GB1163824A - Motor Vehicle Rear Suspension - Google Patents

Abstract

1,163,824. Rear axle suspensions. FORD MOTOR CO. Ltd. 7 April, 1967, No. 16062/67. Heading B7D. In a motor vehicle suspension comprising generally longitudinally extending leaf springs 9 which support the sprung mass of the vehicle on a rigid rear axle 1, eyes 13 at the front ends of the springs are connected to the sprung mass through rubber bushes and further connecting means between the springs and the sprung mass is arranged such that the sprung mass exerts on each spring a force acting towards the front end of each spring. The front portions of the bushes are thereby relieved of load and the bushes are better able to absorb noise, vibration and harshness. Rubber elements 21 bonded between brackets 17, 19 attached to the sprung mass and to the springs 9 permit rearward movement of the rear end of each spring under load and exert a forwardly-acting force on each spring. An extension 27 of the differential casing 3 is connected to the sprung mass by rubber bushes 29 arranged such that the axle 1 exerts a forward force on the springs 9 through links 23 which are secured to the axle and pivotally connected through rubber bushes to plates 25 on the springs. The springs 9 converge rearwardly and the rubber elements 21 permit limited lateral movement of the rear ends of the springs so that lateral movement of the axle 1 under cornering forces produces rear wheel understeer. Shock absorbers 7 are connected between the sprung mass and the springs, and rubber blocks 31 mounted on the sprung mass engage the springs to provide a variable rate suspension.