Vehicle leaf spring to air ride suspension conversion assembly

An air ride suspension conversion assembly formed as a replaceable unit for replacing a leaf spring suspension assembly on a fixed rear axle of a motor vehicle, said conversion assembly comprising:

• a) first and second upper support arms positioned above the axle, each support arm configured for releasable attachment in a fixed non-adjustable predetermined location on one of a left side and a right side of a chassis of the motor vehicle, via connectors, said connectors being configured to receive pre-existing leaf spring mounting posts at a front end and a rear end of each said first and second upper support arm and attach each said support arm to the leaf spring mounting posts disposed on the respective one of the left side and the right side of the chassis of said motor vehicle when the leaf spring sets have been detached and removed from the leaf spring attachment sites and wherein the first and second leaf spring attachment sites are disposed either side of one end of the axle;
• b) a pair of lower trailing arms positioned above the axle, each of said lower trailing arms having a leading and trailing end and an intermediate section and wherein the leading end of each said pair of lower trailing arms is adjacent to and directly, pivotally attached to a corresponding one of said upper support arms proximate said front end, the first and second leaf spring attachment sites disposed separately from each said pair of lower trailing arms;
• c) pivot connection means for respectively interconnecting the intermediate section of each of said lower trailing arms to the axle when positioned thereabove and for permitting the axle to pivot at right angles to said trailing arms;
• and
• d) an inflatable air bladder having a first end and a second end, said first end being connected to one of said first upper support arm and said second upper support arm and said second end being connected to a corresponding one of said lower ailing arms, each of said inflatable air bladders being at a location rearward of said pivot connection means whereby each inflatable air bladder functions to increase and decrease the spacing between its related upper support arm and lower trailing arm in accordance with the quality of air contained in each said inflatable air bladder.

A method of converting a leaf spring suspension system of a fixed rear axle of a motor vehicle, the method comprising:

• removing first and second pairs of leaf springs from the fixed rear axle of the motor vehicle whilst leaving first and second pairs of leaf spring mounting posts in situ;
• and installing an air suspension kit formed as a replaceable unit, the air suspension kit comprising:
• a) first and second upper support arms positioned above the axle, each support arm being configured for attachment in a fixed non-adjustable predetermined location on one of a left side and a right side of a chassis of the motor vehicle, via connectors, said connectors being configured to receive the pre-existing leaf spring mounting posts at a front end and a rear end of each said first and second upper support arm and attach each said support arm to pre-existing first and second leaf spring attachment sites disposed on the respective one of the left side and the right side of the chassis of said motor vehicle when first and second leaf spring sets have been detached and removed from the leaf spring attachment sites and wherein the first and second leaf spring attachment sites are disposed either side of one end of the axle;
• b) a pair of lower trailing arms positioned above the axle, each of said lower trailing arms having a leading and trailing end and an intermediate section and wherein the leading end of each said pair of lower trailing arms is adjacent to and directly, pivotally attached to a corresponding one of said support arms proximate said front end, the first and second leaf spring attachment sites disposed separately from each said pair of lower trailing arms;
• c) pivot connection means for respectively interconnecting the intermediate section of each of said lower trailing arms to the axle when positioned thereabove and for permitting the axle to pivot at right angles to said trailing arms;
• and
• d) an inflatable air bladder having a first end and a second end, said first end being connected to one of said first upper support arm and said second upper support arm and said second end being connected to a corresponding one of said lower trailing arms, each of said inflatable air bladders being at a location rearward of said pivot connection means whereby each inflatable air bladder functions to increase and decrease the spacing between its related upper support arm and lower trailing arm in accordance with the quality of air contained in each said inflatable air bladder.