Experience with centerdrive or truckarm rear suspensions

[atomicjoe23]

Does anyone out there have any experience with a truckarm (or centerdrive) type of rear suspension. . .especially as compared to a 4-link or 3-link setup using a panhard bar or Watt's linkage and also compared to IRS.

I have a '67 Pontiac Firebird 400 that I'm getting ready to start a Pro-Touring build with and I'm trying to decide what I want to do with my suspension. The truckarm seems to have some pretty good pros to it from what I have been able to dig up and the price is much less than an IRS or 3-link and Watt's linkage and almost exactly the same as a 4-link suspension.

I haven't had a whole lot luck finding many opinions on the truckarm suspension thought besides from Hot Rods to Hell who make the system.

Thanks guys.

[atomicjoe23]

No takers??? I have been in contact with Hot Rods to Hell and I've written Metalworks Performance (I'm waiting for a reply concerning kit availability and price. . .the kit is still listed as coming soon on the website), but I was hoping to get some opinions of individual not associated with either place.

[justanova]

before you get blasted....there has been a lot of discussion on here before about this. so you should use the search button, I cant remember if its on the new board or if its in the archives. thats probably why there has been no takers yet.

[parsonsj]

Yo, atomicJoe:

Search is your friend. There has been significant discussion on the subject here before.

jp

[Norm Peterson]

Here's the list of the latest couple dozen thread titles here that contain the word "truckarm" (out of over 50 total) and some indication of the extent of the discussion. The last one shown here comes up directly using its search results link.

anyone doing anything like this??? ( 1 2 3)
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HotRods to Hell truck Arm Suspension ( 1 2 3)
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1964 Malibu w/ Rims and Tires ( 1 2)
rear panhard height w/ truck arms
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Rear Suspension Options for 66 Nova ( 1 2 3)
Long time caller, first time listener. My 65 SS Nova convertible is finally started!
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Paint on the 64
Nova SS Convetible
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mustang 5.0 front suspension?


Norm

[DarkoNova]

The general consensus that discussions usually come to about truck arms is that even though NASCAR uses them, it doesn't mean it's the best setup. NASCAR limits certain variables on the car, suspension design being one of them. It IS a great system, but it adds a lot of unsprung weight and exhaust routing is a nightmare. I'd say stick with leafs or go with a 4 link. If you want to go all out, get a three link.

Matt