Suspension assembly

摘要

A suspension assembly is provided for a vehicle including a frame. A lower control arm (14) having first and second opposing portions (16,18) is pivotally connected to the frame at the first portion (16). A knuckle (20) is supported on the second portion (18) of the lower control arm with a wheel (22) supported on the knuckle. A strut (24) having a lower end (26) is connected to the knuckle and an upper end (28) of the strut is connected to the frame at an upper connection (30). The upper connection generally constrains the upper end of the strut against vertical movement while permitting limited lateral movement (L) of the upper end relative to the frame. In one embodiment, a linkage assembly (32) including a first linkage portion (34) is interconnected between the lower control arm (14) and the frame. A second linkage portion (46) interconnects the upper end of the strut (28) and the first linkage portion (34) for moving the upper end laterally in the upper connection in response to vertical movement of the lower control arm. In a second embodiment, an adjustable linkage assembly including a first adjustable linkage is interconnected between the upper end and the frame. A second adjustable linkage is interconnected between the lower control arm and the frame and changes length in response to vertical movement of the lower control arm. A link interconnects the first and second adjustable linkages for communicating the change in length of the second adjustable linkage to the first adjustable linkage for moving the upper end laterally in the upper connection in response to vertical movement of the lower control arm. <IMAGE>