JPH05310146A - Structure of suspension mounting portion of vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enhance the safety for crew members at the time of collisions using a simple constitution. CONSTITUTION:Three downwardly protrusively extending mounting brackets 14-16 are provided at proper intervals to a front side frame 13 and a suspension cross member 17 is suspended between the first right mounting bracket 14 and second left mounting bracket 15 and the cross member main body 18 of the suspension cross member 17 which points in the cross direction of the vehicle is provided corresponding to the second mounting bracket 15. The front and rear arm portions 36b of an A-arm 36 have their inner end portions connected and supported to the outer end portion of the cross member main body 18 of the suspension cross member 17 and the third mounting bracket 16, respectively, and the mounting brackets 14-16 are enlarged in such a way that their rigidity gets higher toward the mounting bracket 16, and a front arm portion 6a connected and supported to both end portions of the cross member main body 18 is disposed near a wheel center and the third mounting bracket 16 is disposed below a dashboard 43.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vehicle suspension mounting structure, and more particularly to a suspension mounting structure in which left and right suspension devices are connected to and supported by a vehicle body through a plurality of mounting brackets.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, a vehicle suspension device is connected to and supported by a vehicle body through a suspension cross member oriented in the vehicle width direction in order to improve the assemblability with respect to the vehicle body and the strength and rigidity against a lateral load. (See Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 62-202402). For example,
In a suspension cross member for supporting a strut type or double wishbone type suspension device having an A-shaped arm, mounting portions extending in the vehicle front-rear direction are formed at both ends of a cross member body extending in the vehicle width direction. The inner ends of both front and rear arm portions of the A-shaped arm are connected and supported in the vicinity of both front and rear ends of the front portion, and the arm portion of the front and rear arm portions facing the vehicle width direction is arranged at a position corresponding to the cross member body. The cross member body is configured to effectively receive the lateral load input from the arm portion in the vehicle width direction.

Further, for example, in a suspension cross member for a four-wheel drive vehicle, a plurality of mounting brackets extending downwardly at appropriate intervals on the front side frame are required due to requirements of the differential device and the steering rack unit due to layout requirements. There is also a configuration in which the end of the cross member body and the inner end of the A-shaped arm are connected and supported by the plurality of mounting brackets. On the other hand, in order to further improve the occupant's safety by absorbing the collision energy at the time of a frontal collision, a collision energy absorbing structure for absorbing the collision energy by the collision energy absorbing action due to the deformation is provided in the front part of the vehicle body. ..

[0004]

By the way, in order to effectively absorb the collision energy in the case of a frontal collision, the front portion of the vehicle body is crushed in order from the front end, and the crushing is surely prevented near the dash panel. However, when the rigidity of the plurality of mounting brackets is set to be substantially the same, the mounting bracket at the foremost portion is stretched to reduce the collision energy absorbing action or the mounting bracket at the rearmost portion. However, there is a problem that the rigidity of the dash panel becomes low, and the reinforcing structure for preventing the deformation of the dash panel toward the vehicle interior becomes large. An object of the present invention is to provide a suspension mounting structure for a vehicle capable of further improving the safety of an occupant in a collision with a simple structure.

[0005]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a suspension mounting structure for a vehicle, wherein a plurality of mounting brackets are provided at appropriate intervals on a frame member extending in the vehicle front-rear direction, and the suspension devices are mounted on the plurality of mounting brackets. In a suspension mounting portion structure of a vehicle in which an end portion of a cross member for connecting a vehicle body to a vehicle body and an end portion of an arm member or a link member of a suspension device are connected and supported, the plurality of mounting brackets are closer to a vehicle compartment. The rigidity is set high. According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a vehicle suspension mounting structure according to the first aspect, wherein the suspension device is a front suspension device, and the plurality of mounting brackets are larger than a rear mounting bracket. There is something.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a suspension mounting structure for a vehicle according to the second aspect, wherein the suspension device includes an A-shaped arm, and an arm portion on a front side of the A-shaped arm is located near a wheel center. The cross members are mounted on the left and right mounting brackets for connecting and supporting the front arm part to the vehicle body. A vehicle suspension mounting structure according to a fourth aspect is the vehicle mounting structure according to the second aspect, wherein the rearmost mounting bracket of the plurality of mounting brackets is arranged below the dash panel.

[0007]

In the suspension mounting structure for a vehicle according to the first aspect, the end of the cross member for connecting the suspension device to the vehicle body and the end of the arm member or the link member of the suspension device extend in the vehicle front-rear direction. The frame members are connected to and supported by the vehicle body through a plurality of mounting brackets provided at appropriate intervals. The rigidity of the plurality of mounting brackets is set higher in the mounting bracket closer to the vehicle compartment, and collapsed in the mounting bracket farther from the vehicle compartment. Since it is configured easily, the collision energy at the time of collision can be effectively absorbed, and the safety of the occupant can be further improved. In the vehicle suspension mounting structure according to claim 2, the suspension device is a front suspension device, and the plurality of mounting brackets are larger in size than the rear mounting bracket. Can be absorbed.

In a vehicle suspension mounting structure according to a third aspect of the present invention, the suspension device includes an A-shaped arm, and the front arm portion of the A-shaped arm is disposed near the wheel center and is oriented substantially in the vehicle width direction. Since the cross members are mounted on the left and right mounting brackets for connecting and supporting the front arm part to the vehicle body, the cross member is effective for the lateral load input to the front arm part of the suspension device. Can be taken to. In the vehicle suspension mounting structure according to claim 4,
Since the rearmost mounting bracket of the plurality of mounting brackets is arranged below the dash panel, it is possible to effectively prevent the dash panel from being deformed toward the passenger compartment side in the event of a frontal collision via the rearmost mounting bracket. I can.

[0009]

As described in the above section, the following effects can be obtained. According to the vehicle suspension mounting structure according to the first aspect, the rigidity of the plurality of mounting brackets for connecting and supporting the end of the cross member and the end of the arm member or the link member of the suspension device to the vehicle body is provided in the vehicle interior. With a simple structure in which the closer the mounting bracket is set to a higher value, the collision energy at the time of a collision can be effectively absorbed, and the safety of the occupant can be further improved.
According to the vehicle suspension mounting structure of the second aspect, since the suspension device is the front suspension device and the plurality of mounting brackets are larger in size than the rear mounting bracket, the collision energy during a frontal collision can be reduced. Can be effectively absorbed.

According to the vehicle suspension mounting structure of the third aspect, the front arm portion of the A-shaped arm is disposed in the vicinity of the wheel center, and the left and right mounting portions for connecting and supporting the front arm portion to the vehicle body are mounted. Since the cross member is mounted on the bracket, the cross member can effectively receive the lateral load input to the front arm portion of the suspension device. According to the vehicle suspension mounting structure according to the fourth aspect, since the rearmost mounting bracket of the plurality of mounting brackets is arranged below the dash panel, a frontal collision occurs via the rearmost mounting bracket. It is possible to effectively prevent the deformation of the dash panel toward the passenger compartment side.

[0011]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. This embodiment is a case where the present invention is applied to a suspension mounting structure of a vehicle equipped with a strut-type front suspension device, and description will be made by defining front, rear, left and right with reference to front, rear, left and right of the vehicle. As shown in FIG. 1, the automobile 1 is a four-wheel drive vehicle, and the output of the engine 2 is changed through a manual transmission 3 and then distributed to front and rear differential devices 5 and 6 through a transfer device 4. Differential device 5
6 is transmitted to the front and rear wheels 7 and 8, respectively. Incidentally, the configuration of the transmission 3, the transfer device 4, and the front and rear differential devices 5 and 6 are general ones, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

In order to support the left and right front suspension devices 10 of the automobile 1, a suspension cross member 17 is provided at the front of the automobile 1. The suspension cross member 17 has a cross member mounting structure having the following structure. It is fixed to the car body through. The cross member mounting structure will be described. As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, a pair of left and right front side frames 13 extending in the front-rear direction is provided at the front part of the vehicle body of the automobile 1. First to third vehicle body side mounting brackets 14 to 16 are provided in the middle part in order from the front side at appropriate intervals, and these three mounting brackets 14 to 16 are configured in a substantially similar shape to form a front side frame 13. The suspension that is provided downwardly from the vehicle, is set to have a larger size and higher strength and rigidity in the mounting bracket 16 closer to the vehicle compartment, that is, in the rear mounting bracket 16, and is arranged in the vehicle width direction. The cross member 17 includes the left and right first and second mounting brackets 14,
It is fixed to the left and right front side frames 13 via 15.

The suspension cross member 17
2 to 8, a cross member main body 18 having a closed cross section extending in the vehicle width direction and a cross member main body 1 are provided.
A pair of left and right bracket members 22 fixed to the second mounting bracket 15 so as to extend upward from both end portions of 8;
It is composed of a pair of left and right arm members 21 protruding from the bracket member 22 obliquely forward and upward and fixed to the first mounting bracket 14. The straight member of the cross member main body 18 has a straight intermediate portion on the front side. The cross member main body 18 is provided in a substantially horizontal direction through the front side of the lower part of the cross member, and curved portions 18a are formed in the vicinity of the left and right ends of the cross member main body 18, and the left and right ends of the cross member main body 18 are open at the bottom. Consists of a second mounting bracket 1
5, a pair of front and rear inclined wall portions 18b that expand downward are formed at the upper front and rear ends of the left and right ends of the cross member body 18, respectively.

The left and right bracket members 22 extend diagonally upward from a pair of front and rear reinforcing portions 22a fixed to the front wall portion and the upper wall portion of the cross member body 18, and upper end portions of the front and rear reinforcing portions 22a. And a pair of front and rear inclined portions 22b fixed to the front and rear inclined wall portions 18b, respectively, and the cross member body 1
8 is fixed to the lower wall portion 15a of the second mounting bracket 15 by protruding upward from the flange portion 22c fixed to the upper wall portion, the upper ends of the front and rear inclined portions 22b and the outer end portions of the flange portion 22c. Is formed integrally with a fixed portion 22d having a U-shaped cross section, and a pair of left and right bolt holes 27, which are elongated holes in the front-rear direction, are formed in the upper wall portion 22e of the fixed portion 22d. A nut member 28 is fixed to the lower wall portion 15a of the bracket 15 so as to correspond to a rear end portion of the bolt hole 27, an outer end portion of the fixing portion 22d is opened, and a working space for bolt fastening is provided in the fixing portion 22d. 29 is formed.

The left and right arm members 21 are formed in a generally U-shaped cross section that opens forward and downward. The base end of the arm member 21 is fixed to the front reinforcing portion 22a, and the front end of the arm member 21 is fixed. Is formed with an upper wall portion 21a fixed to the first mounting bracket 14, a positioning pin 23 is provided in a front portion of the upper wall portion 21a so as to protrude upward, and a rear portion of the upper wall portion 21a is provided. A bolt insertion hole 24 is formed, and a positioning hole 25 through which the positioning pin 23 is inserted is provided in the front portion of the lower wall portion 14a of the first mounting bracket 14, and a position corresponding to the bolt insertion hole 24 of the lower wall portion 14a. A nut member 26 is fixedly attached to the suspension cross member 17, and the suspension cross member 17 is positioned on the vehicle body through a positioning pin 23.
Left and right front side frames via a bolt member 30 fastened to the nut member 26 of the first mounting bracket 14 from below and a pair of bolt members 31 fastened to the left and right nut members 28 of the second mounting bracket 15 from below. Fixed to 13 respectively.

The left and right front suspension devices 10 of the automobile 1 have a general structure including a shock absorber 35, a coil spring (not shown), and an A-shaped arm 36, as shown in FIGS. It is a strut type suspension device and is connected to and supported by the vehicle body as follows. The outer end of the A-arm 36 of the suspension device 10 is swingably connected to the wheel support 34 via a ball joint 37, and the inner end of the front arm 36a on the front side of the A-arm 36 is a cross member. Body 18
Is inserted into both ends of the cross member main body 18 and is rotatably connected to the cross member main body 18 via shaft members 38 and rubber bushes 39 in the front-rear direction that are pivotally supported by the front and rear walls of the cross member main body 18 and the reinforcing portion 22a. A type arm 36
A shaft portion 40 extending rearward is formed at an inner end portion of the rear side rear arm portion 36b, and the rear arm portion 36b includes a rubber bush (not shown) externally fitted to the shaft portion 40, an outer cylinder 41, and a fixing member. 42 is rotatably connected to and supported by the third mounting bracket 16 and the upper end of the shock absorber 35 is fixed to the upper wall portion of the suspension tower (not shown). The third mounting bracket 16 is a standing wall portion of the dash panel 43. It is located underneath.

Next, the mounting structure of the steering rack unit 45 arranged in the left-right direction above the suspension cross member 17 will be described with reference to FIG.
As shown in FIG. 6, FIG. 8, and FIG. 9, the portions near both ends of the steering rack unit 45 are fixed to the suspension cross member 17 via a pair of left and right mount brackets 46 and fixing brackets 44, and the outside of the mount bracket 46. A reinforcing portion 46a having a substantially U-shaped cross section that extends above the upper half of the curved portion 18a is formed on the mounting portion of the tie rod 47 that extends from the steering rack unit 45 to the left and right sides through the front side of the second mounting bracket 15. An inclined surface 15b that is connected to the wheel support 34 and that recedes toward the lower end portion is formed on the front end surface of the second mounting bracket 15, and the inclined surface 15b is positioned higher than the tie rod 47 and located rearward,
In addition, the steering force of the steering wheel 50 (see FIG. 1) is arranged so as to be vertically overlapped by a predetermined distance, and the steering force is input to the steering rack unit 45 via the steering shaft 51, the intermediate shaft 52, the universal joint 53, and the like. It is transmitted to the shaft 54.

Next, the mounting structure of the differential device 5 will be described. As shown in FIGS. 2 to 5, the differential device 5 is arranged on the rear side of the right portion of the suspension cross member 17, and the differential device 5 is provided.
The side gear shaft 55 extending from the left to the right and left sides is connected to the front wheel 7 via a universal joint 55a, an axle 55b, a universal joint 55c, an axle hub 55d, and the like.
Is arranged on the front side of the bracket member 22, the axis of the axle 55b is arranged slightly on the front side with respect to the front-rear direction central portion of the A-shaped arm 36, and is arranged in the vehicle width direction at a position corresponding to the third mounting bracket 16. An extending differential cross member 56 is provided, the differential cross member 56 is fixed over the third mounting bracket 16 and the lower wall portion of the front side frame 13, and the right portion of the differential cross member 56 is the input shaft of the differential device 5. The casing 5 of the differential device 5 is formed in a curved shape so as to pass below the pipe 57.
A support member 58 extending to the right curved portion 18a of the suspension cross member 17 is provided at the front end portion of a,
The support member 58 is elastically supported by the suspension cross member 17 via a mount device 59 provided on the curved portion 18a, and a support member 61 extending forward is provided near a left end of an axle tube 60 extending to the left side of the differential device 5. The support member 61 is elastically supported by the suspension cross member 17 via the mount device 62 provided on the left curved portion 18a, and the support member 61 extending rearward is provided at the rear portion of the casing 5a. The rear end portion is elastically supported by the differential cross member 56 via a mount device 64 provided on the differential cross member 56.

The mounting structure of the mounting devices 59 and 62 provided on the left and right curved portions 18a will be described. Since the mounting structures of the mounting devices 59 and 62 are substantially bilaterally symmetrical, the mounting structure of the left mounting device 59 will be described with reference to FIG. Thus, the tubular portion 65 extending downward is integrally formed on the upper wall portion of the curved portion 18 a, and the reinforcing portion 4 corresponding to the tubular portion 65 is formed.
An opening 66 is formed in the upper wall portion of 6a, and a substantially cylindrical outer cylinder 67 is fixed in the cylindrical portion 65 and the opening 66 so that the outer cylinder 67 has an upper end portion for retaining. Flange part 67
a is formed, and a substantially cylindrical inner cylinder 68 is provided inside the outer cylinder 67 concentrically with the outer cylinder 67 via a rubber bush 69, and a flange portion 67 a is provided at the upper end of the rubber bush 69.
A buffer portion 69a extending upward is formed, and substantially disk-shaped restriction plates 70 and 71 for restricting the vertical movement of the inner cylinder 68 are provided on both upper and lower sides of the inner cylinder 68, and the front end portion of the support member 61 is provided. Is disposed on the regulation plate 70, and the front end portion of the support member 61 and the upper and lower regulation plates 70 and 71 are fixed to the inner cylinder 68 via a vertically oriented bolt member 72 that passes through the inner cylinder 68. A reinforcing member 73 having a substantially L-shaped cross section is provided at the lower end portion of 68, and the reinforcing member 73, the tubular portion 68, and the upper wall portion of the curved portion 18a form a reinforcing structure 74 having a closed sectional shape.
Incidentally, the mounting structure of the mounting device 64 has a reinforcing portion 46a.
Since the structure other than the above is the same as the mounting structure of the mount device 59, detailed description thereof will be omitted.

Next, the operation of the cross member mounting structure will be described. When the car 1 crashes into the front,
Since the front side frame 13 and the vehicle body side members in the vicinity thereof are crushed in order from the front side to absorb the collision energy, in order to efficiently absorb the collision energy at the time of a frontal collision, the suspension cross member 1 having high strength and rigidity is used.
It is desirable to prevent the bulging by the A-shaped arm 7 and the A-shaped arm 36 and prevent the uncrushed parts of the vehicle body side member from remaining.

The arm member 21 of the suspension cross member 17 is formed in a U-shaped cross-section that opens forward and downward, and has strength against a rearward load.
Since the rigidity is set to be relatively low, uncrushed parts of the vehicle body side member corresponding to the arm member 21 due to the arm member 21 being stretched during a frontal collision are prevented. A positioning pin 23 is provided near the front end of the arm member 21, and the arm member 21 is fixed to the first mounting bracket 14 via a bolt member 30 provided behind the positioning pin 23. It is possible to set the coupling strength of the portion in the vicinity of the front end of the first attachment bracket 14 to be low, and to reduce the tension of the arm member 21 during a frontal collision.

Since the bracket member 22 of the suspension cross member 17 is fixed to the second mounting bracket 15 via the bolt member 31 which is inserted through the elongated bolt hole 27, a large rearward load is applied to the suspension cross member. When acting on the member 17, the bolt member 31 fastened to the nut member 28 of the second bracket 15
Relatively moves forward along the bolt hole 27, and the impact load when the bolt member 31 is locked at the front end portion of the bolt hole 27 promotes breakage of the bolt member 31 or the front end portion of the bolt hole 27. .. Therefore, when a large rearward load acts on the suspension cross member 17 during a frontal collision, the bracket member 22 separates from the second mounting bracket 15 together with the front arm portion 36a of the A-shaped arm 36.
The uncrushed portion of the vehicle body side member corresponding to the A-shaped arm 36 due to the A-shaped arm 36 being stretched is prevented.

The bracket member 22 is firmly connected to the second mounting bracket 15 through the two bolt members 31, and the bracket member 22 has the inclined portion 22b.
Since it is fixed to the pair of front and rear inclined wall portions 18b that expand downwards through the cross member main body 18 through, the attachment strength of the suspension cross member 17 against the vertical load acting on the front arm portion 36 is increased. You can secure enough. In addition, the reinforcing portions 2 before and after the bracket member 22.
Since 2a is fixed to both front and rear walls of the cross member main body 18, the mounting strength of the bracket member 22 to the cross member main body 18 can be improved, and at the same time, the cross member main body 18 at the inner end of the front arm portion of the suspension device can be improved. The mounting strength can be improved. The strength and rigidity of the mounting brackets 14 to 16 are set to be higher toward the rear side, so that the mounting brackets 14 to 16 can effectively absorb the collision energy at the time of a frontal collision, thereby further improving the safety of passengers. Can be further improved. Further, since the third mounting bracket 16 having the highest strength and rigidity is arranged below the dash panel 43, it is possible to effectively prevent the dash panel 43 from being deformed toward the vehicle compartment side in the event of a frontal collision.

The second mounting bracket 15 is attached to the tie rod 47.
The suspension cross member 17 separated from the first mounting bracket 15 is promoted to move downward because it is located higher and rearward than the tie rod 47 and vertically overlaps the tie rod 47 in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body by a predetermined distance. By allowing the steering rack unit 45 to escape downward during a frontal collision, the backward movement of the steering handle 50 can be prevented without complicating the steering force transmission system from the steering handle 50 to the steering rack unit 45. Further, since the inclined surface 15b is formed on the front end surface of the second mounting bracket 15 so as to recede toward the lower end, the downward movement of the suspension cross member 17 separated from the second mounting bracket 15 is further promoted, and the steering wheel is steered. The backward movement of the handle 50 can be prevented more reliably. Further, since the cross member main body 18 is fixed to the first mounting bracket 14 via the arm member 21 which is inclined forward and upward, the cross member main body 18 is supported by the rearward load acting on the arm member 21 during a frontal collision. 6 is rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow in FIG. 6, the downward movement of the steering rack unit 45 is promoted, and the backward movement of the steering handle 50 can be prevented more effectively.

Since the reinforcing portion 46a of the mount bracket 46 is extended above the curved portion 18a, the strength and rigidity of the curved portion 18a can be increased without increasing the number of parts. Moreover, since the mounting devices 59 and 62 of the differential device 5 are provided in the portion reinforced by the reinforcing portion 46a, the mounting strength of the mounting devices 59 and 62 can be improved.

The mounting brackets 14 to 16 may be thicker on the mounting bracket 16 side. still,
Instead of the long hole-shaped bolt holes 27, as shown in FIG. 10, notch-shaped bolt holes 27A elongated in the vehicle front-rear direction and having one end opened are formed in the upper wall portions 22e of the left and right bracket members 22A, respectively. You may provide 1 pair of right and left. As shown in FIG. 11, the rear end portion of the arm member 21B is attached to the cross member body 18 and the bracket member 22 by a plurality of bolts 80.
It may be detachably fixed. In this case, the steering rack unit 45 can be removed without removing the entire suspension cross member 17, and the serviceability of the steering rack unit 45 can be improved. Although the present invention is applied to a four-wheel drive vehicle in this embodiment, the present invention can be similarly applied to a vehicle of a rear drive system or a front drive system. Further, although the present invention is applied to a vehicle equipped with the strut type suspension device 10, the present invention can be similarly applied to a vehicle equipped with the double wishbone type suspension device.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a drive system of an automobile.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a front portion of a vehicle body.

FIG. 3 is a front view of a front portion of a vehicle body.

4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a suspension cross member.

6 is a sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIG.

7 is a sectional view taken along line 7-7 of FIG.

8 is a sectional view taken along line 8-8 of FIG.

9 is a sectional view taken along line 9-9 of FIG.

10 is a view corresponding to FIG. 7 of an arm member and a bracket member according to a modified example.

11 is a view corresponding to FIG. 7 of an arm member and a bracket member according to a modified example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 Suspension Device 13 Front Side Frame 14 First Mounting Bracket 15 Second Mounting Bracket 16 Third Mounting Bracket 17 Suspension Cross Member 18 Cross Member Main Body 36 A-type Arm 36a Front Arm Part 43 Dash Panel

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A frame member extending in the front-rear direction of a vehicle body is provided with a plurality of mounting brackets at appropriate intervals, and an end portion of a cross member for connecting the suspension device to the vehicle body and an arm of the suspension device are attached to the plurality of mounting brackets. In a suspension mounting portion structure of a vehicle in which end portions of members or link members are coupled and supported, the plurality of mounting brackets are set to have higher rigidity as the mounting brackets closer to a vehicle compartment are mounted. Construction. 2. The suspension mounting portion structure for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the suspension device is a front suspension device, and the plurality of mounting brackets are formed to be larger in size than a rear mounting bracket. .. 3. The suspension device includes an A-shaped arm, a front arm portion of the A-shaped arm is disposed in the vicinity of a wheel center, and the left and right mounting brackets for connecting and supporting the front arm portion to a vehicle body are The suspension mounting structure for a vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the cross member is mounted. 4. The suspension mounting structure for a vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the rearmost mounting bracket of the plurality of mounting brackets is disposed below the dash panel.