Wishbone or diagonal link ?
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 1,805
Likes: 36
From: Annapolis MD
Wishbone or diagonal link ?
Anyone running a 4-link have a preference/recommendation? I currently have a diagonal link (very simple), but also have all the parts for a wishbone. Trying to decide if it's worth it to fab and install the wishbone or just leave the diagonal link in it?
Thanks - Greg
Thanks - Greg
Team Owner
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 32,782
Likes: 11
From: Former NCM Drag Racing coordinator, National director Corvette Challenge Spring Hill, Tennessee: Whiting, New Jersey
Cruise-In VI Veteran
Cruise-In VII Veteran
Re: Wishbone or diagonal link ? (GregP)
I'd leave the diagonal in. :yesnod:
Racer
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 406
Likes: 7
From: Ellicott City Md
Re: Wishbone or diagonal link ? (GregP)
Blown Vette - Can you elaborate on advantages/disadvantages a little? Always like to learn more about this stuff.
-Greg
-Greg
With that said a 4-link should not be used for street driving, it is unsafe. The ends will suffer fatigue from the force of turning and break when stressed at the track. Limited use can be obtained with frequent end replacements but that gets very costly. This is something few will tell you as they are in the business of selling parts/service.
The above opinion is base on real life experience I obtained during my employ as a professional chassis fabricator. I respect other opinions and would be curious to see why the above post recommended that you keep what you have.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 1,805
Likes: 36
From: Annapolis MD
Re: Wishbone or diagonal link ? (Blown Vette)
Blown Vette -
I agree that the panhard is not an option with my narrow (20" wide) rear frame. A diagonal link (across the two lower 4-link bars) doesn't have the side-to-side travel problem, but in playing with it on my CAD system it does make the rear roll center be offset to which ever side has the rear of the diagonal. Since I had the parts and it was snowing out I went and fabbed and installed a wishbone yesterday (I'll add the pictures to my web page as soon as I can talk the "webmaster" into doing an update :) ).
The 4-link binding in roll problem only occurs with the angled link geometry used for drag racing. A parallel 4-link (as typically used in street rods) rolls without binding. With my suspension there is enough adjustability to allow an almost parallel link geometry for normal street driving, and I can easily drop the forward mounts of the upper links to move the lift center aft for racing when needed.
Thanks for your comments.
-Greg
I agree that the panhard is not an option with my narrow (20" wide) rear frame. A diagonal link (across the two lower 4-link bars) doesn't have the side-to-side travel problem, but in playing with it on my CAD system it does make the rear roll center be offset to which ever side has the rear of the diagonal. Since I had the parts and it was snowing out I went and fabbed and installed a wishbone yesterday (I'll add the pictures to my web page as soon as I can talk the "webmaster" into doing an update :) ).
The 4-link binding in roll problem only occurs with the angled link geometry used for drag racing. A parallel 4-link (as typically used in street rods) rolls without binding. With my suspension there is enough adjustability to allow an almost parallel link geometry for normal street driving, and I can easily drop the forward mounts of the upper links to move the lift center aft for racing when needed.
Thanks for your comments.
-Greg
