Control arm support brackets and vehicles using same

A vehicular frame assembly comprising:

• a first control arm support bracket comprising a first end, a second end, a sidewall, an upper portion and a lower portion, the first control arm support bracket defining a first pair of recesses, wherein the first pair of recesses are at least partially defined by the sidewall and extend between the upper portion of the first control arm support bracket and the lower portion of the first control arm support bracket;
• and
• a second control arm support bracket comprising a first end and a second end, a sidewall, an upper portion and a lower portion, the second control arm support bracket defining a second pair of recesses, wherein the second pair of recesses are at least partially defined by the sidewall and extend between the upper portion of the second control arm support bracket and the lower portion of the second control arm support bracket;
• wherein the first control arm support bracket and the second control arm support bracket are interchangeable and are configured to be positioned along a vehicular frame such that one of the first or second pairs of recesses receives forward legs of right and left suspension support members and the other of the first pair or second pair of recesses receives rearward legs of right and left suspension support members.

A method for assembling a vehicular frame assembly, the method comprising:

• providing a vehicular frame, the vehicular frame being intersected by an imaginary plane which bisects the frame into left and right sides;
• securing a left suspension support to the vehicular frame, the left suspension support comprising a left forward leg and a left rearward leg;
• securing a right suspension support to the vehicular frame, the right suspension support comprising a right forward leg and a right rearward leg;
• providing a pair of substantially identical control arm support brackets, each control arm support bracket comprising a first end, a second end, and a sidewall at least partially defining a pair of U-shaped recesses;
• and
• arranging the pair of control arm support brackets in differing orientations along the vehicular frame such that the left and right forward legs are at least partially disposed within one pair of recesses and the left and right rearward legs are at least partially disposed within the other pair of recesses.

A vehicular frame assembly comprising:

• a frame intersected by an imaginary plane which bisects the frame into left and right sides;
• a left suspension support member coupled with the left side of the frame and comprising a left forward leg and a left rearward leg;
• a right suspension support member coupled with the right side of the frame and comprising a right forward leg and a right rearward leg;
• and
• a pair of control arm support brackets, each control arm support bracket defining a pair of recesses, one of the control arm support brackets being secured to the frame in a first orientation such that the left forward leg of the left suspension support member and the right forward leg of the right suspension support member are at least partially disposed within respective ones of the pair of recesses defined by the one control arm support bracket and the other of the control arm support brackets being secured to the frame in a second orientation such that the left rearward leg of the left suspension support member and the right rearward leg of the right suspension support member are at least partially disposed within respective ones of the pair of recesses defined by the other control arm support bracket;
• wherein the control arm support brackets are substantially identical to facilitate arrangement of each control arm support bracket in either the first orientation or the second orientation.