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: how bout a "watts link" instead of a track bar? ideas?

3/4tonYJ
02-12-2002, 05:05 PM
anyone using a "watts link" instead of a track bar? or have any experience with it? or any thoughts at all.....?
i'm thinking this setup looks good, maybe wouldn't limit droop like a regular track bar does. just thinking about a future project :smokin:
http://bbs.off-road.com/wwwthreads_uploads/53-666719-watts_assy2.jpg:smokin:
evilfij
02-12-2002, 05:58 PM
In front you will have a hard (impossible) time keeping the axle located latterally.

In the rear, well, there are a ton of better options but it can be made to work ok. discovery II has a watts linkage in the rear stock. You are just much better off with a four link for flex.

Ron
cmk
02-12-2002, 06:33 PM
Like Evil eluded to, it will work fine in the rear, although the complexity of it as compared to a triangulated 3 or 4 link is unnecessary.

As far as the front goes, unless you plan on going full hydraulic steering or you develop a "watts linkage drag link," it won't work ... well.

cmk
3/4tonYJ
02-13-2002, 03:04 AM
i'm thinking about using this in conjuction with a 4-link, to help control the axle laterally. (in place of a trac bar)

i also have ideas about using this type of lateral link with a Quarter Eliptical setup, with one "axle wrap control ladder bar (shackle at front)" and then just two "lower control arms".....
dirtrod
02-13-2002, 06:00 AM
If you angle 2 of the 4 links you won't need it.
JEEP_TJ_FREAK
02-13-2002, 06:49 AM
The only watts linkage I have ever seen was busted, but is was some awsome carnage to watch.

http://www.jeepwrangler.info/images/mini/FJ40_bustedwatts_DISNEY_9-1-01_43.JPG

http://www.jeepwrangler.info/images/mini/FJ40_bustedwatts_DISNEY_9-1-01_39.JPG

HTH, sorry the images kinda suck, if you cannot tell the guy has a truss across the top and put a trailer spindle in it. He then used the hub to mount the links. I was a single heim failure that cause all that mess.
mj
02-13-2002, 08:16 AM
the steering would be EASY to make work.
same as any link suspension you make the steering linkage near parallel to a link
cmk
02-13-2002, 11:13 AM
Originally posted by mj
the steering would be EASY to make work.
same as any link suspension you make the steering linkage near parallel to a link

A Watts linkage causes the axle to stay perfectly centered as it transposes in the vertical plane. A standard drag link is going to incur some bump steer as the suspension cycles in conjunction with a Watts linkage.

Sure you can minimize the bump steer by going with a long, flat link, but you can't get rid of it.

cmk