Abstract: A body leveling system for a motor vehicle including a rigid axle housing, a pair of dirigible wheels on the rigid axle housing, and a pair of air springs between the body and the rigid axle housing. During a turn, links between the body and the rigid axle housing effect roll understeer by turning the axle housing toward the center of the turn in response to pivotal movement of the body about its longitudinal roll axis. When the load on the vehicle body is in a moderate range from empty to four average passengers, the air springs are selectively inflated and deflated to maintain the body at curb trim. When the load on the body exceeds the moderate range in either a high range or an overload range, the air springs are sealed closed and incrementally vertically deflect as the load increases. The GVW trim of the vehicle body is below its curb trim and its center of gravity is lower at GVW than at curb trim for improved dynamic performance at GVW.

Abstract: A vehicle having an adaptive cruise control system with active deceleration control responds to capture of new in-path vehicles which violate a predetermined inter-vehicle spacing to attenuate unnecessarily aggressive deceleration responses. New in-path vehicles may be identified by inordinate changes in inter-vehicle spacing. Deceleration response of the system to controlled vehicle closing rate and new in-path vehicle deceleration preferably remain unattenuated.

Abstract: A mount assembly system provides repeatable net position of vehicle body mounts, enabling an automated body to frame marriage process. With the system, a body mount bracket is assembled to the vehicle's frame rail and the body mount is relocatably attached thereto. Prior to tightening the mount, a positioning fixture engages the mount, repositioning it to a desired location.

Abstract: A vehicle access system includes an access opening for the passenger compartment that is closed by a swinging door in combination with an articulating door. The articulating door moves through an arc without angling away from the vehicle body and is supported on a hinge assembly that attaches near the center of the door. An arm assembly guides the door throughout its range of positions and maintain the door in an orientation that is substantially parallel to the vehicle body. When the doors are open, an uninterrupted access opening is provided to the area of the second and third seat rows of the vehicle.

Abstract: A control for an automatic shifting power transmission employs an algorithm to determine the proper gear ratio during vehicle deceleration. The algorithm establishes downshift grade requirements based on the brake pressure and speed threshold targets based on brake pressure. A grade average is calculated from the operating parameters of acceleration, engine braking, aerodynamic drag, rolling resistance and brake torque deceleration. If the grade average is within downshifting range and the speed target is met, the control commands a downshift to the next lower gear ratio. The downshift grade requirements decrease as brake pressure increases and speed targets increase as brake pressure increases.

Abstract: A method of mounting a wheel flare or other body side molding on a motor vehicle body panel including the steps of forming the wheel flare or other body side molding with a face having a strip of pressure sensitive adhesive tape thereon covered by a protective film, mounting the wheel flare or other body side molding on the body panel for linear translation perpendicular to the body panel, removing the protective film from the pressure sensitive adhesive tape in a gap defined between the body panel and the face in a first position of the wheel flare or other body side molding relative to the body panel, linearly translating the wheel flare or other body side molding perpendicular to the body panel from the first position to a second position in which the face bears against the body panel with the pressure sensitive adhesive tape trapped therebetween and adhesively bonded to each, and rigidly clamping the wheel flare or other body side molding in the second position thereof to the body panel.

Abstract: A vehicle access system includes an access opening for the passenger compartment that is closed by a swinging door in combination with an access door. The access door moves through an arc without angling away from the vehicle body and is supported on a hinge assembly that attaches near the center of the door. An arm assembly guides the door throughout its range of positions and maintain the door in an orientation that is substantially parallel to the vehicle body. When the doors are open, an uninterrupted access opening is provided to the area of the second and third seat rows of the vehicle.

Abstract: A re-configurable cargo cover for a bed of a vehicle includes a door adapted to be disposed in a door opening of a vehicle body. The re-configurable cargo cover includes a plurality of individual panels operatively cooperating with each other and a bed of a vehicle. The re-configurable cargo cover includes a pair of interior sides operatively connected to sides of the bed of the vehicle. The re-configurable cargo cover further includes the panels and the sides having features cooperating with each other to re-configure the panels into a plurality of different configurations for a cargo area of the bed of the vehicle.

Abstract: A vehicle frame has side rails which support the suspension system and body of the vehicle. The side rails have a rectangular cross-section with the end sections thereof having predetermined wall thicknesses and rectangular size, and a center section having a thinner wall thickness and a larger height dimension of the rectangular cross-section. A transition section connects respective end sections with the center section. The transition section has rectangular cross-sections and wall thickness at the respective junctures which matches the adjoining section.

Abstract: An interior rearview mirror assembly having an adjustable information display device. The display device rotates independently of the rearview mirror to allow both the driver and the front passengers to observe the display when the rearview mirror is rotated toward the driver. The display device displays information about various vehicle systems. The rearview mirror assembly includes a mirror housing for holding a rearview mirror. The mirror housing is pivotally mounted on the windshield of the vehicle so that the rearview mirror is adjustable by the driver into a desired position. The information display device is pivotally mounted on a top or bottom side of the mirror housing to allow the display device to rotate independently of the mirror housing. The display device is attached to the mirror housing through a hollow tubular support arm which has opposite first and second ends, one of the ends being attached to the display device.

Abstract: A sunshade mounting clip assembly for a vehicle includes a mounting clip adapted to be disposed adjacent a headliner covering a roof of a vehicle for cooperating with a sunshade. The mounting clip has a shaft extending outwardly therefrom. The sunshade mounting clip assembly also includes a mounting support adapted to be disposed adjacent the headliner on a side opposite the mounting clip and having an aperture extending therethrough to receive the shaft. The sunshade mounting clip assembly further includes a retainer disposed adjacent the mounting support having an aperture to receive the shaft and preventing the shaft from exiting the mounting support. The mounting support extends laterally and longitudinally to form a footprint greater than a footprint of the retainer.

Abstract: A band clamp for capturing a tubular member, e.g., brake line of a motor vehicle, is presented, wherein the band clamp is adapted to be mounted around an annular object, e.g., an axle assembly of the motor vehicle. In an exemplary embodiment, the clamp comprises an open-ended substantially annular band having first and second opposed primary interlockable members disposed at the open ends thereof. The clamp further includes first and second cooperating, opposed secondary interlockable members disposed within the annular band between the open ends. The first and second secondary interlockable members provide complementary engaging surfaces extending a predetermined distance from the annular band for securing the tubular member to the clamp.

Abstract: A motor vehicle rear axle including a pair of longitudinal control arms made of cast iron or aluminum and a transverse torsion bar made of steel. Each control arm has a first end hinged to a body of the motor vehicle for up and down pivotal movement, a second end at which a wheel spindle is rigidly attached, and a socket facing the other control arm. Each socket has a diametrically opposite pair of apertures therein. The torsion bar has a pair of opposite terminal ends which are formed to match and interference fitted in respective ones of the control arm sockets. A pair of plugs in each of the pair of diametrically opposite apertures in the control arm sockets are fusion bonded to corresponding ones of the terminal ends of the torsion bar. The fusion bonded plugs define lugs in the apertures which torsionally reinforce the interference fit between the terminal ends of the torsion bar and the control arm sockets and which positively prevent dislodgment of the terminal ends from the control arm sockets.

Abstract: A quarter side storage compartment accessible from outside the vehicle includes a simplified operating arrangement. The vehicle's endgate is used as an impediment to operation of the compartment latch's release handle. The release handle is positioned so that actuation thereof is not possible without opening the endgate. Preferably, but not necessarily, the endgate is lockable in the closed position, meaning that advantageously, the release handle does not require an individual lock.

Abstract: An intermediate shaft seal for installation at an opening in a dash panel of a vehicle remove extra space includes an inner shell, an overmold and a bushing assembly. The bushing assembly includes a pair of bushings and is disposed within the inner shell to rotatably support an intermediate shaft of a steering column of a vehicle. The inner shell includes a rigid base plate and sealing ridges for mounting against a dash panel of a vehicle and providing a seal against water, fumes and dirt intrusion. The overmold engages locking features on the inner shell and forms air gaps therebetween cooperating with the sealing ridges and bushings to establish a sound attenuating structure. The inner shell and the overmold include cooperating sinuous shaped sections allowing angular flexibility of the seal for installation in various model vehicles.

Abstract: A vehicular transmission embodying the concepts of the present invention permits facile construction by virtue of a modular construction. Such a transmission has an open ended central housing module. The annular stator of one motor/generator is supported interiorly of the annular central housing module, in such a manner as to circumscribe the longitudinal axis of the annular central housing module. A rotor is operatively positioned interiorly of the stator. The modular transmission incorporates a modular input closure subassembly and/or a modular output closure modular subassembly. A closure subassembly has an end cap and a retaining shroud demountably attached to the end cap, and the closure subassembly is demountably secured to an open end of the central housing module. An input shaft member is coaxially and rotatably supported by the input closure subassembly, if employed, and an output shaft member is coaxially and rotatably supported by the output closure subassembly, if employed.

Abstract: A brake system includes a pedal feel emulator and a master cylinder with a damping mechanism having a damping piston. When the emulator piston is moved from the at-rest position, fluid is displaced from the emulator through a compensation port and through a flow restrictive orifice in the damping piston to the reservoir. Flow rate of the fluid is dependent on the apply rate of the brake pedal. When the brake pedal is applied relatively slowly, sufficient flow volume will occur through the flow restrictive orifice and the damping piston will remain unmoved. As apply rates increase, a sufficient pressure differential will eventually be established across the damping piston to cause it to move. Damping piston movement compensates for rapid fluid displacement out of the variable chamber and enables a desirable pedal feel characteristic where pedal force increases relatively slowly as pedal velocity increases relatively rapidly.

Abstract: A brake apply system includes a power booster in which, when released and at-rest, a leg of a stop engages a clip and an extension of a valve body engages the clip so that an annular rib of the valve body is axially spaced away from the stop by a distance G. At the same time, a first valve seat is engaged with a first annular valve element closing a pressure supply conduit off from a variable pressure chamber and a second valve seat is spaced away from a second annular valve element by a distance T, opening the variable pressure chamber to an atmospheric pressure chamber. When the power booster is applied, the second valve seat moves the distance T and engages the second annular valve element closing the variable pressure chamber off from the atmospheric pressure chamber and the first valve seat separates from the first annular valve element opening the pressure supply conduit to the variable pressure chamber.

Abstract: A single-piece housing fixed brake caliper is provided with one relatively large piston bore on one side of the rotor and two relatively smaller piston bores on the opposing side of the rotor. The sum of the areas of the two relatively smaller pistons is equal to the area of the one relatively larger piston to provide balanced braking. The side of the caliper housing opposite the two relatively smaller bores contains two access cavities that provide clearance for the tooling that is necessarily positioned within the caliper to machine the bores. Similarly, the side of the caliper housing opposite the one relatively larger bore contains one access cavity that provides clearance for the tooling.

Abstract: Side attachment assemblies are provided for mounting an instrument panel cross car support beam structure or the like to right and left hand cowl panels of a vehicle body.