US 4,618,162 AGranted

Device and method for adjusting camber in a strut-type vehicle suspension

AssigneeShim-A-Line, Inc.

InventorsJohn Specktor, Gerald A. Specktor

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Abstract

Camber is adjusted in a strut-type suspension by replacing one of the two factory-installed bolts that holds the wheel onto the strut with a replacement bolt having a shaft portion that is narrower in diameter than the hole which retains the original bolt. A wedge is then inserted between the strut and the wheel mounting such that camber is adjusted with the wheel mounting pivoting about the remaining second factory bolt holding the wheel mounting to the strut. Preferably, the wedge has a threaded rod extending from the narrower portion of the wedge through a washer that is retained by a bracket holding the wheel mounting to the strut. A nut is threaded onto the bolt and works against the washer to pull the wedge between the wheel mounting and the strut to adjust camber and to retain the wedge between the wheel mounting and the strut.

Claims12

Dependent claims

A device for adjusting camber of a wheel attached to a vehicle by a strut-type suspension having a strut member, the wheel supported by a wheel support member having first and second spaced-apart apertures, bracket means fixedly attaching the wheel support member to the strut member, the bracket means having two side portions extending on opposite sides of the wheel support member and each side portion having first and second apertures alignable with the first and second apertures of the wheel support member, respectively, and a first bolt extending through the first apertures of the wheel support member and the side portions of the bracket means, the device comprising:

a wedge member having an angularly disposed edge surface extending between a first end portion and a second end portion narrower than the first end portion, the wedge member being positionable between the support member and the strut member;
a second bolt having a shaft portion of a substantially smaller diameter than the second apertures of the wheel support member and the side portions of the bracket means insertable through the second apertures;
and
retaining and positioning means for retaining the wedge member in a fixed position between the support member and the strut member and for positioning the wedge member between the support member and the strut member to adjust camber.

1 more element

A kit for adjusting camber of a wheel attached to a vehicle by a strut-type suspension having a strut member, the wheel supported by a wheel support member having upper and lower spaced-apart apertures, bracket means attaching the wheel support member to the strut member, the bracket means having two side portions extending on opposite sides of the wheel support member and each side portion having upper and lower apertures alignable with the upper and lower apertures of the wheel support member, respectively, and factory-installed bolts extending through the upper and lower apertures of the wheel support member and the side portions of the bracket means, the kit comprising:

a wedge having a first end portion and a second end portion narrower than the first end portion, the wedge member being positionable between the support member and the strut member;
a replacement bolt having a shaft portion of a substantially smaller diameter than the upper apertures of the wheel support member and the side portions of the bracket means for replacement of the factory-installed bolt in the upper apertures;
and
means for moving the wedge member along a line substantially parallel to an axis of the strut member between the support member and the strut member to adjust camber.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.