OK, I have a question. On the unlawful 4 link, Why is the pipe that goes to the side frame bracket larger then steps down to the regular pipe size? Does it make the weld stronger?

Here's my thinking ...

Frame widths vary from one car to the next. In order to have a proper fit on every car they make these slip fit ends so you can weld it exactly where it needs to be to fit properly.

I thought about that, I was thinking that it would be stronger than a butt weld or spread the load over a larger base?

yes it does make it stronger than a but weld also. good catch I have been studing this product for almost a month. it is truely a good piece to add to your rear suspension.

out of all these post's I don't see any thing about the Leaf Link setup IMO that is the best working low buck suspention seems to be forgoten now a days but that setup flat works and you could probably built it for under $500

Ive not read through ALL 7 pages so please forgive me if soomeone already did!!!

Can you use the Cal-trac monoleafs on the street?? And do you take out your snubber??

I have heard alot about this ladder leaf!!?? what does this set up look like do you have pictures or know someone who runs it. I have heard some guys at the trac use this set up but I have never seen it in real life. Would appreciate some pics

Thanks

Here is a good looking three link set up from bigblockdart.com.

http://www.bigblockdart.com/techpages/3link.shtml

kiddart1, I don't know if someone tried to answer your fatigue question or not. I am curious about all this as my car is very heavy and too nice to cut up. Want cal tracs set up and may go that way still, but originally they told me I would need to change the leafs every 2,000 miles in a car as heavy as mine(4260). Maybe I'll just twist up another set of SS. (Both front and rear segments are reversed in 2 seasons.) Not wanting to go big budget since I'm now building an A body to go faster and eliminate weight headaches. No budget for 2 race cars as one is tough enough. Wish someone could just tell me what to do but I will start with weighing front and rear weights to see if caltracs will even work for me.

A leaf/link is very simple and I think was first used on the Motown Missle, Pro-Stocker, so that is how old it is. The leaf spring is attached to the housing with a pivot below the spring. Tabs are welded to the housing on either side of the spring, that extend below the spring and are bolted to a pivot that is attached to the spring with clamps. This allows the housing to pivot here, as it is not clamped directly to the spring anymore. Now upper 4-link type bars are added and the front mounts were normally placed inside the upper frame rail, right above the springs. So the leafs still hold the car up, the front segment now acts as a lower 4-link bar and the top bars have been added. They do work well, but if you were going to go to that extreme on the fabrication, why not just add coilovers, replace the front leaf segment with a bar and then you you would have a..............what, a setup EXACTLY like the Unlawful setup. If you have the skills to fabricate a leaf link, you can fabricate your own 4-bar setup like the Unlawful deal and this "bolt on" becomes a moot point.

Monte

I certainly don't want to upstage someone with Monte's experience,but if I remember correctly the problem with a leaf/link setup aside from the spring bind in the original version, was the main leaf would distort just behind the front eye.

I have almost made my decision. I am really leaning now to a ladder bar set up I did not realize how inexpensive it is, and therre are many companies that offer them. I know I need to use the 32" long ladders add the front cross bar weld a brace to my rearend then the coil over shock brace and done. then the fun part of tunning it in. I do have the skills and the place to do a ladder bar. If i can do my own roll bar, floor pans, quarter panels and rear tail light panels I can weld in a four link. Monte you are a well of knowledge thank you very much for all the info and taking time to teach us a thing or two!!!

Kiddart