Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Juergen Funke

Paul Godesberg

Jason Paulding

Andreas Carlitz

Jon Roland Watson

Thorsten Dirk Krupp

A spring pad arranged between a terminal winding of a helical spring of a vehicle wheel suspension. The winding defines a rolled spring end. A spring plate supports the helical spring. The spring pad having a layered structure having two layers different in their rigidity. The first layer has a higher rigidity than the second layer. The first layer is an outer layer of the layered structure that may engage the terminal winding of the helical spring.

Spring pad for vehicle suspension

A spring isolator for a wheel suspension may include a first side configured to rest on a spring plate of the suspension. The spring isolator may also include a second side, opposite the first side, configured to receive a last coil of a coil spring of the suspension to support the coil spring on the spring plate. The first side may have at least one cavity extending through a thickness of the isolator toward the second side. An elasticity of the isolator between the first and second sides may prevent the last coil from breaking contact with the second side during operation of the suspension.

Spring isolators and suspension systems incorporating same

A stabilizer bar system for an automotive vehicle includes a stabilizer bar having a circular cross section and a rigid sleeve applied to a section of the outer circumference of the stabilizer bar. The sleeve has a number of circumferentially extending grooves and lands which mate with corresponding grooves and lands formed in an inner cylindrical surface of an elastomeric bushing which is overlaid upon the sleeve. The elastomeric bushing and sleeve may be mated such that relative rotation is allowed at the interface of the bushing and sleeve. Alternatively, the bushing and sleeve may be locked so that no relative rotation may occur at the interface of the bushing and sleeve.

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Leverkusen, Germany

Juergen Funke