3-Link Question

[0ILBURNER]

Nearly every rig I've seen with a quarter-elliptical rear suspension and 3-link control arms uses two mounting points for the upper link at the frame. Has anybody seen/had a set-up with only One link mount at the frame? I understand the reason people build it that way - to help control the side-to-side motion of the rear axle assembly. Do you think 'traditional' shackles on the springs would be enough to use only one upper mount?

[ 09-28-2001: Message edited by: 0ILBURNER ]

[dotten]

I would stick with two frame mounts, unless you want to run a panhard bar. I have run single mounts without any problems but I have always had a panhard to keep the rear cenetered.

[0ILBURNER]

Do you think either option has an advantage?
Would the panhard bar limit articulation?
A buddy of mine made one for the front of his rig, and he seems to think it didn't. I guess you'd want to make it as long as possible...


Uh...Huh-huh
I'm a "wheeler"
<IMG SRC="smilies/grinpimp.gif" border="0">

[ 09-28-2001: Message edited by: 0ILBURNER ]

[dotten]

I personally like a "J" style panhard that mounts to center of the axle housing. By mounting the other end on the frame rail and ensuring that the bar is perpendicular to frame and parallel to the axle the center mount should not restrict any travel because everything must piviot on center. Most of my experience is with coil-over shock setups not quarter eliptical but the forces and setup should be the same. I know that a couple of companies are making a bar that runs from one frame side to a spring mount and this setup seems to allow for the possiblity of binding on full spring mount side compression.

[0ILBURNER]

..You need to 'expand' your thinking (get it?) In the dirt-dobber world, suspension travel is what -- a few inches? <IMG SRC="smilies/clown.gif" border="0">
With a quarter-elliptical or coil spring rear suspension, the end of one axle can drop 30" or more. If you connected a panhard bar from the frame to the top of the axle housing in the middle, when one wheel droops, that panhard is going to pull it over towards the drooping side = not good. The longer that bar is, the less the effect would be.

[poppycock]

if going to all the trouble of a 3 link use the double mounted bar with no panhard. you've already done all the work why make it more complicated by having to go and build a panhard bar when you could be finshed already. <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0">