Abstract: A mounting assembly is configured to join a vehicle body to a vehicle chassis with a bolt. The mounting assembly includes an outer tube and an inner sleeve. The outer tube defines a sleeve channel, and is configured to be fixed to one of the vehicle chassis and the vehicle body. The inner sleeve is disposed within the sleeve channel of the outer tube, and defines a bolt hole configured to receive the bolt. The outer tube, the inner sleeve, and the bolt cooperate to join the vehicle body to the vehicle chassis. An initiation slot is defined in the outer tube, such that the sleeve channel is an incomplete cylindrical shell.

Abstract: A vehicle and a suspension system for the vehicle are disclosed. The suspension system includes a wheel knuckle and a control arm coupled to the wheel knuckle. The control arm includes a proximal end having a first arm segment and a second arm segment each extending outwardly from the proximal end away from each other to respective first and second distal ends to define a space between the first and second arm segments. The suspension system also includes a biasing device at least partially disposed in the space between the first and second arm segments. The biasing device is coupled to at least one of the first and second distal ends of the first and second arm segments respectively such that actuation of the biasing device provides a first reaction force that counteracts a downward load.

Abstract: A vehicle and a suspension system for the vehicle are disclosed. The suspension system includes a wheel knuckle and a control arm coupled to the wheel knuckle. The control arm includes a proximal end having a first arm segment and a second arm segment each extending outwardly from the proximal end away from each other to respective first and second distal ends to define a space between the first and second arm segments. The suspension system also includes a biasing device at least partially disposed in the space between the first and second arm segments. The biasing device is coupled to at least one of the first and second distal ends of the first and second arm segments respectively such that actuation of the biasing device provides a first reaction force that counteracts a downward load.

Abstract: A front suspension assembly and a front suspension system for a vehicle are disclosed. A tire includes an outer surface having a contact patch center point being a point on a tire center axis. A first handling link and a first ride link are coupled to a wheel carrier above a first plane. A second handling link and a second ride link are coupled to the wheel carrier below the first plane. A handling axis intersects both of a first and second distal end of the first and second handling links respectively. A ride axis intersects both of a third and fourth distal end of the first and second ride links respectively. At least one of the first and second ride links is disposed offset from respective first and second handling links to minimize a lateral distance between the handling and ride axes along the ground plane.

Abstract: A suspension system for a vehicle having a vehicle body arranged along a first axis includes a steering knuckle configured to rotatably support the vehicle's road wheel. The system also includes a torsion bar that is configured to generate a spring rate and arranged along a second axis that forms an acute angle relative to the first axis. The system also includes a tensile drop link fixed relative to the steering knuckle. The system additionally includes a semi-trailing arm having a first end and a distal second end, wherein the semi-trailing arm is operatively connected to a first end of the torsion bar at the first end of the arm and to the tensile drop link at the second end of the arm. Furthermore, the system includes an actuator fixed relative to the body and configured to rotate a second end of the torsion bar about the second axis.

Abstract: A mounting assembly is configured to join a vehicle body to a vehicle chassis with a bolt. The mounting assembly includes an outer tube and an inner sleeve. The outer tube defines a sleeve channel, and is configured to be fixed to one of the vehicle chassis and the vehicle body. The inner sleeve is disposed within the sleeve channel of the outer tube, and defines a bolt hole configured to receive the bolt. The outer tube, the inner sleeve, and the bolt cooperate to join the vehicle body to the vehicle chassis. An initiation slot is defined in the outer tube, such that the sleeve channel is an incomplete cylindrical shell.

Abstract: A suspension system for a vehicle having a vehicle body arranged along a first axis includes a steering knuckle configured to rotatably support the vehicle's road wheel. The system also includes a torsion bar that is configured to generate a spring rate and arranged along a second axis that forms an acute angle relative to the first axis. The system also includes a tensile drop link fixed relative to the steering knuckle. The system additionally includes a semi-trailing arm having a first end and a distal second end, wherein the semi-trailing arm is operatively connected to a first end of the torsion bar at the first end of the arm and to the tensile drop link at the second end of the arm. Furthermore, the system includes an actuator fixed relative to the body and configured to rotate a second end of the torsion bar about the second axis.