The transmission is mechanically coupled to receive power from the prime mover and to provide mechanical power at a transaxle output shaft. The intermediate drive shaft is mechanically coupled to the transaxle output shaft, wherein the intermediate drive shaft has a first diameter. The main drive shaft is mechanically coupled to the intermediate drive shaft, wherein the main drive shaft has a second diameter that is greater than the first diameter.