Motor vehicle axle and method for the manufacture of a crossbeam for an axle of a motor vehicle

The invention relates to a motor vehicle axle (1) comprising two longitudinal control arms (2) and a cross member (3) connecting these. The cross member (3) has an open profile (7) with a U-shaped cross-section with a web (10) and side flanges (11, 12) angled off longitudinally therefrom. The vehicle front-side side flange (11) has a height H reduced compared to a middle section M of the profile (7) in the end sections of the profile (7). The opening of the profile (7) faces toward the road surface in the installed position. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for manufacturing a cross member (3) for a motor vehicle axle (1) according to the invention. For this purpose, a sheet metal blank (14) is first provided and a longitudinal edge (16) of the sheet metal blank (14) is partially trimmed. The sheet metal blank (14) is then formed into an open profile (7) with a U-shaped cross-section. Finally, the profile (7) is mechanically finished, with the trimmed areas of the edge (16) of the sheet metal blank (14) being impressed in particular. By means of the motor vehicle axle (1) according to the invention, toe-in and camber stiffness on the one hand and the bending stiffness of the axle on the other hand are further decoupled from one another, so that a substantial improvement in the characteristics of the motor vehicle axle (1) during driving operation is achieved.