I asked a similar question in the questions and answers secttion, didn't get much of a response, so I figured I would ask the street rodding guys.

I am building a rear wishboned 3 link suspension for my 600hp, big block dakota with a Dana 60 rear. What are you guys using for link material, DOM tubing or HREW tubing/square stock? All links are going to be straight/no bends. It is going to be a primarily street driven truck, maybe hit a track once a year, no slicks. What do you guys recommend? I was thinking of square 2.5" HREW, 1/4" wall? Will this work or should I just man up and use DOM? I was reading that DOM is lighter and stronger, but I am not concerned with weight and I can run thicker walls. The problem I have is, my local iron shop does not and will not get DOM tubing. All opinions welcome.
Thanks everyone.

I'm going to be buiding one for my 49 dodge, and C-notch the frame. I got some 2" sqaure stock, thick wall, bungs fit right in. Theres alot of stuff on 4 link on the HAMB. DOM tubing is nice, used some for motor mounts for the engine and trans mount with bushings made for it.

Had one car with an OEM 4 link, not impressed with it. Squirelly handling.

Even after I replaced all the oversized squishy bushings with poly, still not impressed, better but not good, imo.

My old parallel leaf Cuda would hand it it's butt all the time in handling.

I have a brand new set of E-Body SS springs I was thinking about installing, I just figured that a 3 or 4 link would be better overall.
I was looking at some factory 4 links and they are pretty cheesey looking, made from stamped sheet metal. So I figure that square stock has to be stronger and less flexible than factory. A lot of factory performance cars run a 4 link, so it can't be that bad, otherwise you would see a lot of performnce cars with leafs, wouldn't you?

If I do the leaf springs, I was going to make it adjustable by making 3 mounting holes in the front and rear mounts. I like the simplicity of the leafs. I always "assumed" that a 4 link is better for handling.

If money is no object, you can get a good handling, soft ride with a 4 link. But you will need either a panhard rod or a watts linkage to control lateral forces. To be honest that's essentially a 5 (or 6) link setup.

The stock Mustang rear suspension tries to cheat by angling the top two links in an poor effort to control lateral forces. Then they proceed to defeat the effort by using large squishy bushings and stamped U channel arms. If you run aftermarket arms that are boxed and use small, high durometer bushings you can improve it alot, but it still needs a panhard or watts linkage, imo.

To be honest, if I was to go through all the effort to custom design a 4 link I'd just put an IRS in and be done with it.

money is always an object or I wouldn't be comparing HREW to DOM.
So, basically, if I use square stock on a 3 or 4 link and then use a panhard bar using the same square stock, all poly bushings, it will outhandle a leaf spring suspenion?

Possibly. I'd say if you put weeks of engineering and design, fabrication, research etc into a 4-link w/proper lateral control, you will have something comparable to a leaf setup that could be fabbed and mounted in a matter of hours. As stated previously, it comes down to how much you want to be able to brag that you have a 4-link, or how "showy" you want it to be. I think dollar for dollar you will find yourself much further ahead with the leafs, and put the extra time and money into other areas of the project where it will do you more good.

That said, if you're bent on a 4-link, I think you'll find that the kits and parts/pieces available are available (and with everything you need) for similar $ to buying the raw materials, and alot of the engineering is already taken care of for you.

http://summitracing.com/search/Department/Chassis-Suspension/Part-Type/Four-Link-Kits/?Ns=Rank|Asc

Bigdad has a 3 link in his field truck. The road outside his house must be finished. Haven't seen him on here in awhile must be on vacation?

First off, I'm with the other guys about running leafs because they're so darn cheap and easy.

If I wasn't going to run leaf springs on my cars, I'd do a truck arm setup.



Truck arm setups are simple, easy and effective. NASCAR guys have used it for years. It's even popular with some of the grassroots pro-touring guys. It is basically the 1963-72 2wd Chevy truck rear suspension.

There's lots of information about them out there on the internet.