Suspension arm kit, vehicle with protective spacer on suspension arm, and method of installing suspension arm

A method of installing a suspension arm on a frame bracket, in which said suspension arm has an end portion with a cylindrical hole formed therethrough, said method comprising the steps of:

• inserting a bearing assembly into the cylindrical hole in said suspension arm;
• installing an annular sealing member into each end of said cylindrical hole, respectively,
• inserting a substantially cylindrical tube portion of a spacer collar through each of said sealing members and into the respective opposite ends of said cylindrical hole, each of said spacer collars comprising a substantially cylindrical tube portion and an integrally molded flange attached to an end of said tube portion and extending outwardly therefrom, said flange having a larger outer diameter than an inner diameter of said cylindrical hole, said spacer collars being provided for restricting movement of said bearing and for protectively covering the ends of said cylindrical hole;
• aligning said end portion of said suspension arm with said frame bracket;
• and
• inserting a bolt through said bearing and said pair of spacer collars, and threading a nut onto said bolt;
• whereby said outwardly extending flanges of said spacer collars fit into spaces between said suspension arm and said frame bracket and substantially block said ends of said cylindrical hole.

A hardware kit for use in connecting a suspension arm having a cylindrical hole formed therein to a vehicle frame bracket, said hardware kit comprising:

• a bearing,
• a pair of annular sealing members, and
• a pair of spacer collars,
• wherein said bearing comprises:
• a pair of outer races each having a semi-cylindrical share with a concave cutout formed therein on one side thereof:
• a substantially spherical ball having a cylindrical through hole, said ball disposed between said outer races;
• and,
• a pair of retainer rings disposed outside of said outer races,
• wherein each of said spacer collars is formed from a corrosion-resistant material and comprises a substantially cylindrical tube portion and an integrally molded flange attached to an end of said tube portion and extending substantially radially and transversely outwardly therefrom, said integrally molded flange having a larger outer diameter than an inner diameter of said cylindrical hole in said suspension arm, and wherein said flange is provided to protectively cover an end of said cylindrical hole.

In a vehicle of the type having a vehicle frame, a bracket attached to the vehicle frame, and one or more suspension arms attached to the bracket on the vehicle frame, the improvement comprising a structure for use in attaching said suspension arms to said brackets, which is inserted into a cylindrical through hole extending through one end of the suspension arm, said structure comprising:

• a bearing assembly disposed centrally within said cylindrical through hole;
• a first sealing ring disposed in a first end of said cylindrical through hole;
• a second sealing ring disposed in a second end, opposite that of said first end, of said cylindrical though hole;
• a first spacer collar, having an inner end and an outer end, disposed within said first end of said cylindrical through hole such that said inner end abuts said bearing assembly and said outer end of extends out distance beyond said first end of said cylindrical through hole, said first spacer collar having a substantially tubular shape with an inner surface and an outer surface, said outer surface abutting said first sealing ring;
• a second spacer collar, having an inner end and an outer end, disposed within said second end of said cylindrical through hole such that said inner end abuts said bearing assembly and said outer end of extends out distance beyond said second end of said cylindrical through hole, said second spacer collar comprising a cylindrical tubular portion with an inner surface and an outer surface, said outer surface abutting said second sealing ring;
• wherein each of said first and second spacer collars, respectively, further comprise an integral flange formed on said outer end, said flange having a larger outer diameter than the inner diameter of said cylindrical through hole, thereby substantially covering said cylindrical through hole.