Damper mounting structure
In a damper mounting structure provided at each lateral end of a vehicle body to support an upper end of a wheel suspension damper, a dash upper panel ( 1 ) and a cross member ( 2 ) jointly form a laterally extending member that supports upper ends of vehicle suspension dampers ( 5 ) at either lateral end thereof. The cross member ( 2 ) includes a main body welded to an upper surface of the dash upper panel ( 1 ) via a pair of lateral flanges ( 5 a ) thereof extending along either side thereof, and a half bowl-shaped portion ( 9 ) formed on each end thereof and welded to a periphery of the corresponding damper mounting portion via a peripheral flange ( 9 d ) formed along an outer periphery of the half bowl-shaped portion ( 9 ). The peripheral flange ( 9 d ) is provided with a pair of cutouts ( 2 b ) that expose two of the threaded bolts ( 7 ). The cross member is further provided with an opening ( 10 ) for exposing the third threaded bolt.
1. A damper mounting structure, comprising:
a dash upper panel extending laterally across a vehicle body;
a damper mounting portion formed in each lateral end of the dash upper panel, the damper mounting portion including three mounting holes for receiving a corresponding number of threaded bolts for securing an upper end of a suspension damper; and
a cross member attached to an upper surface of the dash upper panel, the cross member including a main body welded to an upper surface of the dash upper panel via a pair of lateral flanges thereof extending along either side thereof, and a bowl-shaped portion formed on each lateral end thereof and welded to a periphery of the corresponding damper mounting portion via a peripheral flange formed along an outer periphery of the bowl-shaped portion;
wherein the peripheral flange is provided with a pair of cutouts that expose two of the threaded bolts, an opening being formed in a part of the cross member intermediate each bowl-shaped portion and the main body of the cross member for exposing the third threaded bolt; and
wherein a circumferential step is formed between the peripheral flange and the bowl-shaped portion, each cutout extending into the circumferential step.
2. The damper mounting structure according to claim 1 , wherein a flat portion is formed at a top of the half bowl-shaped portion, and an opening is formed in the flat portion.
3. The damper mounting structure according to claim 1 , wherein the main body of the cross member defines a closed cross section in cooperation with the dash upper panel, and a cross sectional area of the closed cross section is greater in a laterally middle part of the cross member than in each lateral end part thereof.