Front suspension for a front drive vehicle

Claim 1

A front suspension and steering structure for a front drive vehicle having a longitudinal axis and a body structure, said suspension comprising a wheel, a swivel axle unit carrying the wheel which is contained in a plane parallel to said axis, an upper wishbone structure pivoted at one end to the axle unit and at another end to the body structure, a lower wishbone structure having a front arm and a rear arm, first pivotal connections respectively connecting a first portion of the front arm to the body structure and a second portion of the front arm to the rear arm, second pivotal connections respectively connecting a first portion of the rear arm to the body structure and a second portion of the rear arm to the swivel axle unit, said second pivotal connections having pivot centers located on a first line perpendicular to said plane of the wheel, the steering structure comprising a steering rack, a steering link rod, third pivotal connections respectively connecting a first portion of the steering link rod to the steering rack and a second portion of the steering link rod to the swivel axle unit, said third pivotal connections having pivot centers located on a second line convergent with said first line in a direction away from said axis, the pivot centers of said second and third pivotal connections constituting corners of an articulated quadrilateral structure, and a damping support device comprising a hydraulic shock absorber and a coaxial coil spring interposed between the body structure and the lower wishbone structure, a lower part of the hydraulic shock absorber being combined with a yoke pivotably connected to the rear arm, the yoke defining a space for the passage of a transmission shaft driving the wheel.