Abstract: In a vehicle subframe including a pair of longitudinal members which extend in parallel with each other along a longitudinal direction of a vehicle body, and lateral members which extend across the longitudinal members, a connecting member extends across intermediate points of two of the lateral members which are disposed adjacent to each other, and one of the engine mounts is provided on the connecting member. Thereby, the load from the engine can be favorably distributed over the lateral members, and the rigidity at the points for mounting the engine can be increased, whereby the vibrations from the engine are effectively shut off from the passenger compartment. Additionally, the lateral members are not subjected to any significant localized stresses, and can be therefore made lighter in weight.

Abstract: In a vehicle subflame including a pair of longitudinal members extending in parallel with each other along a longitudinal direction of a vehicle body, and lateral members extending across the longitudinal members, one of the lateral members is joined to said longitudinal members via a pair of leg sections which extend upright from the longitudinal member, and each of said leg sections is provided with a bearing portion for pivotably supporting an inner end of one of the lower arms of said wheel suspension system. Therefore, the load from the lower suspension arms can be supported by beating portions which are provided directly on the lateral member, and can be evenly transmitted to the lateral member. When the lateral member is provided with a Z-shaped cross section, the vertical and lateral loads can be supported with high rigidity and mechanical strength while the energy of a longitudinal impact can be favorably absorbed by well controlled deformation of the lateral member.

Abstract: Lower arms of a wheel suspension system are pivotably attached to brackets which are in turn attached to both the vehicle body and the subframe, whereby the subframe can provide a significantly high rigidity with respect to the lower arms of the wheel suspension system, and can effectively insulate the passenger compartment of the vehicle from the vibrations and noises which are otherwise transmitted from the wheel suspension system to the subframe. The rigidity of the brackets can be further enhanced when each of the brackets is provided with a closed cross section in a part thereof which extends between the bearing portion and the vehicle body. Additionally, if the brackets consist of upright leg sections of a lateral member extending across a pair of longitudinal members on either side of the subframe, the brackets can be made highly rigid not only to vertical loads but also to lateral loads. The lateral member and the brackets may be integrally formed substantially from a single metal sheet.

Abstract: A subframe supporting a fuel tank in an internal space therein includes a pair of front and rear cross-members extending in a lateral direction of a vehicle body, a pair of left and right upper side-members and a pair of left and right lower side-members which extend in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle body to interconnect left and right opposite ends of the cross-members, respectively. Longitudinally intermediate portions of the adjacent upper and lower side-members are integrally coupled to each other by a vertically extending bracket. An upper arm is pivotally supported at an upper end of the bracket, and a lower arm is pivotally supported at a lower end of the bracket. The above construction makes it possible to increase the rigidity of the subframe, while providing an effective utilization of the internal space in the subframe.

Abstract: In a subframe assembly for a vehicle, a front portion of a fuel tank supported on a subframe overhangs forwardly from a front cross-member of the subframe to increase the volume of the fuel tank. In order to compensate the forward displacement of the position of the gravity center due to the overhanging of the fuel tank, an exhaust silencer is supported to overhang rearwardly from a rear cross-member of the subframe, and a rear differential supported by the subframe below a lower surface of the fuel tank is disposed in proximity to the rear cross-member inside the subframe. Thus, the position of the gravity center of the subframe assembly is maintained at a substantially central portion of the subframe.