An electromechanical vehicle height adjustment unit comprises an upper spring pad operative to support an upper end of a vehicle spring, a top mount that is displaceable relative to the upper spring pad, and a displacement mechanism coupled to the upper spring pad and the top mount and operative to displace the top mount relative to the upper spring pad in a height direction. The displacement mechanism comprises a rotary-to-linear motion conversion mechanism and an electric motor.

An electromechanical vehicle height adjustment unit comprises a control arm, a lower spring pad operative to support a lower end of a vehicle spring, and a displacement mechanism supported on the control arm. At least a portion of the displacement mechanism is integrated into the control arm. The displacement mechanism is coupled to the lower spring pad and is operative to displace the lower spring pad relative to the control arm. The displacement mechanism comprises a rotary-to-linear motion conversion mechanism and an electric motor.

A spring apparatus (10), including: a spring (12); an elongated object (18A) disposed within and along the spring (12); and a mode-changing assembly (16), for providing a first mode in which a portion (38) of the spring (12) being along the elongated object (18A) is not springy, and a second mode in which an entire of the spring (12) is springy.

A suspension includes a coil spring, a shock absorber, a spring seat, and at least three strongly pressing parts. The coil spring elastically receives vertical movement of a wheel relative to a vehicle body. The shock absorber damps the vertical movement. The spring seat is provided in the shock absorber. The sprint seat supports an axial end of the coil spring. The coil spring is in direct or indirect contact with the spring seat over a predetermined distance from an end to a point of separation of the coil spring. The strongly pressing parts are provided in the spring seat. The strongly pressing parts apply contact pressures higher than contact pressure applied by other part, to the coil spring. The point of separation is disposed at a region that is between the strongly pressing parts and has the largest opening angle about an axial center of the shock absorber.

A method for creating a roller spring perch has steps for burning a rubber bushing out of an existing spring perch that has the rubber bushing implemented between an existing mounting shaft, and an existing tube mounted through a frame, removing the existing tube from the frame, preparing a new tube counterbored at each end to accommodate ball bearings, machining a new mounting shaft from the existing mounting shaft, assembling the new mounting shaft to the new tube with ball bearings, and joining the new tube with new mounting shaft and bearings to the frame.

A shock absorber includes a hollow rod, a suspension spring arranged outside the hollow rod, a spring receiver arranged to be displaceable with respect to the hollow rod and receiving a load of the suspension spring, an adjusting screw inserted into one end side of the hollow rod and configured to adjust a position of the suspension spring by restricting movement of the spring receiver to the one end side, and a shaft member which transmits a load received by the spring receiver to the adjusting screw inside the hollow rod. An insertion portion which extends in an axial direction of the hollow rod and into which the shaft member is inserted is provided on a side surface of the hollow rod.

A suspension system for a vehicle and method for operating the same includes a shock absorber housing having a longitudinal axis, a spring disposed around the shock absorber housing, a retainer collar disposed around the shock absorber housing and an actuator engaged to the retainer collar. The actuator moves at least a portion of the retainer collar to move the spring in a direction corresponding the longitudinal axis. A switch generates a ride height position signal. A controller is coupled to the actuator and the switch. The controller controls a position of the actuator in response to the ride height position signal.

A driving assistance apparatus according to an embodiment includes a vehicle height adjusting mechanism that adjusts vehicle height of a vehicle; a progress parameter acquiring unit that acquires a progress parameter expressing a degree of progression until the vehicle reaches a target object in front of the vehicle; and a control section that controls the vehicle height adjusting mechanism based on the progress parameter.

A suspension thrust bearing device that provides a lower support cap, an upper bearing cap and at least one bearing arranged between the caps. The upper bearing cap includes an outer skirt radially surrounding the lower support cap. The lower support cap ha at least one annular flange extending towards the outer skirt of the upper bearing cap while remaining radially spaced apart from the outer skirt. The upper bearing cap further includes at least one annular rib extending axially towards an upper surface of the flange of the lower support cap while remaining axially spaced apart from the lower support cap. The annular rib is radially located between the outer skirt of the upper bearing cap and the bearing.

A suspension thrust bearing device providing a lower support cap, an upper bearing cap and at least one bearing arranged between the caps. The upper bearing cap includes an outer skirt radially surrounding the lower support cap. The lower support cap having at least one annular deflector flange extending towards the outer skirt of the upper bearing cap while remaining radially spaced apart from the outer skirt, the deflector flange having a lower inclined surface extending obliquely downwards.