V-bar suspension linkage

A V-bar suspension linkage is shown and described. In a preferred embodiment, two arms are mounted between the axle and the vehicle frame rails, the arms extending outwardly at an angle to each other to form a "V" shaped linkage, having its vertex at the axle. The first end of each arm is coupled to the axle via a vertically oriented bushing pin that is secured to an axle bracket which in turn is mounted on the axle. By vertically mounting the bushing pins, the ends of the arms may be closer together, thereby increasing the angle between the arms and reducing the stresses in the arms and bushings. The distal end of each arm is coupled to a frame rail via a vertically oriented bushing pin that is secured in place by anchor lugs that are provided on upper and lower gussets that form part of the vehicle frame assembly. The pitch and lateral placement of the axle is easily adjusted at the axle via use of spacers between the axle bracket and bushing pins.

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle suspension linkage comprising:

a first arm coupled at a first end to an axle via a first vertically oriented bushing pin and at a second end to a frame of the vehicle; and

a second arm coupled at a first end to the axle via a second vertically oriented bushing pin and at a second end to the frame.

2. The suspension linkage according to claim 1 wherein the first arm is coupled to the frame via a third vertically oriented bushing pin and the second arm is coupled to the frame via a fourth vertically oriented bushing pin.

3. The suspension linkage according to claim 2, further comprising:

a first gusset coupled to a first frame rail and to a first upper surface of a frame crossmember, the first gusset having a first anchor lug;

a second gusset coupled to the first frame rail and to a first lower surface of the frame crossmember, the second gusset having a second anchor lug, the third vertically oriented bushing pin being mounted between the first anchor lug and the second anchor lug;

a third gusset coupled to a second frame rail and to a second upper surface of the frame crossmember, the third gusset having a third anchor lug; and

a fourth gusset coupled to the second frame rail and to a second lower surface of the frame crossmember, the fourth gusset having a fourth anchor lug, and wherein the fourth vertically oriented bushing pin is mounted between the third anchor lug and the fourth anchor lug.

4. The suspension linkage according to claim 1 wherein the first end of the first arm is adjacent to the first end of the second arm and the second end of the first arm is coupled to a first frame rail and the second end of the second arm is coupled to a second frame rail, the first and second frame rails being laterally spaced, such that the first arm is at an angle relative to the second arm.

5. The suspension linkage according to claim 4 wherein the angle, as measured between a center line of each of the first and second arms, is 56.degree.-72.degree..

6. The suspension linkage according to claim 1, further comprising:

an axle bracket coupled to the axle, the first and second vertically oriented bushing pins being detachably attached to the axle bracket.

7. The suspension linkage according to claim 6, further comprising spacers that are mounted between the axle bracket and each of the first and second vertically oriented bushing pins to place the axle in a desired position.

8. The suspension linkage according to claim 7 wherein the spacers are used to set a pitch and a lateral position of the axle.

9. A vehicle suspension comprising:

an axle;

a first frame rail positioned substantially perpendicular to the axle;

a second frame rail being laterally spaced and substantially parallel to the first frame rail;

a frame crossmember extending between the first and second frame rails, and being laterally spaced and substantially parallel to the axle;

a first arm coupled at a first end to the axle via a first vertical oriented bushing pin and at a second end to the first frame rail; and

a second arm coupled at a first end to the axle via a second vertically oriented bushing pin and at a second end to the second frame rail.

10. The suspension linkage according to claim 9 wherein the first arm is coupled to the frame via a third vertically oriented bushing pin and the second arm is coupled to the frame via a fourth vertically oriented bushing pin.

11. The suspension linkage according to claim 9, further comprising:

a first gusset coupled to a first frame rail and to a first upper surface of a frame crossmember, the first gusset having a first anchor lug;

a second gusset coupled to the first frame rail and to a first lower surface of the frame crossmember, the second gusset having a second anchor lug, the third vertically oriented bushing pin being mounted between the first anchor lug and the second anchor lug;

a third gusset coupled to a second frame rail and to a second upper surface of the frame crossmember, the third gusset having a third anchor lug; and

a fourth gusset coupled to the second frame rail and to a second lower surface of the frame crossmember, the fourth gusset having a fourth anchor lug, and wherein the fourth vertically oriented bushing pin is mounted between the third anchor lug and the fourth anchor lug.

12. The suspension linkage according to claim 9 wherein the first end of the first arm is adjacent to the first end of the second arm and the second end of the first arm is coupled to a first frame rail and the second end of the second arm is coupled to a second frame rail, the first and second frame rails being laterally spaced, such that the first arm is at an angle relative to the second arm.

13. The suspension linkage according to claim 9 wherein the angle, as measured between a center line of each of the first and second arms, is 56.degree.-72.degree..

14. The suspension linkage according to claim 9, further comprising spacers that are mounted between the axle and each of the first and second arms to place the axle in a desired position.

15. The suspension linkage according to claim 9, further comprising:

an axle bracket coupled to the axle, the first and second vertically oriented bushing pins being detachably attached to the axle bracket.

16. A method for positioning an axle comprising:

mounting an axle bracket adapted to engage two vertically oriented bushing pins, on the axle;

coupling a first and a second vertically oriented bushing pin to the bracket, an arm surrounding each vertically oriented bushing pin and extending outward, distal ends of the arms being coupled to opposing frame rails;

providing a first spacer between the axle bracket and the first vertically oriented bushing pin, and providing a second spacer between the axle bracket and the second vertically oriented bushing pin, the first and the second spacers having a selected width;

determining a pitch angle of the axle;

adjusting the width of the first and second spacers as may be necessary to adjust the pitch angle to a desired value;

determining the lateral position of the axle; and

adjusting the width of the spacers between the axle bracket and the first and second bushing pins as may be necessary to center the axle with respect to the frame rails.