Vehicle wheel angle adjusting apparatus
AssigneeIngalls Engineering Company, Inc.
InventorJames H. Garrard
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Replacement ball joint apparatus and methods for conveniently modifying motor vehicle suspension camber, caster or camber/caster combination angle by means of repositioning a wheel spindle top or bottom relative to a control arm. The apparatus includes a module securing one end of a ball joint which is connectable at its other end to the spindle, the module having guide slots at an upper surface thereof and a threaded bore therein. An insert is securable at the control arm and has an elongated slot through which a bolt is received and engageable at the threaded bore in the module. Protruding guides are defined at a surface of the insert, the guides and guide slots being engageble for maintenance of module orientation.
Claims17
Apparatus for selective positioning of a vehicle ball joint securable between a control arm and a wheel mounting, said apparatus comprising:
- a module configured to secure an end of the ball joint and including a threaded bore thereat and an orientation guide at one surface thereof;
- an insert securable at the control arm and having a mating orientation guide structure at one surface thereof engageable at said orientation guide of said module for rotationally stabilizing said module thereat, said insert having a slot therethrough;
- and
- a threaded stud mountable through said slot of said insert and engageable by said threaded bore of said module, said stud movable linearly at said slot of said insert.
Apparatus mountable at a vehicle control arm opening and at a spindle to provide selectable camber correction of a vehicle wheel comprising:
- an insert having a slot, said insert extendible through the control arm opening and having an orientation guide structure at one surface thereof;
- a ball joint retaining module including a body and a cover, one surface of said body and said cover defining an orientation guide receivable at said orientation guide structure of said insert, said body having a cavity therein through said one surface that is secured by said cover;
- a ball joint affixable at one end to the spindle and at another end in said cavity in said body of said module;
- and
- a stud engageable at a selected position through said slot of said insert with said ball joint retaining module.
Apparatus providing camber angle adjustability of a vehicle wheel comprising:
- an insert having protruding guides and an elongated slot therethrough;
- a ball joint module including a ball joint, a body with a threaded bore adjacent to a cavity, and a cover, at least said cover having guide slots thereat;
- and
- a bolt engageable through said slot of said insert and at said threaded bore of said body of said module;
- wherein said insert is held at a vehicle suspension control arm member with a selected alignment of said slot relative to the control arm member, said ball joint is fitted into said cavity of said body of said module with said cover secured thereover at said body, said guide slots of said cover of said module and said protruding guides of said insert are aligned, and said bolt is located at a selected location linearly in said elongated slot of said insert before being tightened in said threaded bore.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.