Modular ball-joint assembly

An independent suspension system, including:

• at least one control arm,
• the at least one control arm having an inner end and an outer end,
• the inner end of the at least one control arm for connection by means of a first articulating joint to a vehicle body and the outer end of the at least one control arm for connection to a wheel hub by means of a second articulating joint for mounting the wheel hub on the vehicle body,
• spring means for mounting between the at least one control arm and the vehicle body,
• the second articulating joint comprising a ball joint having a ball pin rotatably mounted in a ball housing, the ball pin having a spherical ball head with a shank extending outwardly therefrom, the ball head being rotatably mounted and sealed within the ball housing with the ball pin shank projecting outwardly from the ball housing,
• said ball housing having an opening through which the ball pin projects, a seal being mounted between the ball pin shank and the ball housing to seal said opening,
• first connector means for releasably engaging an outer free end of the ball pin shank with one of the at least one control arm and the wheel hub and second connector means for releasably engaging the ball housing with the other of the at least one control arm and the wheel hub,
• the second connector means being provided for engagement of the at least one control arm with the ball joint, said second connector means having means for adjustment of the effective length of the at least one control arm.

An independent suspension system including:

• at least one control arm,
• the at least one control arm having an inner end and an outer end,
• the inner end of the at least one control arm for connection by means of a first articulating joint to a vehicle body and the outer end of the at least one control arm for connection to a wheel hub by means of a second articulating joint for mounting the wheel hub on the vehicle body,
• spring means for mounting between the at least one control arm and the vehicle body,
• the second articulating joint comprising a ball joint having a ball pin rotatably mounted in a ball housing, the ball pin having a spherical ball head with a shank extending outwardly therefrom, the ball head being rotatably mounted and sealed within the ball housing with the ball pin shank protecting outwardly from the ball housing,
• said ball housing having an opening through which the ball pin projects, a seal being mounted between the ball pin shank and the ball housing to seal said opening,
• the wheel hub having a through hole for reception of the ball pin shank which projects therethrough and is secured on the wheel hub by a locknut which engages a threaded outer end of the ball pin shank,
• a second threaded shank being provided on the ball housing and projecting outwardly therefrom for threaded engagement within a complementary threaded socket at an outer end of the at least one control arm, a locknut engaging with the second threaded shank and with an outer end of the control arm to secure the ball housing on the control arm.

An independent suspension system, including:

• a pair of control arms, namely an upper control arm and a lower control arm,
• each control arm having an inner end and an outer end,
• the inner end of each control arm for connection by means of a first articulating joint to a vehicle body, and the outer end of each control arm for connection to a wheel hub by means of a second articulating joint for mounting the wheel hub on the vehicle body,
• spring means for mounting between one of said control arms and the vehicle body,
• the second articulating joint comprising a ball joint having a ball pin rotatably mounted in a ball housing, the ball pin having a spherical ball head with a shank extending outwardly therefrom, the ball head being rotatably mounted and sealed within the ball housing with the ball pin shank projecting outwardly from the ball housing,
• said ball housing having an opening through which the ball pin projects, a seal being mounted between the ball pin shank and the ball housing to seal said opening,
• a first ball joint for connecting the outer end of the upper control arm to the wheel hub, a second ball joint for connecting the outer end of the lower control arm to the wheel hub,
• the upper control arm having a threaded bore at an outer end thereof for reception of a complementary threaded shank projecting outwardly from the ball housing of the first ball joint, and the ball pin shank projecting through a complementary through hole in the wheel hub and being secured to the wheel hub by a locknut which engages a threaded end of the ball pin shank of said first ball joint,
• the lower control arm having a through hole at an outer end thereof for reception of the ball pin shank of the second ball joint which is secured on the lower control arm by a locknut which engages a threaded outer end of the ball pin shank of said second ball joint, the second ball joint having a threaded shank projecting outwardly from the ball housing for engagement within an associated through hole in the wheel hub and being secured on the wheel hub by a locknut which engages with an outer end of the threaded shank on the ball housing which projects through the hole in the wheel hub.