Can you mount 4-link bar in leaf spring bracket?

[Hazieview]

Hey guys I was wondering if I could just remove my leaf springs, bolt one end of the bar to where the u bolts are mounted to the axle, and the other end to the front leaf spring bracket.

I will just use a wishbone for the center bars and install bags on top of the axle where the bump stops are located.

(I am not doing a c-notch. I am not lowering my truck this is just for better ride quality and towing purposes. )

Thanks guys!
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[Pyrotechnic]

I've seen this done on a DIY air ride setup that didn't get driven much. Technically it will work, but the problem is that your pinion angle will change quite a bit from fully lowered to fully raised. You'd have to set the pinion angle at one height, and drive the truck with the rear at that height otherwise you may get some vibrations.

The reason the 67-72 crowd with trailing arms can get away with this is the arms are longer, so the pinion angle won't change that much.

[Hazieview]

Well I was hoping that since I do not want to lower my truck anymore than it is I should be ok. I will have to air up the bags a little more when hauling a trailer but the ride height should stay the same.

The pinion angle should be the same as the stock leaf springs I think...?

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[Hazieview]

Bump
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[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by Hazieview

Well I was hoping that since I do not want to lower my truck anymore than it is I should be ok. I will have to air up the bags a little more when hauling a trailer but the ride height should stay the same.

The pinion angle should be the same as the stock leaf springs I think...?

The pinion angle change would be different.

The leaf suspension rear shackle pivots which helps maintain (minimize) pinion change during compression/extension. A solid mounted bar @ the rear has no way to pivot; pinion change is whatever the movement of the axle yields. Couple that result w/the very short bar length (<24") & you get a alot more pinion change vs. leafs, a true 2-link/truck arm, or a proper 4-bar set-up.

[H8PVMNT]

I come from the off road side of things when it comes to suspension mods/ design, but I have seen alot of 4 links and 3 links set up on trail rigs. Some have worked and some have been disasters. There is a ton of math and geometry that goes into a working 4 link. I'm not saying it isn't possible to use the leaf spring bracket for your links, but you would be really lucky if it all worked out. Do as much research as you can first. I have a book called "How To Make Your Car Handle" that was really helpful in understanding suspension geometry. See if you can find a copy, it will help you with the math to see if the theory could work on the road.

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by H8PVMNT

I come from the off road side of things when it comes to suspension mods/ design, but I have seen alot of 4 links and 3 links set up on trail rigs. Some have worked and some have been disasters. There is a ton of math and geometry that goes into a working 4 link. I'm not saying it isn't possible to use the leaf spring bracket for your links, but you would be really lucky if it all worked out. Do as much research as you can first. I have a book called "How To Make Your Car Handle" that was really helpful in understanding suspension geometry. See if you can find a copy, it will help you with the math to see if the theory could work on the road.

If the bar pivots @ both ends, then a 4-bar set-up utilizing the factory front leaf hanger is very possible. Ride Tech actually does use the factory front hanger on it's HD AirBar kits for the 73-91 C30's.

But, bolting a short, solid bar to the rear end (like a 2-link) doesn't allow for good geometry/movement w/o issue.

[Hazieview]

The bars that will be hooked to the front leaf bracket and to the axle, will be pivot bars.

The center bars will either be a wishbone setup or just two diagnal bars. Im going for the triangulated 4-link style setup.

So it should work right?

I'm trying to prevent welding my 4-link in and I don't want to buy the bolt in 4-link because it is outrageously priced in my opinion.
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[jitteryguy]

if you use an upper wish bone set up it will have to pivot at every joint to avoid bind'n, if you just want the air ride quality and are gonna keep it at a constant ride height you could go with a two link or a ladder bar set up and a panard rod. then adjust pinion angle to ride height.
the two link is what I'm gonna do on my car hauler and use a level'n valve, it will always be at ride height cept when I dump em to load a car.

[pwtr02ss]

We put a silverstar 2 link on the last s-10 I built and it bolts on the front leaf spring perch. Pinion angle goes from -5 degrees to +5 degrees from all the way up to all the way down. It gets about 14" of lift from a 2500lb bag.

[bagged74]

Ahh... The dreaded 2 link, yes it works, yes it sucks.
The front leaf spring mount will work just fine for a "4 link" bar mount.
Which I believe is what you asked originally
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[pwtr02ss]

Originally Posted by bagged74

Ahh... The dreaded 2 link, yes it works, yes it sucks.
The front leaf spring mount will work just fine for a "4 link" bar mount.
Which I believe is what you asked originally
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The truck is body dropped and should be in mini truckin or street trucks next month or the following month, they did the photo shoot in June. The 2 link works perfect if you don't want side to side and want a reliable setup that doesn't throw the pinion angle off and its simple and clean. The setup we have gets crazy lift and also rides great at ride/cruse height. As I said before its not for those who want side to side because it won't happen.

[bagged74]

Originally Posted by pwtr02ss

The truck is body dropped and should be in mini truckin or street trucks next month or the following month, they did the photo shoot in June. The 2 link works perfect if you don't want side to side and want a reliable setup that doesn't throw the pinion angle off and its simple and clean. The setup we have gets crazy lift and also rides great at ride/cruse height. As I said before its not for those who want side to side because it won't happen.

Like I said, yes it works. But mechanically it sucks whether you want to believe it or not. The problem is that in normal driving you DO encounter side to side flex and the 2 link is not designed to allow that.
Congratulations on the truck being featured.
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[Hazieview]

So is everyone in agreement? Will it work using 24" pivot bars hooked from the axle to the front leaf bracket and a wishbone setup?

Airbags will be located on top of axle where the bump stops are located.

Thanks!
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[jitteryguy]

yes, as long as it pivot's at each end of each bar.

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by jitteryguy

yes, as long as it pivot's at each end of each bar.

x2.

[Hazieview]

I need a full pivot setup similar to this. However I need to be able to bolt on the bags as well.



This kit is only made for S-10s I believe. I would like it to be fully bolt on.

I'm looking for a bracket that will bolt the bags, lower bars, and shocks to the axle.

Then I need a bolt on upper bar setup.

Any suggestions? Just trying to save a little money and complete an install without welding.

Thanks!

[N2TRUX]

What you are looking for is what Ride Tech calls an AirBar System.

[SCOTI]

You're going to pay either way..... A fabricated 'bolt-on' kit will have the convenience of the install rolled into the price. A 'universal' type system that requires someone to do a fabricated (weld-on) install has initially cheaper parts but you have the labor costs.

One benefit of the 'bolt-on' method is it can be removed just as easily as it was installed if the original hangers/mounts weren't discarded. This could potentially allow transferring the set-up from vehicle to vehicle or re-selling @ a 'used' price down the road. IMO, it is easier to re-sell a quality, name brand suspension part (like the RideTech kit above or Porterbuilts rear 4-bar) vs. a universal kit that was welded in @ one point.

If you know someone, or if you can weld-in a universal kit, there's savings to be had & you can also tweak things exactly for your requirements.

Food for thought....

[Hazieview]

I totally agree! My problem is I am looking for a bolt on triangulated 4 link... I do not want a c-notch! If I could just find upper bolt on bars for a triangulated 4 link then I would be in business! I could remove it if need be, would not have to hack up my frame, would save money, and it would be exactly what I'm looking for.

-They make bolt on airbag brackets that have shock mounts built in so that is not a problem.

-I have the stock leaf mounts to bolt the lower bars to so I'm good there.

* I just need to figure out an economical and safe way to mount up the upper bars. That is what I need to find! Any other suggestions?

[SCOTI]

-They make bolt on airbag brackets that have shock mounts built in so that is not a problem.

I've never seen a 'bolt-on' bag bracket kit w/shock mounts attached. Have a pic?
Why the triangulated 4-bar specifically?

[Hazieview]

I just like the design of the triangulated 4 link. The fact that there is virtually no side to side movement is what sold me on the design. Just a personal preference more than anything.

Upper bag brackets.


Here are the brackets I was going to mount on top of the axle
[IMG]http://*************/files/Axle_Bracket_with_Mounts.jpg[/IMG]

I was going to bolt them to custom brackets similar to the ones below, which will be located on the bottom of the axle.
[IMG]http://*************/files/S104-LinkBoltOnAxleBracket(pair)_0.jpg[/IMG]

Will it work? Not sure. Still researching the idea...

[Hazieview]

Realistically I would love to just have the bottom brackets off of the airbar setup. They are just bolted on. If I had that bracket I could connect my 24" bar to the stock leaf spring mount pretty easily.

The rest would just be a matter of upper bag brackets and welding up the upper shock brace bar.

[Hazieview]

Originally Posted by Hazieview

Realistically I would love to just have the bottom brackets off of the airbar setup. They are just bolted on. If I had that bracket I could connect my 24" bar to the stock leaf spring mount pretty easily.

The rest would just be a matter of upper bag brackets and welding up the upper shock brace bar.

Actually it looks like the upper shock bar bolts on too.... hmmm..

[jitteryguy]

this is the set up I have to go in mine. I bought it last year along with every thing else I need to bag mine. I relize it's not triangle'd like your want'n, but if you not adjust'n ride height a standard panhard rod will work just fine.
I'll have to get Moma to find the paper work and see where I got this from and how much it was .