Front suspension assembly for an off-road vehicle

A front suspension assembly for a vehicle, the front suspension assembly being connected to a frame of the vehicle and operatively connected to a front wheel of the vehicle, the front wheel of the vehicle being one of a front left wheel and a front right wheel, the vehicle comprising a front shaft which comprises a laterally outward end connected to the front wheel and a laterally inward end connected to a front gear train for driving the front wheel, the front suspension assembly comprising:

• a knuckle pivotally connected to the front wheel, the knuckle including:
• a first portion connected to a wheel hub that is operatively connected to the front wheel, the first portion including a first ball joint, and
• a second portion connected to and extending generally upward from the first portion, the second portion including a second ball joint disposed at a top portion of the knuckle;
• a lower arm pivotally connected to the first ball joint of the knuckle and pivotally connected to the frame, a laterally outward end of the lower arm receiving at least a portion of the first ball joint therein;
• an upper arm pivotally connected to the second ball joint of the knuckle and pivotally connected to the frame, a laterally outward end of the upper arm receiving at least a portion of the second ball joint therein;
• and
• a shock absorber assembly having a lower end pivotally connected to the lower arm via a bearing of the shock absorber assembly and an upper end pivotally connected to the frame,
• the front suspension assembly being configured so that, during use, the bearing is vertically above and laterally aligned with a portion of the lower arm, and a portion of the front shaft is vertically between and laterally aligned with the bearing and the portion of the lower arm.

A front suspension assembly for a vehicle, the front suspension assembly being connected to a frame of the vehicle and operatively connected to a front wheel of the vehicle, the front wheel of the vehicle being one of a front left wheel and a front right wheel, the vehicle comprising a front shaft which comprises a laterally outward end connected to the front wheel and a laterally inward end connected to a front gear train for driving the front wheel, the front suspension assembly comprising:

• a knuckle pivotally connected to the front wheel, the knuckle including:
• a first portion connected to a wheel hub that is operatively connected to the front wheel, the first portion including a first ball joint, and
• a second portion connected to and extending generally upward from the first portion, the second portion including a second ball joint disposed at a top portion of the knuckle;
• a lower arm pivotally connected to the first ball joint of the knuckle and pivotally connected to the frame, a laterally outward end of the lower arm receiving at least a portion of the first ball joint therein;
• an upper arm pivotally connected to the second ball joint of the knuckle and pivotally connected to the frame, a laterally outward end of the upper arm receiving at least a portion of the second ball joint therein, a laterally inward end of the upper arm configured to be vertically above and laterally in a span of the front gear train;
• and
• a shock absorber assembly having a lower end pivotally connected to the lower arm via a bearing of the shock absorber assembly and an upper end pivotally connected to the frame and configured to be vertically above and laterally in a span of the front gear train.