Vehicle component mounting apparatus, and methods of use and manufacture thereof

A damper assembly that is configured for mounting to a vehicle structural member that defines an aperture, the damper assembly comprising:

• a damper that includes a piston rod;
• and
• a structure for mounting the damper to the vehicle structural member, the structure including:
• a hollow rigid mount body that includes an upper portion that extends through the aperture so as to project above the vehicle structural member, and a lower portion that is disposed beneath the vehicle structural member, the lower portion defining an outer diameter that is larger than an outer diameter of the upper portion,
• a rigid mount securing member that is configured to be disposed around an exterior of the upper portion of the rigid mount body and so that the vehicle structural member is located between the rigid mount securing member and the lower portion of the rigid mount body, and
• a bearing assembly disposed within the lower portion of the rigid mount body and configured to retain an upper portion of the piston rod of the damper within the lower portion of the rigid mount body while allowing the piston rod to move in a direction at an angle relative to an axis of the aperture of the vehicle structural member.

A method of mounting a damper, which includes a piston rod, to a vehicle structural member that defines an aperture, the method comprising:

• extending an upper portion of a hollow rigid mount body through the aperture so as to project above the vehicle structural member;
• disposing a lower portion of the hollow rigid mount body beneath the vehicle structural member, the lower portion being configured so as to define an outer diameter that is larger than an outer diameter of the upper portion;
• disposing a rigid mount securing member around an exterior of the upper portion of the rigid mount body, so that the vehicle structural member is located between the rigid mount securing member and the lower portion of the rigid mount body;
• and
• disposing a bearing assembly within the lower portion of the rigid mount body so that the bearing assembly retains an upper portion of the piston rod of the damper within the lower portion of the rigid mount body, while allowing the piston rod to move in a direction at an angle relative to an axis of the aperture of the vehicle structural member.