Cockpit having a forward-to-rearward dash plate slip plane

A brake sled for a vehicle cockpit assembly, comprising:

• a body including a forward end and a rearward end, the body being operable to fixedly couple a steering column support to a wall member of the cockpit assembly;
• a first mount located at the forward end of the body and being forward-to-rearward adjustably coupled to the wall member of the cockpit assembly;
• and
• a second mount located at the rearward end of the body and being operable to be fixedly coupled to the steering column support.

A method of installing a cockpit assembly into a vehicle, the cockpit assembly including a cross-car support;

• a wall member having a central area and a support mount disposed at the central area;
• a steering column support connected to the cross-car support;
• and a brake sled having a first mount located at a forward end thereof and being forward-to-rearward adjustably coupled to the support mount of the wall member, and a second mount located at a rearward end of the brake sled which is coupled to the steering column support, the method comprising:
• positioning the cockpit assembly in the vehicle;
• connecting the wall member to a first frame portion of the vehicle such that the wall member at least partially separates an engine compartment and a passenger compartment of the vehicle;
• permitting the brake sled to slidably adjust its forward-to-rearward position with respect to the wall member;
• and
• connecting the cross-car support to leftward and rightward A-pillars of the vehicle;
• and
• fixing the brake sled to the wall member at the first mount and support mount such that the forward-to-rearward adjustability therebetween is prevented.

A vehicle cockpit assembly, comprising:

• a cross-car support having leftward and rightward ends, each end being adapted to connect to respective left and right A-pillars of a vehicle;
• a wall member having a central area defined by a periphery and a support mount disposed at the central area, the wall member being connectable to the vehicle such that the wall member at least partially separates an engine compartment and a passenger compartment of the vehicle;
• a steering column support having a body connected to the cross-car support;
• a brake sled including a body having a forward end, a rearward end, a first mount located at the forward end of the body and being operable to couple to the support mount of the wall member with forward-to-rearward adjustability, and a second mount located at the rearward end of the body and being operable to be fixedly coupled to the steering column support;
• and
• at least one fastener operable to permit forward-to-rearward adjustability between the brake sled and the wall member when in a first state, and to prohibit the forward-to-rearward adjustability when in a second state, wherein the fastener is accessible through the engine compartment for changing between the first and second states.

A brake sled for a vehicle cockpit assembly, comprising:

• a body including a forward end and a rearward end, the body being operable to fixedly couple a steering column support to a wall member of the cockpit assembly, the wall member being connectable to the vehicle such that the wall member at least partially separates an engine compartment and a passenger compartment of the vehicle;
• a first mount located at the forward end of the body, being operable to couple to the wall member of the cockpit assembly with forward-to-rearward adjustability, and being operable to communicate with at least one fastener, which permits the forward-to-rearward adjustability between the brake sled and the wall member when in a first state, and which prohibits the forward-to-rearward adjustability when in a second state, the fastener being accessible through the engine compartment for changing between the first and second states;
• and
• a second mount located at the rearward end of the body and being operable to be fixedly coupled to the steering column support.

A method of installing a cockpit assembly into a vehicle, the cockpit assembly including a cross-car support;

• a wall member having a central area and a support mount disposed at the central area, the wall member being connectable to the vehicle such that the wall member at least partially separates an engine compartment and a passenger compartment of the vehicle;
• a steering column support connected to the cross-car support;
• and a brake sled having a first mount located at a forward end thereof and a second mount located at a rearward end of thereof which is coupled to the steering column support, the brake sled being forward-to-rearward adjustably coupled to the support mount of the wall member, and being operable to communicate with at least one fastener, which permits the forward-to-rearward adjustability between the brake sled and the wall member when in a first state, and which prohibits the forward-to-rearward adjustability when in a second state, the method comprising:
• positioning the cockpit assembly in the vehicle;
• connecting the wall member to a first frame portion of the vehicle such that the wall member at least partially separates an engine compartment and a passenger compartment of the vehicle;
• permitting the brake sled to slidably adjust its forward-to-rearward position with respect to the wall member;
• and
• connecting the cross-car support to leftward and rightward A-pillars of the vehicle;
• and
• fixing the brake sled to the wall member at the first mount and support mount using the fastener by way of access through the engine compartment such that the forward-to-rearward adjustability therebetween is prevented.