Independently-suspended rear corner module for motor vehicle chassis featuring shackled leaf spring

An independently-suspended rear corner module for a motor vehicle chassis, wherein the chassis includes two forward attachment points for the corner module generally forward of a nominal wheel location and a first lateral attachment point for the corner module generally transverse of the nominal wheel location, the corner module comprising:

• an elongated leaf spring having a forward end, a rearward end, and an intermediate portion between the forward and rearward ends of the leaf spring, wherein the forward end of the leaf spring is adapted to be rotatably coupled to the first forward attachment point;
• a first lateral link having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the first link is adapted to be rotatably coupled to the first lateral attachment point;
• a knuckle adapted to rotatably support a wheelend assembly, the knuckle being nonrotatably coupled to the second end of the leaf spring and rotatably coupled to the second end of the first link;
• and
• a shackle coupled to the intermediate portion of the leaf spring and adapted to be pivotally mounted on the chassis at the second forward attachment point, wherein the shackle maintains the intermediate portion of the leaf spring above the second attachment point and at a predetermined distance from the second forward attachment point, and wherein the shackle provides a predetermined nonzero range of relative longitudinal, transverse, and torsional movement of the intermediate portion of the leaf spring relative to the second forward attachment point in response to a vertical displacement of the knuckle relative to the chassis, wherein the shackle includes an eye encircling the intermediate portion of the leaf spring, and a tension member coupling the eye of the shackle to the second forward attachment point.