SELF-LUBRICATING SPHERICAL PLAIN BEARING FOR A VEHICLE SUSPENSION SYSTEM

1 . A bearing for a vehicle suspension system, the bearing comprising:

an outer member defining a first inner surface and a first outer surface, the first outer surface being configured to engage an equalizer bar of the vehicle suspension system;

an inner member defining a second outer surface and a bore therethrough defined by a second inner surface, the inner member being configured to engage a frame of the vehicle suspension system; and

a first lubricious fabric liner in communication with at least a portion of the first inner surface and the second outer surface wherein the first lubricious fabric liner slidingly engages at least a portion of one of the first inner surface and the second outer surface in response to relative movement between the equalizer bar and the frame of the vehicle suspension system.

2 . The bearing of claim 1 further comprising a second lubricious fabric liner in communication with at least a portion of the second inner surface and a shaft extending into the bore wherein the shaft is operable to connect the inner member to the frame of the vehicle suspension system.

3 . The bearing of claim 1 wherein the outer member is an outer race and the inner member is an inner ring.

4 . A vehicle suspension system comprising:

a frame;

an equalizer bar in communication with the frame;

at least one bearing in communication with the frame and the equalizer bar, the bearing having an outer member defining a first inner surface and a first outer surface, and the bearing having an inner member defining a second outer surface and a bore therethrough defined by a second inner surface;

a first lubricious fabric liner positioned on at least a portion of the first inner surface;

a second lubricious fabric liner positioned on at least a portion of the second inner surface; and

a shaft extending into the bore and in communication with the frame and the equalizer bar.

5 . The vehicle suspension system of claim 4 further comprising:

at least two frames;

a first bearing in communication with one frame and the equalizer bar, the bearing positioned proximate to one end of the equalizer bar;

a second bearing in communication with another frame and the equalizer bar, the bearing positioned proximate to the other end of the equalizer bar;

a first lubricious liner positioned on at least a portion of the first inner surface of each bearing;

a second lubricious liner positioned on at least a portion of the second inner surface of each bearing; and

a shaft extending into the bore of each inner member of each bearing and each shaft is in communication with at least one frame and the equalizer bar.

6 . The vehicle suspension system of claim 4 wherein the at least one bearing comprises a spherical plain bearing.

7 . The vehicle suspension system of claim 4 wherein the outer member is an outer race and the inner member is an inner ring.

8 . A suspension system of a tracked vehicle, the suspension system comprising:

a first undercarriage pivotally connectable to a main frame of the tracked vehicle;

a second undercarriage pivotally connectable to the main frame;

an equalizer bar pivotally connectable to the main frame and the first and second undercarriages;

a first spherical plain bearing having an outer race and an inner ring and being in communication with the first undercarriage and the equalizer bar; and

a second spherical plain bearing having an outer race and an inner ring and being in communication with the second undercarriage and the equalizer bar;

a first lubricious fabric liner positioned on at least a portion of an inner engagement surface of the outer race of each of the first and second spherical plain bearings;

a second lubricious fabric liner positioned on at least a portion of an inner surface of a bore defined through the inner ring of each of the first and second spherical plain bearings;

a first shaft extending through the inner ring of the first spherical plain bearing in communication with the first undercarriage and the equalizer bar; and

a second shaft extending through the inner ring of the second spherical plain bearing in communication with the second undercarriage and the equalizer bar.