Attachment arrangement for a composite leaf spring which accommodates longitudinal movement through shear displacement

A suspension system comprising:

• a composite leaf spring comprising a forward leaf spring segment defining an arcuate segment, a rearward leaf spring segment, and a mounting segment intermediate said forward leaf spring segment and said rearward leaf spring segment;
• and
• a rear attachment system comprising a shear damper mounted to said rearward leaf spring segment;
• and
• a substantially rectilinear mount to receive said rearward leaf spring segment, said rearward leaf spring segment substantially free to longitudinally slide within said substantially rectilinear mount.

A method of mounting a composite leaf spring to a rear attachment system mounted to a vehicle mainframe comprising the steps of:

• (1) forming a rearward leaf spring segment as an end of a composite leaf spring;
• (2) slidably retaining the rearward leaf spring segment within a mount;
• and
• (3) attaching a shear damper between the mount and the vehicle mainframe such that the rearward leaf spring segment is longitudinally movable parallel to the vehicle mainframe as the shear damper moves in shear and the rearward leaf spring segment slides within the mount.