Leaf spring pivot bearing and assembly with adjustment pilot

An elastomer beating assembly adapted for use with a leaf spring assembly, said bearing assembly comprising:

• a) an upper insulator cup having an upper planar recess;
• b) a lower bracket cap having a lower spherical recess;
• c) an upper bonded bearing received in said upper recess, said upper bonded bearing including a rigid lower member having a first pilot and a spherical surface and an upper elastomer element bonded to said spherical surface, said upper elastomer element including a plurality of spherical elastomer layers, said first pilot adapted to be received adjacent to the leaf spring assembly;
• and
• d) a lower bonded bearing received in said lower recess, said lower bonded bearing including a rigid upper member having a second pilot and a spherical surface and a lower elastomer element bonded to said spherical surface, said lower elastomer element including a plurality of spherical layers, said second pilot adapted to be received adjacent to die leaf spring assembly;
• e) means for selectively adjusting and securing a relative position of the bearing assembly and the leaf spring assembly, said adjusting and securing means being accessible when the bearing is fully assembled.

An elastomer bearing assembly for use with a leaf spring assembly, said bearing assembly comprising:

• a) an insulator cup having an first recess;
• b) a bracket cap having a second recess;
• c) a first bonded bearing received in said first recess, said first bonded bearing including a first rigid inner member and a first elastomer element bonded to said first rigid inner member;
• and
• d) a second bonded bearing received in said second recess, said second bonded bearing including a second rigid inner member and a second elastomer element bonded to said second rigid inner member, said first and second rigid inner members adapted to receive the leaf spring assembly therebetween wherein at least one of said first and second elastomer elements comprises a spherical elastomer element;
• e) means for selectively adjusting and securing a relative position of the leaf spring assembly and the bearing assembly, said adjusting and securing means being accessible when the bearing is fully assembled.

A bonded bearing for use in a leaf spring suspension assembly including a bearing assembly and a leaf spring having a hole formed therein, said bonded bearing comprising:

• a) a rigid inner member having an outer surface;
• b) an elastomer element bonded to said outer surface of said rigid inner member;
• and
• c) means for selectively adjusting and securing a relative position between the leaf spring and the bonded bearing, said adjustment means including a pilot adjoining said rigid inner member and said leaf spring, said pilot adapted to be received in the hole of the leaf spring, means for repositioning the pilot relative to said rigid inner member, and means for securing the pilot in a selected position relative to said rigid inner member, said selective adjusting and securing means being accessible when the bearing is fully assembled.