Rookie 4-bar? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

rcs72 · 03-25-2007, 07:57 PM

I'm trying to get my 4-bar installed and am wondering why my coilovers are tilted back about 20 degrees. I have all the bars at equal length & have the correct pinion angle at ride height. The upper bar is parallel to ground at ride height. What am I doing wrong? Here's another pic if it helps.

FnLow69 · 03-26-2007, 12:20 AM

there tilted back 20 degress to achieve proper spring rate.

entourageguy · 03-26-2007, 07:46 AM

I may be wrong (it's happened before) but I thought the bottom bar was to be parallel at ride height. The mounting bracket for the shock is usually set at 90 degrees as well. The coil over is allowed to be angled acording to my coil over info sheet.

Brian ..

Musclerodz · 03-26-2007, 11:46 AM

The bottom bar should be parallel or close to it at ride height.

Mike

rcs72 · 03-26-2007, 01:19 PM

I got a response back from the manufacturer and they said it looks correct. They said that the coil over is designed to be at a 15-30 degree angle. I'm still confused if the lower bar needs to be parallel to the ground at ride height. Thanks for all the input so far. I'll take all input I can get on this before I weld the whole thing together.

jlaird · 03-26-2007, 01:47 PM

I just wanted to throw the following into this discusssion: All 4 links I have ever seen in this suspension forum uses bars that are parallel to each other. This is because the front and rear mounting brackets are the same height. In other words, distance A is the same as distance B. Because the height of your front and rear brackets are so different, I think this is contributing to the fact that the bars aren't parallel at ride height. Where did you get this 4-link? I may be wrong, but I think your type of four link is used in racing applications where the bars are intentionally not set up to be parallel to the ground.

rcs72 · 03-26-2007, 02:47 PM

It's a Scott's Hot Rods 4-Bar. I have went to their web site & looked at pics, but still can't figure out if I have it correct.

rcs72 · 03-26-2007, 07:03 PM

Jlaird,

Looking at your drawing the only way I could get the coil vertical would be to have the bottom bar much longer than the top. Is that correct?

IvelDesigns · 03-26-2007, 08:19 PM

the coil looks fine IMO, but what jlaird is saying is that the bars themselves are normally parallel to each other at ride height. based on your setup, that would mean the front mount should be taller, or your rear mount smaller.

jlaird · 03-26-2007, 08:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IvelDesigns

the coil looks fine IMO, but what jlaird is saying is that the bars themselves are normally parallel to each other at ride height. based on your setup, that would mean the front mount should be taller, or your rear mount smaller.

Exactly. But if the manufacturer says it's ok, then maybe it is. I'm just not familiar with how to set that type of 4-link up. Maybe Porterbuilt will chime in here. He is the suspension guru around this neck of the woods!

Jaredm82 · 03-26-2007, 08:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IvelDesigns

the coil looks fine IMO, but what jlaird is saying is that the bars themselves are normally parallel to each other at ride height. based on your setup, that would mean the front mount should be taller, or your rear mount smaller.

A "parallel" four link's bars will be parallel to each other at all heights unless your bars a different lengths; ride height has nothing to do with that. Optimally you want your links parallel to each other, and at ride height, you also want them parallel to the ground.

IvelDesigns · 03-26-2007, 10:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jaredm82

A "parallel" four link's bars will be parallel to each other at all heights unless your bars a different lengths; ride height has nothing to do with that. Optimally you want your links parallel to each other, and at ride height, you also want them parallel to the ground.

that makes sense

SlammedDime · 03-27-2007, 04:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jaredm82

A "parallel" four link's bars will be parallel to each other at all heights unless your bars a different lengths; ride height has nothing to do with that. Optimally you want your links parallel to each other, and at ride height, you also want them parallel to the ground.

Why 'optimally'? Optimally, you'd want to introduce some antisquat into the system, allow for proper weight transfer, and be able to plant the tires, as well as control roll/bump steer better as well. Hell, I'm still trying to figure out who purported 'equal and parallel bars for zero pinion change and best system setup' and passed around as if it was god himself and caused the entire minitruckin world to go into a state of turmoil everytime someone says otherwise... [end rant]

Jaredm82 · 03-27-2007, 11:34 AM

haha, just what I've been taught

03-25-2007, 07:57 PM	#1
rcs72 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: CA Posts: 43	Rookie 4-bar? I'm trying to get my 4-bar installed and am wondering why my coilovers are tilted back about 20 degrees. I have all the bars at equal length & have the correct pinion angle at ride height. The upper bar is parallel to ground at ride height. What am I doing wrong? Here's another pic if it helps. Attached Images Last edited by rcs72; 03-25-2007 at 10:29 PM.

03-26-2007, 12:20 AM	#2
FnLow69 Registered User Join Date: May 2005 Location: Washington Posts: 848	Re: Rookie 4-bar? there tilted back 20 degress to achieve proper spring rate. __________________ [PROJECT] FnLow69- 69 C-10 Full frame & layin' doors [PROJECT] Laidout53 - 53' Dodge Pickup, Full Kustom Build [PROJECT] "Hot Rod" 1931 Model A Bonneville style "Dream as if you'll live forever, Live as if you'll die today" ~ James Dean

03-26-2007, 07:46 AM	#3
entourageguy Yellow truck club Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Barrie Ontario Posts: 2,080	Re: Rookie 4-bar? I may be wrong (it's happened before) but I thought the bottom bar was to be parallel at ride height. The mounting bracket for the shock is usually set at 90 degrees as well. The coil over is allowed to be angled acording to my coil over info sheet. Brian .. __________________ ................................................................ Brian ...... My hub garage address http://www.hubgarage.com/mygarage/59apache I gue$$ everything has it'$ price ALL GONE NOW *59 Chev Apache* *PRAISE THE LOWERED* 350 700r lokar shifter power MII front end, shockwaves tilt, 4 wheel discs 4-link and bags 10 bolt limited

03-26-2007, 11:46 AM	#4
Musclerodz Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: OKC, OK Posts: 2,365	Re: Rookie 4-bar? The bottom bar should be parallel or close to it at ride height. Mike __________________ Mike Redpath

03-26-2007, 01:19 PM	#5
rcs72 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: CA Posts: 43	Re: Rookie 4-bar? I got a response back from the manufacturer and they said it looks correct. They said that the coil over is designed to be at a 15-30 degree angle. I'm still confused if the lower bar needs to be parallel to the ground at ride height. Thanks for all the input so far. I'll take all input I can get on this before I weld the whole thing together.

03-26-2007, 01:47 PM	#6
jlaird Senior Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: johnstown, NY Posts: 2,393	Re: Rookie 4-bar? I just wanted to throw the following into this discusssion: All 4 links I have ever seen in this suspension forum uses bars that are parallel to each other. This is because the front and rear mounting brackets are the same height. In other words, distance A is the same as distance B. Because the height of your front and rear brackets are so different, I think this is contributing to the fact that the bars aren't parallel at ride height. Where did you get this 4-link? I may be wrong, but I think your type of four link is used in racing applications where the bars are intentionally not set up to be parallel to the ground. Attached Images Last edited by jlaird; 03-26-2007 at 01:49 PM.

03-26-2007, 02:47 PM	#7
rcs72 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: CA Posts: 43	Re: Rookie 4-bar? It's a Scott's Hot Rods 4-Bar. I have went to their web site & looked at pics, but still can't figure out if I have it correct.

03-26-2007, 07:03 PM	#8
rcs72 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: CA Posts: 43	Re: Rookie 4-bar? Jlaird, Looking at your drawing the only way I could get the coil vertical would be to have the bottom bar much longer than the top. Is that correct?

03-26-2007, 08:19 PM	#9
IvelDesigns Commander Taco Bello Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Des Moines, Iowa Posts: 2,232	Re: Rookie 4-bar? the coil looks fine IMO, but what jlaird is saying is that the bars themselves are normally parallel to each other at ride height. based on your setup, that would mean the front mount should be taller, or your rear mount smaller. __________________ Bagged '50 3600 - Bumper punchin' road kill since 2009... Bagged '69 C10 Longbed - Bumper punchin' road kill since 2007...

03-27-2007, 11:34 AM	#14
Jaredm82 Active Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Ca Posts: 211	Re: Rookie 4-bar? haha, just what I've been taught



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