Independent front suspension

In a steerable independent front suspension for a vehicle having a frame to which the independent front suspension is mounted, the independent front suspension comprising:

• at least one upper arm having a first end and a second end, the latter of which is adapted to be pivotally mounted with respect to the vehicle frame;
• at least one lower arm having a first end and a second end, the latter of which is adapted to be pivotally mounted with respect to the vehicle frame;
• a knuckle post having an upper portion pivotally connected to the first end of the at least one upper arm, a lower portion pivotally connected to the first end of the at least one lower arm and an outer leg connecting the upper and lower portions;
• a steering knuckle pivotally mounted to the knuckle post for pivotal movement about a steering axis;
• a spindle extending laterally from the steering knuckle and having a longitudinal axis that defines a wheel axis of rotation;
• and
• an S-cam brake assembly mounted to the steering knuckle for rotation therewith about the steering axis and in a position radially offset from the wheel axis of rotation and operably positioned to apply braking force to a wheel mounted to the spindle, the S-cam brake assembly comprising, a mounting plate,an S-shaped cam rotatably mounted to the mounting plate, a camshaft connecting the S-shaped cam to a brake actuator, and a pair of opposing brake pads positioned on opposite sides of the spindle, each brake pad having one end pivotally mounted to the mounting plate and an other end in abutting relationship with a portion of the S-shaped cam, whereby actuation of the brake actuator, rotates the camshaft, to rotate the S-shaped cam, to pivot the brake pad other ends outward relative to the spindle about their one end, to apply the brakes,
• the improvement which comprises;
• the outer leg of the knuckle post defines a shape to avoid interference with a portion of the S-cam brake assembly as the steering knuckle is rotated about the steering axis in a direction to move the S-cam brake assembly toward the knuckle post to thereby increase the turning angle of the suspension,
• the knuckle post has an inner leg extending between the knuckle post upper and lower ends to define with the outer leg, and upper and lower portions of the knuckle post a brake actuator aperture which receives the portion of the S-cam brake assembly, and
• the outer leg includes a scalloped portion sized and positioned to receive a portion of the S-cam brake assembly when the S-cam brake assembly is rotated toward the knuckle post.