Watts Link or Panhard Bar...what do you think?

[loudpedal]

C.H.

If I read right you have a 4 link locating a live axle. You don't mention the TYPE of 4 link you have...I can only assume that as you now have no locating devise (Watts, Panhard, ladder etc) that you have a NON-parallel 4 link....as there has to be a lateral locator for the rear housing. So then, assuming you have a short/long 4 link......2 upper bars splayed inward as they go forward, and two lower bars either parallel or slightly splayed inward at the front......that then, this system will control the lateral movement of the car as this design is intended to do.

A choice of what type of link to use might be determined by packaging. That is to say that room might be a deciding factor ..you might not have the room for one system or another seeing as tho the car is already together and you dont have a clean sheet of paper to work with. However in a well designed four link a separate lateral locating link is NOT necessary.

The pick up points of the ends of the four links determine what the car will do in bump/droop....and in the full travel /roll there should be NO lateral movement and no change in pinion angle. You should be using spherical bearings or metal bushings in these links, and not plastic or rubber.

There was another poster that mentioned 4 links bind in bump and droop.

This is correct IF the 4 links are parallel and then will bind only in cornering (roll). With a parallel 4 link there MUST be a lateral locating bar used.

Hope this helps you.......shocks are another complete movie.