Patent ID: 7635138

Claim:
An integrated rear suspension assembly fixedly securable to a transmission case, rear wheel carriers, and frame rails of a motor vehicle, said integrated rear suspension assembly comprising: a plurality of trailing arms having first and second ends, each of said first ends secured to one of the frame rails and each of said second ends secured to each of the rear wheel carriers; a plurality of control arms pivotally secured to each of said plurality of trailing arms for controlling said plurality of trailing arms; a compound link member having opposing ends attached to each of said plurality of trailing arms; a transmission cross member fixedly secured to each of the frame rails, said transmission cross member including fixtures to receive and secure the transmission case and each of said plurality of control arms thereto such that said transmission cross member facilitates said integrated rear suspension assembly and the transmission case to be assembled prior to securing said integrated suspension assembly to the frame rails; a bell crank rotatably coupled to the compound link member; and first and second connecting rods each having one end coupled to the bell crank and an opposite end coupled to one of the frame rails.