Method and apparatus for suspending a vehicle

A suspension for a vehicle having a body, the suspension comprising:

• a first suspension assembly that extends between a first surface contact assembly and the body, wherein the first suspension assembly includes a transverse instant center;
• a second suspension assembly that extends between a second surface contact assembly and the body, wherein the second suspension assembly includes a transverse instant center;
• wherein the first suspension assembly and the second suspension assembly are aligned so that a vertical centerline of each surface contact assembly lies within a transverse vertical plane that extends therebetween;
• wherein the transverse instant center of each suspension assembly is located within the transverse vertical plane, below a roll center located within the transverse vertical plane;
• wherein the first suspension assembly and the second suspension assembly each comprise:
• a first support arm having a first spindle mount and a pair of first body mounts, wherein a first support arm plane is defined by the first spindle mount and the first body mounts;
• a second support arm having a second spindle mount and a pair of second body mounts, wherein a second support arm plane is defined by the second spindle mount and the second body mounts;
• and
• wherein the first support arm and the second support arm are positioned such that the first support arm plane intersects the transverse vertical plane along a first line, and the second support arm plane intersects the transverse vertical plane along a second line, and the first line and second line cross each other at the transverse instant center;
• wherein a first body mount line extends through the pair of first body mounts and a second body mount line extends through the pair of second body mounts;
• and
• wherein the first body mounts are attached to the body such that the first body mount line is skewed by a first angle from a longitudinally extending centerline of the vehicle.

A method for suspending a vehicle having a body, comprising the steps of:

• providing a first suspension assembly that extends between a first surface contact assembly and the body, wherein the first suspension assembly includes a transverse instant center;
• providing a second suspension assembly that extends between a second surface contact assembly and the body, wherein the second suspension assembly includes a transverse instant center;
• aligning the first surface contact assembly and the second surface contact assembly so that a vertical centerline of each surface contact assembly lies within a transverse vertical plane that extends therebetween;
• positioning the first suspension assembly and the second suspension assembly so that the transverse instant center of each suspension assembly is located within the transverse vertical plane, vertically below a roll center located within the transverse vertical plane;
• wherein a first body mount line extends through the pair of first body mounts and a second body mount line extends through the pair of second body mounts;
• and
• attaching the first body mounts to the body such that the first body mount line is skewed by a first angle from a longitudinally extending centerline of the vehicle.