Composite structural element, particularly for a vehicle suspension, and method for manufacturing the same

A method for manufacturing a structural element for a vehicle suspension, the method comprising steps of:

• providing separate first and second half-shells made of at least one layer of composite material including a fiber-reinforced polymeric matrix;
• providing a core made of metal, wherein the core comprises a flat middle portion having peripheral edges and lateral tabs bent at an angle to the middle portion and extending from the peripheral edges of the middle portion;
• joining the core to the first half-shell both at the middle portion and at the lateral tabs of the core such that at least one cavity is defined between the core and the first half-shell;
• and
• after the step of joining the core to the first half-shell, joining the second half-shell to the first half-shell to form a shell such that the core is arranged within said shell.