MacPherson strut with floating striker plate

摘要

An improved MacPherson strut configuration for use in an automobile suspension system is disclosed. The strut includes a strut cylinder and a pressure cylinder having an upper end, and a piston with a piston rod extending from within the pressure cylinder and attached to the body of a vehicle. A jounce bumper is attached about the piston rod between the body and the upper end of the pressure cylinder, and a striker plate is secured about the piston rod between the jounce bumper and the end of the strut cylinder. In the preferred embodiment, the striker plate has a central bore providing an interface fit with a piston rod; it further includes lower parallel surfaces extending radially inward to a concave central portion of the plate that is concentric with and adjacent to the central bore. Also in the preferred embodiment, the striker plate is composed of an elastic polymer.