Snowmobile front suspension

A snowmobile comprising:

• a frame having a front portion and a rear portion;
• a drive track disposed below and supporting the rear portion of the frame;
• an engine mounted on the frame;
• a drive train operatively interconnecting the engine with the drive track for delivering propulsive power to the drive track;
• a double A-arm front suspension having a left side and a right side;
• and
• two skis connected to the double A-arm front suspension system, one ski to each left side and right side,
• each side of the front suspension having:
• an upper A-arm;
• a lower A-arm, each A-arm having a proximal end and a distal end, the distal ends defining arc radii during movement of the suspension, the arc radius of the lower A-arm being greater than the arc radius of the upper A-arm;
• a steering rod having a distal end and a proximal end;
• and
• a spindle pivotally connecting the ski to the distal ends of the upper A-arm and the lower A-arm, the spindle being pivotally connected to the steering rod at the distal end thereof such that during movement of the suspension the distal end of the steering rod follows an arc radius having a center positioned generally about a longitudinal and vertically extending centerplane of the snowmobile, the arc radius of the steering rod being greater than the arc radius of the upper A-arm, and being equal to or less than the arc radius of the lower A-arm,
• the connections of the upper A-arm and lower A-arm to the spindle defining a steering axis, the upper A-arm and the lower A-arm of each side of the front suspension being connected to the front portion of the frame such that a caster angle of the steering axis decreases when the front suspension is compressed, the caster angle being measured from vertical.

A snowmobile comprising:

• a frame having a front portion and a rear portion;
• a drive track disposed below and supporting the rear portion of the frame;
• an engine mounted on the frame;
• a drive train operatively interconnecting the engine with the drive track for delivering propulsive power to the drive track;
• and
• a front suspension having a left side and a right side, each side of the front suspension having an upper A-arm, a lower A-arm, and a spindle, connecting points of the upper A-arm and lower A-arm to the spindle defining a steering axis, the steering axis defining a positive caster angle with respect to vertical;
• wherein the suspension has an uncompressed state and a compressed state and the caster angle in the compressed state is smaller than the caster angle in the uncompressed state.