Anyone here try a Watts linkage on rear end?
#993271
05/15/11 10:26 PM
05/15/11 10:26 PM
|
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 7,538
Albany, NY
67SATisfaction
OP
The member whose name is actually Art
|
OP
The member whose name is actually Art
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 7,538
Albany, NY
|
Has anyone here added a Watts linkage to your rear end for tighter handling?
It seems fairly easy to weld a pivot to the diff housing and attach the ends to the rear subframe.
Just curious about the outcome, good/bad. Is it an improvement worth applying to a mild resto-mod highway cruiser?
-Art
65 Satellite hardtop 361/4bbl console 727 2.76
67 Satellite convert 383/2bbl column 727 3.23
67 Lancia Fulvia Sport 1.3 Zagato. Alloy body, 1.3L V4 DOHC 4-spd
67 Lancia Fulvia Rallye 1.3. Alloy panel, 1.3L V4 DOHC 4-spd
71 Alfa Romeo GT Junior 1300 Zagato, 1.3L 4cyl DOHC hemi 5-spd
82 Alfa Romeo GTV6 2.5L SOHC hemi V6 5-spd transaxle
75 Maserati Bora US spec 4.9L DOHC hemi V8 5-spd ZF
77 Maserati Khamsin Euro spec 4.9L DOHC hemi V8 5-spd ZF
07 Aston Martin DB9 6.0L DOHC V12 6spd transaxle
|
|
|
Re: Anyone here try a Watts linkage on rear end?
[Re: 67SATisfaction]
#993272
05/15/11 11:30 PM
05/15/11 11:30 PM
|
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,387
Pikes Peak Country
TC@HP2
master
|
master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,387
Pikes Peak Country
|
Quote:
Has anyone here added a Watts linkage to your rear end for tighter handling?
It seems fairly easy to weld a pivot to the diff housing and attach the ends to the rear subframe.
Just curious about the outcome, good/bad. Is it an improvement worth applying to a mild resto-mod highway cruiser?
-Art
It's a bit more involved than simply welding on brackets as you need to calculate roll center locations and arm arc movements, or figure adjustable points in to those locations to enable change.
IMO, it's a bit more work than necessary for just a cruiser and short of a race application where the adjustability is needed for tuning, overkill for the street. Improved leafs and shocks will yield greater results for the dollars spent, fab involved, and results you get for a street car.
|
|
|
Re: Anyone here try a Watts linkage on rear end?
[Re: autoxcuda]
#993275
05/16/11 01:40 PM
05/16/11 01:40 PM
|
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,587
St. John's Newfoundland
440newport
master
|
master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,587
St. John's Newfoundland
|
Quote:
I agree. Overkill and something with little or no gain in regular street driving. And I really bet it would translate more road noise and vibration into the car.
BUT you can see my rear end moving about 1/2" or so sideways in this video. We're doing about 60-90 mph sliding around some of those curves.
http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=vTT--mGlpTY&vq=large
Not to say if running a Watts Link would 110% eliminate movement. Things move. Heck the whole chassis flexes.
What about adding a panhard bar? I don't think they're commmon in leaf spring applications but I know certain year Imperials used them.
|
|
|
Re: Anyone here try a Watts linkage on rear end?
[Re: 67SATisfaction]
#993277
05/16/11 06:22 PM
05/16/11 06:22 PM
|
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,387
Pikes Peak Country
TC@HP2
master
|
master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,387
Pikes Peak Country
|
Yes, a prperly designed, seet up, and installed watts is superior to a panhard. However, it takes a fair amount of calculation to ensure that.
A panhard would be an easier install and achieve similar lateral location duties and could, potentially, allow the same adjustment. Either one would require modifications to the spring eye mounting and shackle bushings to allow the springs to pivot otherwise there is high potential for binding as the leafs and lateral device fight for control of the springs. Since the torsional rigidity of the springs resist roll, creating pivoting springs means they may also need to step up in rate slightly to achieve the same roll rate.
I still think for OP's request for slightly firmer handling on a street car, it is easier acheived with in increase in spring rates, better shocks, maybe even a rear sway bar if the roll couple isn't hugely off.
|
|
|
Re: Anyone here try a Watts linkage on rear end?
[Re: 67SATisfaction]
#993279
05/16/11 08:08 PM
05/16/11 08:08 PM
|
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,249
Las Vegas
JeffC
pro stock
|
pro stock
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,249
Las Vegas
|
There's not much point in using one with leafsprings. If your gonna design a custom 3-link with coilovers or something like that then the watts link would make more sense.
Last edited by JeffC; 05/16/11 08:10 PM.
|
|
|
Re: Anyone here try a Watts linkage on rear end?
[Re: TC@HP2]
#993280
05/17/11 01:41 PM
05/17/11 01:41 PM
|
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 4,785
Utah and Alaska
astjp2
master
|
master
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 4,785
Utah and Alaska
|
Jeep Wagoneers (full size) and Wranglers used pan hard bars (trak bars) with leaf springs in the 80's and 90's, They were mounted with solid mounts on the axles. If you remove them for rock crawling the body sway is greater. The stock rubber spring bushings provided enough give to have a fairly smooth and stable ride. Tim Quote:
Yes, a prperly designed, seet up, and installed watts is superior to a panhard. However, it takes a fair amount of calculation to ensure that.
A panhard would be an easier install and achieve similar lateral location duties and could, potentially, allow the same adjustment. Either one would require modifications to the spring eye mounting and shackle bushings to allow the springs to pivot otherwise there is high potential for binding as the leafs and lateral device fight for control of the springs. Since the torsional rigidity of the springs resist roll, creating pivoting springs means they may also need to step up in rate slightly to achieve the same roll rate.
I still think for OP's request for slightly firmer handling on a street car, it is easier acheived with in increase in spring rates, better shocks, maybe even a rear sway bar if the roll couple isn't hugely off.
1941 Taylorcraft
1968 Charger
1994 Wrangler
1998 Wrangler
2008 Kia Rio
2017 Jetta
I didn't do 4 years and 9 months of Graduate School to be called Mister!
|
|
|
|
|
