Patent ID: 8607912

Claim:
A suspension system for a snowmobile having a chassis and an endless drive track, the suspension assembly comprising: a rail for engagement with the endless drive track; a first suspension arm having an upper end adapted for pivotally connecting to the chassis and a lower end pivotally connected to the rail, the first suspension arm extending forwardly and upwardly from the rail; a second suspension arm disposed rearwardly of the first suspension arm, the second suspension arm having an upper end adapted for pivotally connecting to the chassis and a lower end pivotally connected to the rail, the second suspension arm extending forwardly and upwardly from the rail; a first shock absorber having an upper end and a lower end, the upper end of the first shock absorber being pivotally connected to the first suspension arm, the lower end of the first shock absorber being pivotally connected to move with movement of the rail; a second shock absorber having an upper end and a lower end, the lower end of the second shock absorber being operatively pivotally connected to the rail, the upper end of the second shock absorber being pivotally connected to the second suspension arm; a left bracket connected to the second suspension arm, the left bracket being disposed on a left side of the second shock absorber; a right bracket connected to the second suspension arm, the right bracket being disposed on a right side of the second shock absorber; a left tie rod having a lower end and an upper end, the lower end of the left tie rod being operatively pivotally connected to the first suspension arm, and the upper end of the left tie rod being pivotally connected to the left bracket about a first pivot axis; and a right tie rod having a lower end and an upper end, the lower end of the right tie rod being operatively pivotally connected to the first suspension arm, and the upper end of the right tie rod being pivotally connected to the right bracket about the first pivot axis, the second shock absorber being disposed laterally between the left and right tie rods, the suspension being movable between a first position where the first pivot axis intersects the second shock absorber and a second position where the first pivot axis is spaced from the second shock absorber.