Abstract: The present invention provides reinforcing braces that may be attached to the factory-supplied chassis mounts for the lower control arms of the steering knuckles of vehicles to reinforce and shield the mounts from objects below the vehicle that may be encountered when traveling through rugged terrain. The braces of the present invention are designed for the front and rear control arm mounts, each brace including a pair of parallel sturdy metal flanges that are generally perpendicularly attached to a sturdy metal lower base plate. Each flange is designed to be attached to one of the flanges of the factory-supplied chassis mounts, and has an opening therein for receiving mounting hardware and strengthening of the camber adjustment structures. The sturdy metal lower base plates may extend out and away from the flanges of the brackets to provide a lower shield to protect the chassis and mounting hardware from damage that may occur from contact with large objects that may be encountered below the vehicle.

Abstract: The present invention provides reinforcing braces for attachment to factory-supplied chassis mounts for the lower control arms of steering knuckles of vehicles to reinforce and shield the mounts from objects below the vehicle encountered when traveling through rugged terrain. Each brace includes a pair of parallel sturdy metal flanges that are attached to a sturdy metal lower base plate. Each flange is designed to be attached to one of the flanges of the factory-supplied chassis mounts, and has an opening therein for receiving mounting hardware, and an open section for engagement with camber adjustment structures. The sturdy base plates provide a lower shield to protect the chassis and mounting hardware from damage from contact with large objects encountered below the vehicle. The front base plate may also include an elongated front shield for deflecting large objects as the vehicle moves forward.

Abstract: The present invention provides embodiments of modified upper and lower control arms for attachment to the steering knuckle that came with the vehicle, or for attachment to a modified steering knuckle of an embodiment of the invention, such that the steering knuckle, and in particular the wheel hub opening of the steering knuckle, are located at positions that are closer to the front of the vehicle than the positions provided by the control arms that came with the vehicle. The forward position of the wheel hub relative to the position provided by the factory or stock control arms moves the wheel and tire forward by the same distance, thereby allowing much larger wheels and tires to be mounted on the vehicle which do not rub against or interfere with the wheel well, fender or body mount, thereby increasing the approach angle of the vehicle for use in off-road climbing.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and apparatus for mounting a front differential to the frame of a vehicle that has been equipped with off road components to achieve proper alignment without decreasing ground clearance. The apparatus may include first and second support brackets having bushings that directly engage the differential thereby eliminating bulky spacers that otherwise decrease ground clearance.

Abstract: The present invention provides embodiments of modified upper and lower control arms for attachment to the steering knuckle that came with the vehicle, or for attachment to a modified steering knuckle of an embodiment of the invention, such that the steering knuckle, and in particular the wheel hub opening of the steering knuckle, are located at positions that are closer to the front of the vehicle than the positions provided by the control arms that came with the vehicle. The forward position of the wheel hub relative to the position provided by the factory or stock control arms moves the wheel and tire forward by the same distance, thereby allowing much larger wheels and tires to be mounted on the vehicle which do not rub against or interfere with the wheel well, fender or body mount, thereby increasing the approach angle of the vehicle for use in off-road climbing.

Abstract: The present invention provides embodiments of modified upper and lower control arms for attachment to the steering knuckle that came with the vehicle, or for attachment to a modified steering knuckle of an embodiment of the invention, such that the steering knuckle, and in particular the wheel hub opening of the steering knuckle, are located at positions that are closer to the front of the vehicle than the positions provided by the control arms that came with the vehicle. The forward position of the wheel hub relative to the position provided by the factory or stock control arms moves the wheel and tire forward by the same distance, thereby allowing much larger wheels and tires to be mounted on the vehicle which do not rub against or interfere with the wheel well, fender or body mount, thereby increasing the approach angle of the vehicle for use in off-road climbing.

Abstract: The present invention provides reinforcing braces that may be attached to the factory-supplied chassis mounts for the lower control arms of the steering knuckles of vehicles to reinforce and shield the mounts from objects below the vehicle that may be encountered when traveling through rugged terrain. The braces of the present invention are designed for the front and rear control arm mounts, each brace including a pair of parallel sturdy metal flanges that are generally perpendicularly attached to a sturdy metal lower base plate. Each flange is designed to be attached to one of the flanges of the factory-supplied chassis mounts, and has an opening therein for receiving mounting hardware and strengthening of the camber adjustment structures. The sturdy metal lower base plates may extend out and away from the flanges of the brackets to provide a lower shield to protect the chassis and mounting hardware from damage that may occur from contact with large objects that may be encountered below the vehicle.

Abstract: The present invention provides embodiments of modified upper and lower control arms for attachment to the steering knuckle that came with the vehicle, or for attachment to a modified steering knuckle of an embodiment of the invention, such that the steering knuckle, and in particular the wheel hub opening of the steering knuckle, are located at positions that are closer to the front of the vehicle than the positions provided by the control arms that came with the vehicle. The forward position of the wheel hub relative to the position provided by the factory or stock control arms moves the wheel and tire forward by the same distance, thereby allowing much larger wheels and tires to be mounted on the vehicle which do not rub against or interfere with the wheel well, fender or body mount, thereby increasing the approach angle of the vehicle for use in off-road climbing.

Abstract: The present invention provides reinforcing braces that may be attached to the factory-supplied chassis mounts for the lower control arms of the steering knuckles of vehicles to reinforce and shield the mounts from objects below the vehicle that may be encountered when traveling through rugged terrain. The braces of the present invention are designed for the front and rear control arm mounts, each brace including a pair of parallel sturdy metal flanges that are generally perpendicularly attached to a sturdy metal lower base plate. Each flange is designed to be attached to one of the parallel flanges of the factory-supplied chassis mounts, and has a generally U-shaped opening therein for receiving mounting hardware and strengthening of the camber adjustment tabs.

Abstract: The present invention provides reinforcing braces that may be attached to the factory-supplied chassis mounts for the lower control arms of the steering knuckles of vehicles to reinforce and shield the mounts from objects below the vehicle that may be encountered when traveling through rugged terrain. The braces of the present invention are designed for the front and rear control arm mounts, each brace including a pair of parallel sturdy metal flanges that are generally perpendicularly attached to a sturdy metal lower base plate. Each flange is designed to be attached to one of the parallel flanges of the factory-supplied chassis mounts, and has a generally U-shaped opening therein for receiving mounting hardware and strengthening of the camber adjustment tabs.

Abstract: The present invention provides embodiments of modified upper and lower control arms for attachment to the steering knuckle that came with the vehicle, or for attachment to a modified steering knuckle of an embodiment of the invention, such that the steering knuckle, and in particular the wheel hub opening of the steering knuckle, are located at positions that are closer to the front of the vehicle than the positions provided by the control arms that came with the vehicle. The forward position of the wheel hub relative to the position provided by the factory or stock control arms moves the wheel and tire forward by the same distance, thereby allowing much larger wheels and tires to be mounted on the vehicle which do not rub against or interfere with the wheel well, fender or body mount, thereby increasing the approach angle of the vehicle for use in off-road climbing.

Abstract: A canister is attached to a header tank and includes an upper inlet and a lower outlet. Before end cap is brazed to close the bottom of canister, a tube of desiccant material is installed into the canister by a standoff. The standoff includes a disk shaped base and narrow central post which is comparable in length to the height of the inlet above the lower end cap. This is followed by inserting a spur of a higher melting temperature into the canister into a position and extending radially from the post and into an interference fit with the interior wall of the canister that is tighter than the interference fit between the base and the canister.

Abstract: A condenser that is to be brazed in a radiant energy oven has a significant, localized mass differential which would, without further treatment, create a significant temperature differential across the condenser in the braze oven. This is compensated for, in the method of the invention, by thermally spraying onto the surface of the higher mass portion a rough surface layer of a compatible material that increases the emissivity of that portion sufficiently, relative to the rest of the condenser, to decrease the temperature differential that would otherwise occur.

Abstract: A condenser (10) with a return header tank (14) has a receiver or reservoir canister (22) physically attached along side the return header tank (14), and open thereto through a discrete upper inlet (20) and lower outlet (21). The bottom of canister (22) is closed by an end cap (34) that is, preferably, welded or brazed in place. Before end cap (34) is attached, a tube of desiccant material (24) is installed and located within canister (22) by a standoff (26) comprised of a tight fitting, notched, disk shaped base (28) and narrow central post (30) which is comparable in length to the height of the inlet (20) above the lower end cap (34). The tight fit allows the tube (24) to be inserted up into the canister (22), well away from the bottom of canister (22) and free of heat damage as the end cap (34) is attached. Later, in operation, the central post (30) keeps the tube (24) located clear of the inlet (20) and outlet (21).