A shock absorber for a vehicle suspension system may include a damper tube having an axis defining an axial direction extending between a first end and a second end, a bumper cap, and a dust gaiter operably coupled to the bumper cap. The bumper cap may have a cover portion and a retention portion. The cover portion may be operably coupled to the second end of the damper tube, and the retention portion may extend along a lateral periphery of the damper tube to an opposite end of the bumper cap relative to the cover portion. The retention portion may include a continuous ring at a distal end of the bumper cap relative to the cover portion to define a limit for movement of the dust gaiter along the bumper cap in the axial direction. The continuous ring may be retained by a plurality of fixed fingers that extend from the cover portion to the continuous ring. A movable finger is disposed between each of the fixed fingers, each instance of the movable finger having a radially extending locking tab to engage the dust gaiter. Each instance of the moveable finger has a radial deflection rate of less than about 8 N/mm.

A boot that protects a moveable joint and retains lubricant associated with the joint. The wall of the boot includes a venting aperture that is protected by a surrounding barrier structure.

A tie rod reinforcement device for reinforcing a vehicle steering tie rod assembly includes a metal brace assembly that reinforces a threaded section of the vehicle steering tie rod assembly. The brace assembly includes an outer surface and an inner cavity having an inner surface. Portions of the inner and outer tie rods are disposed in the inner cavity when the brace assembly is installed on a vehicle. The inner surface of the brace assembly includes a first portion having a first diameter and a second portion having a second diameter different from the first diameter. The first diameter and second diameter are about equal to an outer diameter of the inner tie rod and outer tie rod, respectively, so that the inner surface is in direct contact with the inner tie rod and outer tie rod when the apparatus is installed on the vehicle.

A dirt shield for shock absorbers having a piston assembly and a cylinder member with a metal dirt shield cap connected to a rod of the piston assembly. A plastic dirt shield bracket is adapted to be fixed to the metal dirt shield cap and includes a first portion and a second portion hingedly connected to one another. A dirt shield tube is connected to the plastic dirt shield bracket.

A vehicle is provided that has a vehicle body, a wheel assembly, a suspension linkage, and a cover panel. The vehicle body has an underside and defines a wheel arch that forms an opening in the underside of the vehicle body. The suspension linkage runs within the wheel arch and couples the wheel assembly to the vehicle body to permit motion of the rotation axis of the wheel assembly relative to the vehicle body. The suspension linkage further comprises a first suspension link coupled between the vehicle body and the wheel assembly, whereby the cover panel is coupled to the first suspension link so that the cover panel moves with the first suspension link. The cover panel further extends across part of the opening so that in forward motion the cover panel directs a rearward moving airflow across the opening.

A motor vehicle includes a body, a wheel hub unit, an upright, which is fixed to the wheel hub unit, a fender, which is arranged to cover the wheel hub unit, and a suspension, which couples the upright to the body in a movable manner along at least one axis, which is transversal to a driving direction of the motor vehicle; wherein the suspension comprises at least one movable element, which is movable along said axis, and wherein the fender is carried by said element in a movable manner relative to the body.

A swing arm having a reduced number of parts in which manufacturing cost can be reduced. In a swing arm including: vehicle-body-side support portions that are supported on a vehicle body side by a first rotary shaft; wheel-side support portions that are supported on a wheel side by a second rotary shaft; and a pair of arm portions that connect the vehicle-body-side support portions and the wheel-side support portions to each other, cross members that extend in an axial direction of the first rotary shaft is arranged on the pair of arm portions so as to extend between the pair of arm portions, and the cross members have a U shape in cross section orthogonal to a longitudinal direction of the cross members, thus forming opening portions that open so as to face a direction that the pair of arm portions extends.

A rectifying device includes a rectifying member that is provided on a rear side of a vehicle with respect to a constituent member of a suspension device to extend substantially along a vehicle width direction and project downward. The constituent member of the suspension device is disposed to at least partly project from an underside part of a vehicle body and has a lower end disposed to be inclined in a front view of the vehicle. A lower edge of the rectifying member projects downward beyond the constituent member, and is inclined in a same direction as the lower end of the constituent member in the front view of the vehicle.

A protective sheet enveloping an air suspension module of a vehicle is disclosed. The protective sheet comprises a first edge, a second edge, a third edge, a fourth edge, and a middle portion. The first edge, the second edge, the third edge, and the fourth edge having a pleat with a plurality of incises. The third edge and the fourth edge are in a perpendicular orientation with respect to the first edge and the second edge. The middle portion having a mesh encapsulated within the pleat of the first edge, the second edge, the third edge, and the fourth edge. The protective sheet envelopes around an outer circumferential surface of the air suspension module using fastening means. The plurality of incises provide flexibility for easy installation of the protective sheet over the air suspension module. The protective sheet protects the air suspension module during operation of the vehicle.

A strut-type damper is disclosed. The damper has a shock absorber having a housing with a telescoping piston rod, a coil spring, an upper spring seat operably coupled to a distal end of the piston rod, and a lower spring seat operatively coupled to the housing. The upper and lower spring seats capture the coil spring therebetween. The lower spring seat has a base portion having an opening for receiving the housing and is fixedly securable to the housing. A generally circumferential wall portion extends from the base portion and forms a catcher for catching a broken portion of the coil spring if the coil spring fractures. An impact absorbing structure is formed on the lower spring seat adjacent both of the catcher and the base portion, and is configured to be crushed in the event of a fracture of the coil spring.