Ford Motor Company Limited

Christopher A Tallon

Joseph M Raad

Ronald J Collins

Steven J Reimers

Martin Bieber

Kelly H Jones

An apparatus calibrates a suspension control module of a vehicle to within a preselected tolerance of a predetermined ride height with reference to the vehicle coordinate system, the vehicle having at least one adjustable suspension unit interposed between the sprung and unsprung vehicle mass. The calibration is adjusted for rigid body cross-talk and for suspension system overshoot and undershoot. The apparatus includes a first device for measuring a first distance corresponding to an actual ride height of a vehicle and for generating a first signal representative thereof and a second device for measuring a second distance between the vehicle sprung and unsprung mass and for generating a second signal thereof. The apparatus also includes a processor operatively associated with the first and second measuring devices for comparing the first and second signals and calculating a deviation between the signals, the processor being operative to generate a third signal corresponding to the deviation and store this deviation in the suspension control module. A centering mechanism on the apparatus centers the vehicle over the first measuring device prior to calibration of the suspension control module.

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Ypsilanti, MI, United States of America

Christopher A Tallon