Swede-ified 3-link design... oppinions?

[Swede958]

Well, here it is.. I've been thinking about this for a while and finally got to put some virtual pen to paper. Sorry for crappy quality as I suck at photoshop.... had to use MSPaint.

Anyways... the design is supposed to utilize the stock forward spring perches with a bolt/weld in upper support. AS it is the upper support is sort of a modified version of the II Much 3 link support in popular hot rodding. Another idea I had was a triangle link with the base mounted to the body (on supports) and the point actuating the rear end while acting as a panhard bar as well.

Not sure of all the details yet... but it should have coil-overs mounted on the back of the brakets that bolt to the stock perches on the axle plus a panhard bar.

Oppinions?

 

[rbohm]

the three link design is a good one to use, in fact baer racing used that design on a fox body mustang in the world challenge, and they kicked but on more exotic cars like porches, ferrari's etc.

i would however suggest that you consider using a torque arm suspension instead. either way you need a panhard bar to locate the rear end.

a torque arm suspension will prevent severe pinion angle changes that the three link wont. the other thing a torque arm will do is make it easier to use an 8.8 rear.

 

[race-rodz]

keep in mind that the attachment point for the upper link would be tied to a cross member tied into little more than sheetmetal frame rails. i have looked at a lot of different options... ran a bunch of simulations on perftrends software.... and decided that a torque arm/panhard/2 link was the way to go with my needs with the early chassis.

now that i am using the SN95 platform, i did think about going back to a 3 link set up...as there is a good place for attaching the upper link.... i honestly havent made up my mind just yet..pros and cons each way

 

[bnickel]

i've been seriously considering bulding a modified version of the gearwood 4 link http://www.gearwood.com/ . i would do away with the air bags and the panhard bar and i'd use coilovers instead of the bags and a watts link to replace the PHB. i'd have to build a front crossmember for the coilovers to mount to as the stock shock mounts won't handle that kind of abuse. who know maybe even tie in a torque arm and connect it to the SF connectors via another x-member. but that would probably be just extra weight and really useless considering it already has the rear trailing links. just throwing out some ideas and would appreciate any feedback. keep in mind this will be for a street car that might see a track once or twice in it's life. i just wanna be able to have fun on some of my favorite twisty roads down in austin area.

 

[race-rodz]

the gearwood 4-link set up reminds me of a "mini-truck" reverse 4 link set up. i have never run anything like this.. although i do have an idea of how it works... i will keep it to myself.... cant knock it till i try it.

if you are considering a torque arm.... then i say run with that idea. the lower links locate the housing lateraly in the chassis, the T.A. controlls the rotation of the housing, and the pan hard bar or watts link control the side to side movement. coilovers hold it up...that is all it "needs".... a rear sway bar "could" be added to it, but if you run an adjustable panhard mount, the roll center should be able to adjust it accordingly... getting rid of the need for more wieght of a r swaybar.

IMO this would be one of the best set-ups for a street/track driven early mustang... the set-up also works pretty decent for the occational trip to the drag strip. i did a lot of research and ran a lot of different set-up simulations trying to decide which was gonna be best suited for my needs, which is about 80% street driving, 17% road coarse, 3% drag strip.

of coarse after i figured all of it out... i changed my mind completly to go sn95 platform.... but that was for a lot of other reasons

 

[Bullitt]

those who are looking at doing a 3-link in a racecar (or one that has a long top link) seriously look at putting in a spring or rubber bumper equipped link. you can get them out of the circle track catalogs. they make a world of difference.

a big bonus of a 3-link design is you don't lose ground clearance... i haven't seen a torque arm for an 8.8 that has and kind of decent ground clearance.

 

[chepsk8]

I have the 3-Link in my FFR Cobra. It has two lower arms, a single adjustable upper arm, and a horizontal adjustable Panhard bar to center the rear. Keeps the rear planted on street and on the track. Does make a rougher ride, and requires coil-over shocks.