Two-piece vertical control arm bushing

1. A bushing, for use with a control arm having upper and lower surfaces and a circular opening defining a vertical axis and a diameter D c , comprises

(a) first and second mating segments defining an axis when mated and assembled to form a portion to be received within the circular opening and having an outer diameter substantially corresponding to the diameter D c , each segment including a cap or head portion associated with each of said segments and having a diameter greater than D c and dimensioned to abut against one of the upper and lower surfaces of the control arm and having a central bore having a predetermined diameter; and

(b) a bushing sleeve having a length substantially equal to a fully mated bushing along said vertical axis and an outer diameter greater than said predetermined diameter of said central bore to allow said bushing sleeve to be inserted through said central bore in a press fit relationship in order to maintain said mating segments in assembled condition, said two segments of the control arm bushing being suitable to be inserted into said circular opening of the control arm from opposite sides of the control arm and coaxially aligned prior to being mated, said bushing sleeve being inserted through said central bore after said segments have been mated to substantially immobilize said first and second segments when they are in contact with the control arm and prevented from undesirably separating by moving in opposite directions along said axis.

2. The bushing as defined in claim 1 , wherein said first segment is a female segment having an annular portion defining an outer diameter D o and a cylindrical inner chamber C having an inner diameter D i .

3. The bushing as defined in claim 2 , wherein said second segment is a male segment having an annular portion defining an outer diameter d o greater than D i to provide a press fit when said segments are mated.

4. The bushing as defined in claim 3 , said inner chamber C has an axial length or height h that is greater than an axial length or height of said annular portion of said first female segment, said inner chamber C axially extending into said cap or head portion associated with said first female segment.

5. The bushing as defined in claim 1 , wherein said cap or head portions are integrally formed with associated segments.

6. The bushing as defined in claim 1 , wherein said cap or head portions are formed with tapered or beveled surfaces at radically outer surfaces that do not contact the control arm when the bushing is assembled on the control arm.

7. The bushing as defined in claim 1 , wherein said segments are made of rubber.

8. The bushing as defined in claim 1 , wherein said bushing sleeve is provided with chamfers or bevels at opposing axial ends.

9. The bushing as defined in claim 1 , wherein said bushing sleeve is made of steel.

10. A control arm comprises

a member having upper and lower surfaces and a circular opening defining a vertical axis and a diameter D c ;

first and second mating segments defining an axis when mated and assembled to form a portion to be received within said circular opening, said first segment comprising a female segment having an outer diameter substantially corresponding to the diameter D c each segment including a cap or head portion having a diameter greater than D c and dimensioned to abut against one of said upper and lower surfaces of the control arm, said second segment comprising a male segment having a central bore having a predetermined diameter;

a bushing sleeve having a length substantially equal to a fully mated bushing along said vertical axis and an outer diameter greater than said predetermined diameter of said central bore to allow said bushing sleeve to be inserted through said central bore in a press fit relationship in order to maintain said mating segments in assembled condition, said two segments being suitable to be inserted into said circular opening of the control arm from opposite sides of the control arm and coaxially aligned prior to being mated, said bushing sleeve being inserted through said central bore after said first and second segments have been mated to substantially immobilize said first and second segments when they are in contact with the control arm and prevented from undesirably separating by moving in opposite directions along said axis.

11. The control arm as defined in claim 10 , wherein said female segment has an annular portion defining an outer diameter D o and a cylindrical inner chamber C having an inner diameter D i .

12. The control arm as defined in claim 11 , wherein said male segment has an annular portion defining an outer diameter d o greater than D i to provide a press fit when said segments are mated.

13. The control arm as defined in claim 12 , said inner chamber C has an axial length or height h that is greater than an axial length or height of said annular portion of said first female segment, said inner chamber C axially extending into said cap or head portion associated with said first female segment.

14. The control arm as defined in claim 10 , wherein said cap or head portions are integrally formed with associated segments.

15. The control arm as defined in claim 10 , wherein said cap or head portions are formed with tapered or beveled surfaces at radically outer surfaces that do not contact the control arm when the bushing is assembled on a control arm.

16. The control arm as defined in claim 10 , wherein said segments are made of rubber.

17. The control arm as defined in claim 10 , wherein said bushing sleeve is provided with chambers or bevels at opposing axial ends.

18. The control arm as defined in claim 10 , wherein said bushing sleeve is made of steel.

19. A method of assembling a bushing, for use with a control arm

having upper and lower surfaces and a circular opening defining a vertical axis and a diameter D c ,

first and second mateable segments defining an axis when mated and assembled to form a portion to be received within the circular opening, said first segment comprising a female segment having an outer diameter substantially corresponding to the diameter D c ,

each segment including a cap or head portion associated with each of said segments and having a diameter greater than D c and dimensioned to abut against one of said upper and lower surfaces of the control arm and having a central bore having a predetermined diameter;

a bushing sleeve wherein said second segment comprises a male segment having a length substantially equal to a fully mated bushing along said vertical axis and an outer diameter greater than said predetermined diameter of said central bore to allow said bushing sleeve to be inserted through said central bore in a press fit relationship in order to maintain said mating segments in assembled condition,

the method comprising the steps of

inserting the two mateable segments through the circular opening from opposite sides of the control arm and mating said segments to position said caps or heads of said segments into contact with the control arm; and

inserting said bushing sleeve through said central bore to substantially immobilize said first and second segments when they are in contact with the control arm and prevented from undesirably separating by moving in opposite directions along said axis.

20. The method as defined in claim 19 , wherein axially inward pressure is applied to mate said segments and to insert said bushing sleeve through said central bore to lock said segments relative to each other by providing press-fits therebetween.