Patent ID: 6860013

Claim:
A method of joining vehicle suspension components made from similar and/or dissimilar materials, the method comprising the steps of: a. providing a first suspension component made of a first material, said first suspension component having an annular cross section defining a rotary axis running down the center of said annular cross section, the first suspension component having a flange defining a longitudinal axis extending in a direction perpendicular to said rotary axis; b. providing a second suspension component made from a second material, wherein at least one of the first and second suspension components is made from a metallic material; c. positioning said flange of the first suspension component within a portion of the second suspension component in an overlapping manner, thereby forming an overlapping portion; d. providing an inductor around the overlapping portion; e. energizing the inductor to generate a magnetic field and to magnetic pulse weld the metallic material, thereby securing the first and second suspension components together, wherein the first component is a rotary fitting for mounting to a vehicle frame and the second component is a shaft portion for providing a link between said vehicle frame and an additional part of said vehicle.