Patent ID: 6962355

Claim:
A toe angle adjustment apparatus for a vehicle having a rear cross member, a pair of rear wheels, and a pair of steering knuckles, the apparatus comprising: an electrical linear actuator fixedly connected to the rear cross member, the electrical linear actuator including a) a housing, b) an electrical motor attached to an end portion of the housing, c) a ball screw disposed inside the housing and rotated by the electrical motor, d) a ball nut operatively mounted on the ball screw for linear movement therealong in response to rotation of the ball screw by the motor, and e) an actuator rod attached to the ball nut; an interconnection arm pivotally connected with one of the steering knuckles, each knuckle being rotationally coupled with a corresponding rear wheel; and a control lever, rotationally attached to the rear cross member, for interconnecting the interconnection arm with the electrical linear actuator, wherein the electrical linear actuator selectively projects or retracts the control lever, which in turn is rotated about a rotary axis thereof so as to correspondingly retract or project the interconnection arm for the purpose of an active adjustment of a toe angle of the rear wheels, wherein the electrical linear actuator further includes a guide, attached to a lower portion of the housing, and a protrusion positioned on the actuator rod, the guide having a groove along which the protrusion slides.