Front Suspension

DESCRIPTION











This vehicle uses a unique independent short and long arm design front suspension. The suspension design used on this vehicle locates the front shock absorber assemblies inboard of the frame rails. The shock assemblies are remotely actuated using a rocker arm. The rocker arm is actuated through a push rod which is attached to the lower control arm.
Each side of the front suspension consists of the following components:
- Shock assembly
- Rocker arm
- Push rod
- Lower control arm (and ball joint)
- Upper control arm (and ball joint)
- Steering knuckle
- Hub and bearing
- Stabilizer bar and links (one bar common to both sides)
The upper and lower control arms are attached to the steering knuckles using conventional style ball joints. The steering arm of the steering knuckle is rearward of the front wheel centerline. The steering knuckles are attached to the steering gear using a conventional style ball joint outer tie rod end. The upper control arms are mounted to the frame using two pivot bolts. The pivot bolts go through the isolator bushings for the upper control arms and the control arm brackets on the frame. The through bolts have eccentric (cam) washers that are used for alignment adjustments of the front suspension. The lower control arms are also mounted to the frame using two pivot bolts. The pivot bolts for the lower control arms also go through the isolator bushings for the control arms and the control arm brackets on the frame. The lower control arm pivot bolts do not have cam washers and are not used to provide alignment adjustment of the front suspension.
The stabilizer bar used on this vehicle interconnects the front lower control arms by attaching to the rocker arms rather then by being attached directly to the lower control arms. This type of stabilizer bar design and actuation is unique to this vehicle.

OPERATION
The front suspension allows each front wheel on a vehicle to adapt to different road surfaces and conditions without greatly affecting the opposite wheel and the ability to control the vehicle. Each side of the front suspension is allowed to pivot so the vehicle can be steered in the direction preferred.
When the vehicle strikes a bump, the force is transferred through the tire and wheel, hub and bearing, steering knuckle, lower control arm, push rod, and rocker arm to the shock assembly. The shock assembly then cushions the force, controlling vibration, along with jounce and rebound of the suspension.