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Increased popularity on SUV category in the market has led to high focus on performance attributes of SUVs. Considering high weight & CoG achieving target handling performance is always a challenge. Static Wheel Alignment parameters, especially Camber have shown significant contribution in Handling attributes of vehicle. This paper presents an experimental study on change in wheel camber under the influence of different vehicle loading conditions. In SUVs, generally wheel is subjected to large deflection from its high static loads which makes it quite difficult to maintain an ideal camber angle. Hence, it is important to analyze the camber angle variations under actual loading conditions. An in-house fixture is developed to emulate the actual vehicle loading conditions at rear wheel end. The multi-link rigid axle suspension with watt’s link assembly is mounted on the chassis-frame which is rigidly fixed to ground, and loads are achieved through hydraulic actuators at Wheels.

Currently the Automotive industry demands highly competitive product to survive in the global tough competition. Even if there is a slight reduction in product cost and time has a high significant impact on business. Engineers are under tremendous pressure to develop competitive and give better product concern resolution at the earliest. To arrest the failure of this thermostat vent, an innovative approach was used to relocate de-aeration restrictor on the hose to the thermostat root. Thus, resolving the product concern by increasing the strength of the vent at root and providing good business impact on cost savings. Physical testing has provided an effective way to smoothen product development for concern resolution. This Paper highlights approach on an attempt to field failure simulation with existing and modified design with lab test results.

In the present scenario, automobile manufacturers are forced to reduce the weight of each components through design optimization. In a bid to enhance the fuel efficiency and load carrying capacity of the vehicle; however this approach may not be practical for all the parts in real life, and the engineer will end up adding further mass to the component. This is carried out to enhance the strength of the component, since considerable over load application in real world usage condition which can damage the component drastically. In this paper, steering tie rod arm of a heavy commercial vehicle was taken as a case study. The Steering tie rod arm is a part which connects the wheel spindle with steering system linkage i.e. Track rod. Track rod transfers the steered force from one wheel to another wheel and steering tie rod arm transfers the force from track rod to wheel spindle to steer both the wheels in same direction.