A framing structure for the rear portion of an automotive, including a pair of spaced and generally vertically oriented suspension strut towers each tower fixed at lower and upper end portions to a lower cross beam and an upper cross beam respectively and with each cross beam extending the full width of the vehicle and with each beam having a closed cross-sectional configuration to providing a high degree of structural rigidity as a mounting platform for the left and right rear wheel suspensions. A yoke-like structure on the upper ends of each suspension strut tower supports an end portion of the upper cross beam, each yoke including a pair of spaced side walls between which an end portion of the beam extends so that in vehicle assembly the beam's end portions are positioned or floated in a respective yoke in sliding engagement between the spaced side walls which permits independent lateral shifting of the upper end portion of each strut tower into desired alignment with the vehicle and with one another. Subsequently, the overlying side walls of the strut towers are attached to the end portions of the cross beam by a plurality of widely spaced spot welds thus providing a high degree of rigidity and accuracy to the framing structure.
A vehicle rear body structure including: a cross member provided beneath a rear parcel shelf to connect upper ends of rear suspension towers; a strip member provided along a rear edge of a floor panel; and panel members provided between the cross member and the strip member to connect the cross member and the strip member. The panel members include a center panel and a pair of side panels arranged on outer sides in a vehicle transverse direction of the center panel, respectively. Each of the side panels is joined along an inner edge in the vehicle transverse direction thereof to the center panel by a continuous welding.
A partition arrangement for a self-supporting body of a motor vehicle has a partition which is arranged at the forward end of a rear space and extends in the transverse direction of the vehicle and along a portion of its height between rear wheel houses of the motor vehicle. The arrangement is detachably fastened to boundary walls of the rear space. The partition extends along almost the entire height of the rear space and is arranged approximately in an upright transverse plane of the vehicle. The partition, moreover, is constructed as a supporting device stiffening the vehicle body against deformation.
A vehicle rear body structure includes a support frame of generally rectangular shape attached to side frames of a vehicle body from below for supporting thereon a vehicle part including a fuel tank. The support frame is connected at a front end thereof to floor frames disposed inwardly of the side frames and extending along front parts of the side frames and, at a rear end thereof, to rear frames forming rear parts of the side frames.
The body of a notchback motor vehicle, having at the rear, a rear load floor to which are fixed two lateral members each having a wheel housing and a lateral quarter pillar forming one part of one side of the passenger compartment. The two lateral quarter pillars are held together at the top by a cross member known as the rear window cross member, which supports the roof. Stiffening at least one lateral member in such a way as to transfer the forces exerted on the bottom of the body when the vehicle is moving directly to the upper cross member having a panel stiffener which is joined to the lateral quarter pillar and which exerts from the rear window lower cross member to the rear window upper cross member.
Safety of a vehicle is improved by employing a rear side member in a generally straight line shape in parallel with a side sill. Connecting and combining overlapped areas between the side sill and the rear side member with multiple closed cross-section structures provides even stronger support against an impact delivered from behind a vehicle. Furthermore, the structure effectively disperses the delivered impact.
