Abstract: A leaf spring assembly for a wheel suspension of a motor vehicle including a leaf spring resiliently supporting of a wheel carrier on a vehicle body of the motor vehicle. The leaf spring has a first end portion, and a diametrically or longitudinally, opposite second end portion fastened, pivotably mounted, to the vehicle. The leaf spring includes a suspension portion extending between the two end portions. The leaf spring includes two spring leaves held pressed one against the other by a first clamp in the suspension portion and are held pressed one against the other by a second clamp distanced or longitudinally spaced from the first clamp. The position of the second clamp, its position on the leaf spring, is variable in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the leaf spring.

Abstract: A suspension apparatus for an automotive vehicle employs, as its main element, a main suspension member 10. The main suspension member 10 includes a main portion 12 constituted by a pipe; two body-side attachment portions 14, 16 that are fixed to opposite ends of the main portion 12, respectively; and a wheel-side attachment portion 18 that is fixed to a rear-side portion of the main portion 12. The opposite ends of the pipe constituting the main portion 12 are located near to each other, such that the main portion 12 has a generally C-shaped configuration in its side view. The body-side attachment portions 14, 16 are attached to a body of the vehicle such that those portions 14, 16 are pivotable about their pivotal axes. The pivotal axes of the two body-side attachment portions 14, 16 are offset from each other in a direction perpendicular to those axes, or are inclined relative to each other.

Abstract: A leaf spring for a vehicle suspension is formed from a composite material and includes a central portion to be supported by an axle and at least one free end that extends from the central portion in a longitudinal direction. The free end is coupled to a vehicle structure via a slider bracket. A contact element is mounted to the slider bracket to contact an upper surface of the free end to accommodate vertical forces. The free end is slidably movable relative to the contact element along a longitudinal axis and is pivotable relative to the contact element about a lateral axis.

Abstract: An air spring suspension for a rear axle of truck is stabilized using a trailing link constructed from a hollow, rectangular tube. The air spring is positioned between a portion of the trailing link extending beyond the rear axle and turning inwardly on the vehicle and the frame rails of the truck's chassis. An auxiliary spring is provided by a half leaf mounting beneath the trailing link. The suspension can provide cornering stabilization by providing a connecting link between the ends of the trailing links.

Abstract: In a leaf spring suspension for a rear vehicle axle including a rigid axle body, wherein the suspension comprises leaf springs extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle at opposite sides of the vehicle and the leaf springs have front and rear end supports by way of which they are mounted to the vehicle body, the rear supports for supporting the springs on the vehicle body in a longitudinally displaceable manner are stiff in a transverse direction and the front supports are resilient in a transverse direction such that, when the vehicle is subjected to side forces, a pivot pole is established for the rear axle, which is disposed behind the center of the rear axle.

Abstract: A shackle assembly is shown to include a shackle bracket, wear pads, a shackle stop, shackle plates and elastomer bushings. The shackle bracket includes legs forming portions thereof, which serve as contact surfaces for the wear pads and the shackle plates. By providing conical and lateral stiffness, the shackle bracket legs allow for the use of a more versatile elastomer bushing. The elastomer bushing preferably includes voids vertically separated with respect to each other and the elastomer layer preferably is in the form of a bowtie-shaped configuration, which enhances vertical, conical and torsional performance. A first redundancy feature is in the form of a shackle stop secured between the shackle plates. The shackle stop provides longitudinal control of the axle in the event the opposite limb of the leaf spring is broken, the vehicle is generally traveling in a given direction and the vehicle is subject to deceleration.

Abstract: A vehicle suspension system having first and second trailing arms (10), each trailing arm (10) being mounted to the vehicle adjacent its forward end (14) for pivotal movement about a transverse axis of the vehicle, one trailing arm (10) being located adjacent one side of the vehicle and adapted adjacent its trailing end (22) to support a first wheel of a vehicle and the other trailing arm (10) being located adjacent the other side of the vehicle and adapted adjacent its trailing end (22) to support a second wheel of the vehicle, the first and second wheels being located on a transverse axis of the vehicle, a torsion beam (24) being provided to control lateral separation of the trailing arms (10), and a pair of dynamic beams (30) being secured at their forward and rearward ends longitudinally of the vehicle, one dynamic beam (30) being located in juxtaposed relationship with each of the trailing arms (10), each trailing arm (10) being connected adjacent its trailing end (22) to the adjacent dynamic beam (10),