Positioning feature and method for precise vehicle heights
View Patent ↗A corner assembly includes a suspension module and a wheel assembly. In order to compensate for tolerance stack up in relation to a specified height of the corner assembly, the attachment between a damper of the suspension module and a knuckle of the wheel assembly is adjusted. The amount of adjustment is determined by measuring the assembled length of the suspension module, comparing the measured length to a standard length and determining an amount of adjustment necessary.
1. A method for setting a specified length of a corner assembly for a vehicle, the method comprising:
providing a top mount assembly;
attaching a damper to said top mount assembly;
measuring a measured length of said top mount assembly and said damper;
selecting a shim having a specific height, said specific height being determined by said measured length;
attaching a wheel assembly to said damper; and
positioning said shim between said damper and said wheel assembly; wherein
attaching said wheel assembly to said damper includes locating said damper within an aperture defined by said wheel assembly, said aperture defining a central axis; and
said positioning step includes directly engaging a surface of said shim with said wheel assembly, said surface being generally perpendicular to said central axis.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said positioning step includes engaging an increased diameter portion of said damper with said shim.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein said positioning step includes engaging a seat attached to said damper with said shim.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein said selecting step includes selecting said shim from a plurality of shims, each of said plurality of shims having a different height.
5. A method for setting a specified length of a corner assembly including a suspension module and a wheel assembly, said method comprising:
measuring a length of said suspension module;
determining an amount of length adjustment required to achieve said specified length;
adjusting said measured length of said suspension module from said measured length to said specified length by providing a shim between said suspension module and said wheel assembly;
locating said suspension module within an aperture defined by said wheel assembly, said aperture defining a control axis; and
directly engaging a surface of said shim with said wheel assembly, said surface being generally perpendicular to said central axis.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein providing said shim includes engaging an increased diameter portion of said suspension module with said shim.
7. The method of claim 5 , wherein providing said shim includes engaging a seat attached to said suspension module with said shim.
8. The method of claim 5 , wherein the step of adjusting said measured length comprises selecting said shim for said suspension module from a plurality of shims, each of said plurality of shims having a different height.