Vehicle suspension system for a steerable wheel

Abstract

A suspension system for a steerable wheel, comprising two pairs of lateral links, each pair being located one above the other, which are pivotally connected to upper and lower parts of a knuckle at their first ends, respectively, and pivotally connected to a vehicle body at their second ends, so as to allow both a steering action and a vertical motion of the knuckle which carries a wheel, wherein: the lower lateral links comprise a first lower link which extends laterally of the vehicle and a second lower link which diverges from the first lower link so as to act as a radius rod; and the upper lateral links comprise a first upper link which extends in a direction intermediate between those of the lower links as projected onto a horizontal plane and a second upper link which diverges relative to the first upper link, so as to extend obliquely in opposite direction to the second lower link. Preferably, the first end of the second upper lateral link is spaced laterally from the first end of the first upper lateral link away from the vehicle body. Thereby, the imaginary kingpin is prevented from moving in a complex manner and a favorable arrangement of a shock absorber system is made possible by connecting the lower end of the shock absorber system to the first lower link and passing the upper end thereof through the space between the upper links.