Abstract: A grease hold extends in an axial direction from one end of a rotary pin to an eccentric portion, and a pair of grease injection holes communicating to the grease hole is open on the outer circumferential surface of the eccentric portion. These grease injection holes are arranged so as to be axially separated on both sides from a central portion C of the eccentric portion by L/4 when L is an length of the eccentric portion.

Abstract: An outer tie rod assembly connector body includes a first end and a second end, the first end comprising at least one hole for mounting to a steering knuckle and the second end comprising an aperture for receiving and containing a socket plug of an outer tie rod assembly.

Abstract: An improved socket liner for a ball and socket joint is adapted to be fixedly installed within a joint housing so as to encase the ball. The housing defines a longitudinal axis, and the liner, formed in two longitudinally extending mating halves that confront one another along surfaces parallel to the axis of the housing, are oriented to provide a theoretically tightest possible ball bearing-socket fit. Each liner half includes at least one protuberance on each longitudinally confronting surface. The protuberances not only facilitate location of the liner halves during assembly, but also assure a physical separation between the halves, creating an additional lubrication groove for enhanced operation of the joint during its useful life. In one preferred form, a compliant thin soft material cover is overmolded over the exterior socket liner structure, and exterior surface slots integrally provided on the cover interlock with protruding ribs fixed to the interior of the housing.

Abstract: The vehicle steering linkage connects a rack of a steering system to a knuckle. The steering linkage includes a tie rod, an inner ball joint and an outer connector assembly for transmitting steering forces between a rack and a knuckle. The outer connector assembly includes a primary connector and a secondary connector. The primary connector includes a socket in a socket member, a ball retained in the socket and a shank that is integral with the ball and secured to an arm of the knuckle. The secondary connector includes a slot in the socket member and a bolt. A bolt shank passes through the slot and screws into the arm. Upon failure of the primary connector, the secondary connector transmits steering forces to the arm.

Abstract: The vehicle steering linkage connects a rack of a steering system to a knuckle. The steering linkage includes a tie rod, an inner ball joint and an outer connector assembly for transmitting steering forces between a rack and a knuckle. The outer connector assembly includes a primary connector and a secondary connector. The primary connector includes a socket in a socket member, a ball retained in the socket and a shank that is integral with the ball and secured to an arm of the knuckle. The secondary connector includes a slot in the socket member and a bolt. A bolt shank passes through the slot and screws into the arm. Upon failure of the primary connector, the secondary connector transmits steering forces to the arm.

Abstract: An adjustable steering tie rod assembly having a steering terminal with a threaded rod connected to a tube having an annular cavity and an intermediate tubular member. The intermediate member has an internal helical thread and an external thread. The threaded steering terminal, the intermediate member and the tube are connected in a concentric arrangement. The internal and external threads of the intermediate member allow adjusting the length of the assembly without axial movement of the intermediate member. The bracketing mechanism is designed to assure that the three components are adequately fixed and form a solid assembly. The helical threads of the intermediate member are thrust on the external thread of the rod of the steering terminal and internal thread of the tubular extremity of the steering tie rod to provide security. The arrangement provides for locking the assembly and hinders the spontaneous rotating movement of the components.

Abstract: An outer tie rod assembly connector body includes a first end and a second end, the first end comprising at least one hole for mounting to a steering knuckle and the second end comprising an aperture for receiving and containing a socket plug of an outer tie rod assembly.

Abstract: A ball joint (10) includes a socket (40) with a housing (42) and a stem portion (44). The housing (42) defines a chamber (60). A ball stud (80) has a ball portion (82) in the chamber (60) and a stud portion (84) extending from the ball portion. The ball portion (82) has a center (90) and the stud portion (84) has an axis (86) intersecting the center. The ball portion (82) has an equator (92) extending perpendicular to the axis (86) and dividing the ball portion into first and second hemispheres (94, 96). First and second bearings (110, 120) are located in the chamber (60) and engage the first and second hemispheres (94, 96), respectively, of the ball portion (82). First and second dampers (130, 132) act between the socket (40) and the respective first and second bearings (110, 120) and bias the first and second bearings toward the equator (92) and provide first and second clearances (131, 133), respectively, between the socket (40) and the first and second bearings.

Abstract: The present invention is an after-market vehicle-lowering steering knuckle (drop spindle) designed for use with a large-bore “live” wheel hub to lower a vehicle chassis. This is accomplished through the inversion and modification of the upper and lower ball joints as compared to a factory steering knuckle, and a modification of the bolt assembly for attaching the wheel hub assembly to the spindle. The present invention allows the factory-supplied upper and lower control arms to be used, providing a considerable cost savings to the end user. The drop spindle design described herein may also be used to lower four-wheel drive trucks.

Abstract: An adjustable tie rod assembly having a rod member and a knuckle assembly. The knuckle assembly includes a housing and an annular connector. The housing has a stem member and a bore with a longitudinal axis that is skewed to a longitudinal axis of the stem member. The annular connector is disposed in the bore in the housing. The annular connector pivotably couples the first end of the rod member to the housing. The first stem member has an engagement portion that is adapted to be secured to a relay rod.

Abstract: A sealing arrangement for a rotatable shaft guided through an opening and having a profiled surface section includes an elastic cuff mounted at the opening and surrounding the shaft. The cuff abuts the shaft through a supporting ring. An elastic sealing jacket is connected internally with the supporting ring, thereby mounting the elastic sealing jacket non-rotatably on the shaft. The supporting ring has an external cylindrical sliding surface on which the elastic cuff is mounted.

Abstract: An apparatus for coupling a ball to a frame of a motor vehicle. The apparatus includes a main body portion and a ball joint housing. The main body portion is adapted to be pivotally mounted to the frame and has at least one support surface. The ball joint housing is coupled to the ball joint and has at least one contact surface. At least one fastener couples the main body portion and the ball joint housing in a coupled relationship such that the at least one support surface of the main body portion is in contact with the at least one contact surface of the ball joint housing.

Abstract: A suspension assembly for a motor vehicle including a pair of end links which interconnect the opposite ends of a stabilizer bar to a pair of suspension members. Each end link has a first fastener adapted for connection to the end of the stabilizer bar and a second fastener adapted for connection to the suspension member via locking mechanism having a pair of fastener members.

Abstract: A locating link for wheel suspensions of motor vehicles, with an at least two-part link body, the link body comprising two elongate support profiles which are spaced apart and parallel to one another over at least two-thirds of their length and come into contact at least in the vicinity of a mounting hole of the link body. The support profiles are of mirror-symmetrical configuration relative to a center plane which lies centrally between the support profiles and normal to the center lines of at least two of the mounting holes present in the support profiles.

Abstract: The invention relates to a suspension for a single wheel of a motor vehicle. A steering knuckle with wheel hub (1) is attached to a steering knuckle carrier (2) by a steering knuckle pin which is connected by a ball and socket joint (3) on its underside to a suspension arm (4) which is secured to the vehicle frame (6) by a pivot bearing (5). A second suspension arm (7) placed above the first suspension arm (4) connects, by means of a pair of tapered roller bearings, the upper part of the steering knuckle carrier (2) to the vehicle frame (6) through a pivot bearing (9).

Abstract: A wheel suspension assembly 10 for use with a vehicle having a wheel 11. Assembly 10 includes a tie rod 12, a knuckle 14 having an integrally formed knuckle arm 16, and a ball joint 18 which rotatably couples the tie rod 12 to the knuckle arm 16. Tie rod 12 includes an outer end 24 having an integrally formed ball socket 26 and a pair of opposed and outwardly extending members 28, 30, which include a pair of orthogonally projecting foot members or “feet” 32, 34. Knuckle arm 16 includes an end portion 40 which is attached to a ball stud 44. Ball stud 44 is mated with socket 26 and cooperatively forms ball joint 18. End portion 40 includes a generally circular bottom surface 52 disposed in a substantially parallel relationship to “feet” 32, 34. Two resilient elements or “pads” 62, 64 are abuttingly disposed between “feet” 32, 34 and surface 52.

Abstract: A device for reducing the steering angle of a rack and pinion steering system for motor vehicles, having a rack which is located between the tie-rods of the wheels to be steered, is connected to these tie-rods, is mounted displaceably in a housing and has radially thickened connecting regions between the ends of the rack and the respectively adjacent tie-rod in which the thickened regions limit the steering angle by striking against the rack housing, is intended to be of simple construction and to be easily retrofitted. In particular, retrofitting is not intended to require any readjustment and measurement of the track of the steered wheels. To this end, this device includes at least two approximately U-shaped spacer clips and retaining regions on the rack adjacent the radially thickened connecting regions. The retaining regions accommodate attachment of the spacer clips with direct contact between one of the clips and a respective radial thickened region.

Abstract: A connection between a steering knuckle arm and tie rod linkage. A spherical bearing having an integral seal formed thereon is disposed within a machined bore formed in one of the steering knuckle arm or tie rod linkage. A mounting stud is pressed into the spherical bearing and extends to the other of the steering knuckle or tie rod end of which the spherical bearing is disposed and extends there through to threadingly engage a nut to secure the mounting stud and firmly connect the steering knuckle arm to the tie rod linkage. The integral seals eliminate the need for separate boot seals thus forming a closer and more precise connection between the steering knuckle arm and tie rod linkage.

Abstract: A suspension assembly is provided including a pair of stabilizer bar links which interconnect the opposite ends of a stabilizer bar to a pair of suspension members. Each stabilizer bar link has a central body or housing constructed of a polymeric resin including 20 to 40% glass fill for increased mechanical properties. A bowl is formed at each end of the housing and is adapted to support a bearing member defining a socket. A ball segment of a ball stud is disposed in the socket to facilitate angular movement of the ball stud relative to the bowl. The bearing member includes a plurality of axial slots extending from an open end of the socket to define resilient socket tabs for enabling the bearing member to snap over and retain the ball stud. The bearing member also includes a collar segment which engages the bowl, and a plurality of circumferential spring tabs engaging the ball stud to provide for wear compensation and to reduce the effect of axial compression variation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a vehicle steering mechanism having a variable transmission ratio, and a steering gear designed for such a steering mechanism.