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A structure and method for adjusting alignment of steerable wheels movable supported by a ball joint with a ball joint stud having an annual tilt bearing surface carried thereon, the structure comprising a bore defined in a suspension member and configured to receive the ball joint stud therein, the

A structure and method for adjusting alignment of steerable wheels movable supported by a ball joint with a ball joint stud having an annual tilt bearing surface carried thereon, the structure comprising a bore defined in a suspension member and configured to receive the ball joint stud therein, the bore being larger than the ball joint stud and including therein a concave bearing surface in the form of a truncated sphere, the ball joint annular tilt bearing having a convex surface shaped to fit the spherical portion of the bore bearing surface, and a wedge washer proportioned to fit adjacent a ball joint nut, alignment being obtained by placing the tilt bearing on the ball joint stud bearing movable in the concave portion of the bore bearing surface, and positioning a wedge washer on the proper angle in the proper orientation to incline the ball joint stud as required for proper alignment. Orientation is determined by the position and angle of the wedge washer. The concave and convex bearing surfaces may be defined in discrete components.

대표청구항 ▼

In a vehicle suspension assembly for supporting a movable suspension member to a fixed suspension member by means of a ball joint having a base portion and a ball joint stud threaded at the end thereof, the ball joint base being carried in a first of the suspension members and the ball joint stud ex

In a vehicle suspension assembly for supporting a movable suspension member to a fixed suspension member by means of a ball joint having a base portion and a ball joint stud threaded at the end thereof, the ball joint base being carried in a first of the suspension members and the ball joint stud extending through a hole defined in the second of the suspension members with the thread portion extending beyond the hole and carrying a ball joint nut, the improvement comprising: a tilt bearing surface defined circumferentially around the ball joint stud; a tilt bearing receiving surface defined in the suspension member hole and configured to engage the tilt bearing surface to form a journalled interface therewith; and a wedge washer having opposed nonparallel faces and an opening defined therethrough, the wedge washer being positioned around the ball joint stud and interposed between the ball joint nut bearing on one face and the surface of the second suspension member adjacent the hole therethrough; whereby the ball joint stud is free to rotate at the journal between the tilt bearing surface on the ball joint stud and the tilt bearing receiving surface defined in the second suspension member receiving hole, but confined to a preselected position determined by the angle between the opposed faces of the wedge washer.