Bags on bars question?

[rddiaz]

Wassup fellas,

I haven't been on here in a while because I've been kicking a$$ on my project. I finally installed the dropmember, so the front is done and now I'm almost done with the rear,except I've come to a stopping point and I need some advice from you guys!!!! Well I decided to run a 2 link and a panhard (yeah I know,I'll get crap for this) but with some research I've done and knowing one of the best shops in S. texas (EKSTENSIVE) sell them all day long, and cost effective, it shouldn't be that bad!! and if I don't like it I can run a couple more bars later... My question to you guys is where do I put the bags on the bars? Middle, front, or back, I know I need the maximum lift because of my very steep driveway, what about the top brackets where do I start? I know I need ride height (5")of the ground, but it seems to me it woult be alot easier to start with the axle all the way to the top,which would make the bag compressed fully and everything else is just lift? right? Well anyways let me know what you all think and I got plenty of pictures, but for now, here are a couple
<a href="http://s108.photobucket.com/albums/n10/rddiaz/?action=view&current=progresspics006.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n10/rddiaz/progresspics006.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

[72hotrodder]

if you already have a good pinion angle then its fine to set up layed out. and make sure the bag is fully compressed or atleast close ( i like to leave an inch of play when layed out) and you need to set the bags up to a 2:1 ratio so if the bars are for say 30in long you would need to put the bags 10in from the axle. and theres nothing really wrong with a 2 link but a 4link is better. consider that a 2link is gold and a 4link is platnum.

ok just now seen your pic. those bars might not be long enuff to run them on the bars.

[leftcoast66]

I agree about where to put them on the bar, about 10" should be all good. Just to let you know though, with your setup will be great, but remember the panhard will change the placement side to side with a lot of lift.
Also, you can't just throw in 2 more bars to make it a 4 link, the 4 link has a pivot at the end where it attaches to the axle rather than being fixed at the bottom like the 2 link is. Just keep it 2 link and go watts link and you should be absolutely golden because watts don't have the issues side to side that panhard's do. Should be good w/ panhard, I had like 6" and was fine w/ my old setup, but w/ 10 or so inches it will start to noticable push the axle sideways.

[rddiaz]

hey rodder, thanks for replying, I did set up the pinion angle at (-4) b/c the tranny was at (+4),so i've read to set it up this way!!! Always opposite. Now when you're talking ratios, you are saying to get the most lift from the bag do a 4:1 ratio,right? Furthest from the axle...... This is an re7 bag so it will compress to 3"? from what I can tell!!! I have also looked at other set ups and they seem to have shorter bars than me, very close to end. Mine are 30" with a little room left, didn't want them sticking out to far ya know......

[leftcoast66]

Originally Posted by rddiaz

hey rodder, thanks for replying, I did set up the pinion angle at (-4) b/c the tranny was at (+4),so i've read to set it up this way!!! Always opposite. Now when you're talking ratios, you are saying to get the most lift from the bag do a 4:1 ratio,right? Furthest from the axle...... This is an re7 bag so it will compress to 3"? from what I can tell!!! I have also looked at other set ups and they seem to have shorter bars than me, very close to end. Mine are 30" with a little room left, didn't want them sticking out to far ya know......

Longer bars typically ride better. Basically its just a triangle... that's how I think of it. And then the ratio is basically the distance from the end of the bar to the bag, so the closer to the pivot the more height, that's basically how it goes. He can explain his math better than me obviously, but that's how I think of it, may help.

[rddiaz]

hey leftcoast, you're right about the panhard, pulling allot at full lift but let me show you my driveway


This is the only time I will be using full lift lol.......anyways I really like the sound of the watts link but at $400 buck for a kp, I'm gonna try the panhard. Would you know of a cheaper(less expensive one) somewhere else?

[redsled04]

Nice work. From the looks of it you bought a ekstinsive Notch.It looks just like the one on my 88. If you set your pinion at ride hight and drive it that way youll have no problems with the 2-link. Ive had mine for years and used it daily for a long time.I actually drive lower than my set up ride hight most of the time.

Make sure to center te axle at ride hieght also.And when you set up the panhard bar that its parallel with the rear end at ride hight. Ive also heard that a track bar will eliminate alot of the rear ends side to side movement.

My bags are centered on my bars on my ekmw's 2-link

[Twisted Minis]

Your setup looks about the same as this one.


Set it up laid out. And for reference, the setup above got about 10 inches of lift and rode pretty good with the bag in that spot. It wasn't too soft, nor too stiff.

[leftcoast66]

Originally Posted by rddiaz

This is the only time I will be using full lift lol.......anyways I really like the sound of the watts link but at $400 buck for a kp, I'm gonna try the panhard. Would you know of a cheaper(less expensive one) somewhere else?

That's cool. Just didn't want you to be driving around and slap the wheel well w/ the tire or something. Would be bad...

[rddiaz]

Hey thanks red sled, That is the ekstensive notch. That is all I bought from them I figured I could do the rest myself.Twisted mins, thanks for replying aswell. That was alot of good information I hope it helps other people too!!!! More pictures coming soon........

[scotts62]

Not to highjack anything but do they ride better with the bags centered on the bars or more toward the axle? I have heard different things just want to hear what you guys think.

[lowestsixty7]

Here is one that we did not too long ago. Its doored on 22's, 2 linked with a trac bar.

[lowestsixty7]

Originally Posted by scotts62

Not to highjack anything but do they ride better with the bags centered on the bars or more toward the axle? I have heard different things just want to hear what you guys think.

Depending upon what i build the two link for i typicallly will set the bag up inch forward from center.

[rddiaz]

Just wanted to make sure if this looks right to you guys,I went ahead and tacked it with the bags slammed, looks good slammed but then I lower the axle and they don't look right. Any suggestions!!!

another view....

And this is axle all the way down, before they look like they are over stretched!!!! looks kinda crooked!!!!

let me know guys!!! and I only get about 7" of travel!!!

[daveodom]

Looks like to me you need to move your front pivot mounts as far forward as you can and fab up a couple of longer arms. Using the longest arm you can will result in less pinion angle change for the same amount of lift. The angle of the bag mounts will vary less as well. You will also be able to gain more lift for the same ratio of leverage on the arm.

[rddiaz]

Hey dave, I don't seem to understand why I would have to move the front pivot mounts, because every 2 link I've seen, that is usually is where it is mounted from...Not an suspension expert at all But trying to copy this set up

[daveodom]

The pic that you posted is actually of a 4 link set up. 4 links can have shorter arms than a 2 link because they have little to no pinion angle change. The longer you can make your 2 link bars the better. I have a 64' c-10 with the stock arms. They have to be at least 45" long. With a 2:1 ratio I can get 10" fairly easy with a total of 6 degrees (+3 and -3) throughout the range of travel. Looks like you could unbolt your front mount and move it forward quite a ways (My pivot points are under the cab). Make up a couple longer arms and you will be much happier.

[72hotrodder]

thats not the max those bags will travel. and if you have longer 2link bars you will have a better pinion anlge throughout the range of motion. and with longer bars the bag will not distort as much

[Twisted Minis]

What I sometimes do in situations like this is to move the bag towards the front pivot slightly, so that it is a little bit misaligned when laid out. This gives a happy medium at your most common ride height, so the bag isn't being stretched too much.

The only true cure to that issue, is putting th bag closer to the axle, or running a much longer bar.

[narleycarley]

thanks rddiaz for askin tha question!! I am in exactly the same boat! thanks fellas for the answers!