RIDE-HEIGHT PASSIVE LOCKING MECHANISM

A vehicle ride-height adjustment device with a locking mechanism that has a simple control path and avoids the need for a separate actuator to control locking. The locking mechanism includes a locking gear coupled for rotation with a driven gear of a ride-height actuator, a locking pawl supported adjacent the driven gear for pivoting movement between a locked position engaged with a surface of the locking gear and restricting rotation thereof in at least one direction and a disengaged position spaced apart from the locking gear and permitting rotation of the driven gear. A shifting fork is coupled for rotation with the drive gear configured to move the locking pawl between engaged and disengaged positions. A torque limiter allows the shifting fork to rotate independent from the drive gear when a torque threshold is exceeded.