Rear suspension... thinking out loud

[Spray-Bomb]

Hey guys, just thinking of some stuff I may want to do on a project I may start

It would be an 88-98 SWB
And if I bag it, I was curious about how I may do the rear suspension

Got to thinking & thought maybe make some trailing arms like the 67-72 has, but run them parallel instead of triangular
With that you would need a fairly hefty system to keep the rear from moving side to side, so I was thinking of building a watts link

I would want the arms to be fairly long to keep the axle arc down to a minimum through its travel & mount the bags forward a lil bit from where the 67-72 springs are, to have a lil better ride

Are there any pros or cons to this ???
Does anyone have specs on what it takes to build a watts link ???

I would be making everything from scratch, as Im low on cash flow

Thanks, Matt

Here is a rough lil drawing of what Im talking about

[lolife99]

That's your basic 2-link,... with yours having "a fairly long arms".
Pinion angle change, thru the suspension travel,... will still be a concern.
Not trying to discourage you,... but to me,... low cash flow and bags do not go together.
I'd bag the front and flip kit the rear,... until you have the funds for a nice 4-link (much better ride) or 3-link for the rear. You can go as low as 7" in the rear with a flip kit and shackle.
Sorry if this wasn't much help,... but I'm not a fan of the 2-link.

[smashingchuck]

No point glorifying a basic two link.

[jjjmm56]

You want to do just what I started to do . I'm building that same system for my 56. I built brackets to mount 32" long trailing arms . I hope to have the arms done tonight. Spent the day stripping off the leaf springs and mounting the blocks.The only change I'm making is I'm doing a triangleated bracket to mount to the diff and crossmember. I have about 30.00 in it so far. I'll take some pics.

[Shane]

Why reinvent the wheel?

[N2TRUX]

That looks very similiar to what Ekstensive metalworks uses. They have a two link that uses square tube and mounts in the stock front spring hanger.

I believe their system uses a panhard bar. Why would you want a Watts link to complicate things?

[Spray-Bomb]

Originally Posted by N2TRUX

That looks very similiar to what Ekstensive metalworks uses. They have a two link that uses square tube and mounts in the stock front spring hanger.

I believe their system uses a panhard bar. Why would you want a Watts link to complicate things?

Thanks for a decent reply

Im not bent on a watts link, but I was just trying to keep side to side movement down to a minimum do to clearances

As for the rest of yall, I wasnt asking if it was a bad idea or even what you would do different, just what the pros & cons were

So far I have gathered that there is still the issue of pinion angle change during the range of motion, which I was already aware of do to owning several 67-72s

[N2TRUX]

If it were me, and just wanted something not so common (yet) I would consider the lower parallel bars and use the existing leaf spring mounts "if" that gives you a long enough bar.

For the top I would go with a wishbone. If there is enough width between the rails to get enough degree to control sway, this might offer a clean set up.

I'm just not a big fan of the aesthetics of a Watt's link. I think they add a lot of clutter in an area that usually has to much going on already.

[Spray-Bomb]

I have seen people use the front spring mounts for their bars, but I dont know how much pinion movement they experience

As for the wishbone, how well do they control sway ???
I have never used one, or read much on them

Thanks, Matt

[N2TRUX]

There's some ideas in the built ByBrooks thread here- LINK
Also search forum member :Twisted Minis". I believe he has some pics posted as well.

[jjjmm56]

I was at first thinking about the front spring hangers but you would have to either mount your piviot on top of the trailing arms or carve out the stock spring hanger. Of course if your not bagging it then it might work I myself am setting up for bags

[Spray-Bomb]

Wouldnt a triangular 4 link be better than a wishbone set up ???

[bedsled71]

a two link with a trac bar is a really easy way to go and would be cheaper. you set your pinion angle to your ride height and you really wont have a problem.. a watts link stays center during max drop/lift.
.. some people dont like two links but if you dont want a side to side air set up and if your looking for the least amount of sway, i would say two link with track bar. the trac bar link to link make your set up triangulated and acts as a really big sway bar

[SCOTI]

A 2-link w/long bars won't be as bad on pinion-angle change as one w/short bars (a 2-link that uses stock front leaf hangers uses short bars).

[redsled04]

I have an ekstinsive 2 link on my 88.It works great for me cause I set it up to ride low so I never worry about my pinion angle.As far as ride ive drove alot of bagged rides and It rides with the best of them.Ive never have any problems with mine.

If your wanting to hit side to side alot I wouldnt recomend the 2 link.But if rollin low is what your looking for at a low cost go for it.

Im not trying to argue 2 link vs 4 link just giving my input on what I have,and what I have worked with.

Heres mine.

[N2TRUX]

Thanks for the input redsled04. That's the kind of information we needed here.

BTW- Truck looks awesome...

[Spray-Bomb]

Thanks guys

[BACKYARD88]

I built my own 2 link for my 88, because I was low on cash flow I used a couple of pipe nipples, cut the inside out enough to press some factory leaf spring bushings in. Welded them to some 2.5" .25 wall square tubing. I also used 3" blocks with them. I welded the lower plates to them and the uppers to the frame, installing a crossmember between the two uppers to prevent flex. Then I welded a 2" round tube between the two arms directly under the axle to prevent side to side movement. I drove it for 2 years with 0 problems. I'll see if I have some pics. Edit: Guess I don't have any of the suspension...

[Spray-Bomb]

Thanks Mike

[derek6787]

Hey matt I don't know how much fabbing your wanting to do but a parallel 4 link or tri 4 link only costs the price of material by the length of two more bars. The only problem I've heard out of the two link is like pulling in and out of places that aren't flat you throw everything into a bind becuase if one wheel wants to go up they both wanna go up and as you know both wheels dont hit an incline at the same time if your turning. Also with the two link you cant drive very far at different heights due to pinion angle. a 4link keeps closer to the pinion angle you set all the way through the suspension travel. Either way you do it though it'll be sweet! I love bagged rides keep us posted. With pics of course. p.s. if you go with the 2 link all you need to stop side to side movement is a panhard bar being as you won't be adjusting the ride height and driving. A watts is used with high travel suspensions b/c a panhard pushes or pulls the tires to one side or the other while going up and down. Just my $.02 tho

[Twisted Minis]

Originally Posted by Spray-Bomb

Wouldnt a triangular 4 link be better than a wishbone set up ???

In some cases the wishbone link is better. It's not always possible to get enough triangulation out of a 4-link, especially with longer bars. They all have their place, it's up to you to decide what fits best.

A Parallel 3 or 4-link with a Panhard bar or Watt's link would be much better than your 2-link idea in the long run.

[jjjmm56]

I don't agree about things binding up they used two link on a lot of trucks and cars. Two link is not the best for air bagging but if set up right you should have no problem. You need to set the pinion angle where your right hight will be. I just installed mine and will check how much the P/A changes . I do agree to use a trianglated mount to the diff instead of a panhard bar.

[Primer70]

I'm gonna set my Suburban up with a torque arm style suspension with a watts link when I get around to baggin it. GM used the torque arm suspensions in Camaros & Firebirds for years. Lots of aftermarket companies are making torque arm suspensions to bolt into earlier Camaros, Firebirds & Mustangs. The torque arm suspension might also give me the room to keep the back & third row seat. The only down side to torque arm suspension is that it will change the pinion angle just like a two link.

[jjjmm56]

The torque arm ,2 link, is still a trailing arm suspension which have been used for years. For someone starting out their easy to build their cheap and they work. I have less than 50 bucks and maybe 5hrs build time. After I'm on the road I"ll change it to a 4 link.