Posted By: Dabee
Triangulated four link question - 12/04/12 03:53 PM
I have a triangulated four link question for you guys. I’m installing a triangulated four link on a 55 Dodge PU street rod. I know on a parallel drag race style four link the bottom bar needs to be parallel with the ground and the top bar is angled down to set the instant center. This is done to get the car to hook. On a triangulated setup for the street can the bottom bar be installed angled up and the top bar parallel to the bottom bar and will this negatively affect the handling?
Posted By: Supercuda
Re: Triangulated four link question - 12/04/12 05:52 PM
handling and triangulated four link.
Interesting juxtaposition.
Posted By: feets
Re: Triangulated four link question - 12/04/12 07:49 PM
Millions of GM cars were built with a triangulated four link suspension.
Posted By: OzHemi
Re: Triangulated four link question - 12/04/12 11:55 PM
And...running a panhard with a triangulated 4 link induces binding anyways from what I believe. Since the panhard moves in an arc differently from the one moving by the differential itself.
A 3 link with watts link would probably be a better way to go from what I have read now and then..
Posted By: amxautox
Re: Triangulated four link question - 12/05/12 12:05 AM
Trianglated means the uppers, or maybe lowers if those are the ones that are at an angle, keep the rearend centered, no need for a panhard bar or Watts linkage.
Straight bars would probably need a panhard bar or Watts link, depends on how good the installation is, and how hard/soft rubber/metal the bushings are.
Along with the shock mount and spring mount, etc.
Posted By: amxautox
Re: Triangulated four link question - 12/05/12 12:29 AM
They wiggle because they have soft rubber bushings for comfort off the showroom floor/dealer lot. Not to mention the weak U shaped bars that really can't support much side load. THATS why the bars need to be replaced with solid/hollow bars, and use heim/saphirical ends for the best results/adjustability/handling.
Posted By: blown71duster
Re: Triangulated four link question - 12/05/12 02:08 AM
Art morrison recommends the lower bar level or slightly down.
http://www.artmorrison.com/instructions/tri4-bar1-Model.pdf They use this setup in their max-g chassis. I also heard good feedback on the RMS and its a triangulated 4 bar.
http://www.artmorrison.com/2006cat/31.pdf
Posted By: Dabee
Re: Triangulated four link question - 12/05/12 06:10 AM
Blowen 71 duster, Thanks for the links. They answered my question. I currently have the top bars tacked in about 2 degrees up. I’ll move the brackets down to get 1 degree down before I weld them in place. I was thinking they should be parallel. The bottom bars are level.
For supercuda, lots of street rods use triangulated four links with great success. This is not a production GM set up so you are comparing apples to oranges here. The aftermarket set ups have stiff bushings in the links. Ozhemi is correct a triangulated four link doesn’t use a pan hard bar or diagonal link to keep the axle centered like on a parallel four link. This is a street cruiser not a drag set up.
Posted By: topbrent
Re: Triangulated four link question - 12/05/12 09:15 AM
Here is a good read on the fabrication/installation of a triangulated 4 link setup on a 67 Dart. Same basic design as the Reilly Street-Lynx setup, just beefier DIY.
http://www.forabodiesonly.com/mopar/showthread.php?t=101437&highlight=triangulated
