Patent ID: 6308970
Filing Date: 2001-10-30
Classification: B60G

Abstract:
A suspension system for a vehicle having a frame and a wheel, the suspension system comprising:a wheel carrier adapted for mounting to the wheel, the wheel carrier including a ball; anda control arm assembly including a main body portion, a ball joint housing and at least one fastener, the main body portion adapted for pivotal connection to the frame at a first end, the main body portion being formed in a stamping operation and including a recessed cavity at a second end opposite the first end, the recessed cavity including a support surface, the ball joint housing disposed within the recessed cavity and including a ball-receiving portion and a mounting portion that cooperate to form a contact surface, the ball-receiving portion including a ball cavity that is configured to receive the ball, the mounting portion being spaced apart from the ball receiving portion, the fastener fixedly coupling the mounting portion to the main body portion such that the contact surface is in a juxtaposed relation with the support surface to facilitate load transmission therebetween;wherein the ball-receiving portion maintains the ball in a predetermined spaced relation relative to the support surface of the main body portion.