Abstract: An independent suspension for a motor vehicle includes a wheel carrier with a spindle for rotatably mounting a road wheel, a telescoping strut having a lower end rigidly attached to the wheel carrier and an upper end attached to the chassis of the motor vehicle. A control arm is interposed between the wheel carrier and the chassis, and a torsional unloading device is interposed between the control arm and the telescoping strut such that the torsional unloading device will impose a force upon the telescoping strut tending to counteract an opposing bending moment imposed upon the strut by the wheel carrier.

Abstract: A control system for an adjustable automotive vehicle suspension unit calculates the instantaneous angular rate of a steering handwheel associated with the vehicle and compares the calculated rate with an initiation value. If the calculated angular rate exceeds the initiation value, the excursion angle of the steering handwheel will be measured during a predetermined time period and in the event that such excursion angle exceeds a critical value during the time period or a threshold value at the conclusion of the time period, the adjustable suspension unit will be adjusted accordingly.