A weld-on leaf spring bracket assembly comprising a leaf spring, bracket means for holding the leaf spring, and an axle to which the bracket means is welded, with the leaf spring being compressively secured within the bracket means by suitable means such as welding or the like; and, the method technique of constructing the assembly.

A tandem axle, spring suspension assembly having a pair of leaf springs each arranged for mounting an axle, and a pair of spring hangers mountable on a vehicle frame and arranged for receiving ends of the leaf springs. An equalizer assembly is arranged between the spring hangers for receiving the opposite spring ends. The spring hangers each have a cavity for receiving a spring end, and at least the front spring hanger is provided with an insert forming a spring bearing surface for protecting the hanger walls from wear. When the front hanger is provided with such an insert, a symmetrical spring bearing surface is provided for maintaining a predetermined effective length of a spring mounted in the hanger. The spring effective length and the suspension mounting height are selectable as a function of the arrangement of the insert. The front hanger side walls have torque arm attachment portions extending away from the insert extending portions, and provided with bosses for increasing the bearing surface of a torque arm bolt for resisting wear due to fore-and-aft motion of a torque arm during operation, and especially on braking. The equalizer assembly has an equalizer beam receiving the spring ends and provided with a transverse hole in which a hollow pin is arranged. The pin has flat surfaces provided on portions which extend beyond the beam, and an equalizer bracket to which the equalizer beam is removably connected has projections which are arranged to retainingly engage the flat surfaces and prevent movement of the pin about an axis parallel to the transverse hole and pin. A resilient member is arranged in the transverse hole and surrounding the pin for permitting the beam to articulate about the pin.

An anti-splay shim 50 and low friction liner 80 are incorporated in the center section 12 of a leaf spring assembly 10 for preventing splaying of the second stage leaf 36 with respect to the first stage leaves 22, 24 and 26. The anti-splay shim 50 has an upturned flange 50 which abuts edges of 62 and 64 of the first stage leaves 24 and 26 and a downward turned flange 58 which abuts an opposite facing edge 66 of the second stage leaf 36. In addition, a low friction liner 80 is interposed between a second stage leaf 36 and a spring seat 34 which is fixed to an axle 14. The low friction liner 80 minimizes torque transfer about a vertical axis from the axle 14 to the second stage leaf 36.

The present invention is a self steering "add on" axle system for use with a vehicle such a dump truck in order to increase the legal weight capacity of the vehicle and provide effective steering in both the forward and reverse directions. The system comprises a standard axle with king pin within a sleeve that is suspended by a leaf spring. The leaf spring is rotatably connected to a first leaf spring hangers and interconnected to second leaf spring hangers by a load adjustment members. The axle and king pin are tilted approximately eight degrees positively or negatively from vertical by a control system to further promote self steering when the vehicle is moving in either the forward or reverse direction.

The present invention is a suspension system for use with a trailer or truck having a frame and front and rear axles. In one embodiment, the suspension system comprises a front hangar having a lower portion, a bearing portion, and an upper portion engaged with the frame. The suspension system further comprises a hangar assembly having a lower portion, an upper portion engaged with the frame and a rocker arm having first and second bearing portions. The suspension system further comprises a rear hangar engaged with the frame and having a bearing portion. The suspension system further comprises a first saddle engaged with the front axle and a second saddle engaged with the rear axle. The suspension system further comprises a leaf spring having a first end portion engaged with the bearing portion of the front hangar and a second end portion engaged with the first bearing portion of the rocker arm. The suspension system further comprises a torque bar having a first end portion engaged with the front hangar and a second end portion engaged with the first saddle of the front axle. The suspension system further comprises a leaf spring assembly comprising an upper leaf spring having a first end portion engaged with the second bearing portion of the rocker arm and a second end portion engaged with the bearing portion of the rear hangar. The first and second end portions of the upper leaf spring have a width that is substantially less than the width of the second bearing portion of the rocker arm and the bearing portion of the rear hangar. The suspension system further comprises a torque bar assembly having a first end portion engaged with the hangar and rocker assembly and a second end portion engaged with the second saddle of the rear axle.