View Full Version : Scary custom suspension nightmare
oestek
05-18-2009, 06:58 PM
So I'm cruisin' through the eBay, makin' the usual rounds, when I stumbled on this '62 Galaxie. The car is in tremendously poor taste, but I was intrigued by the underpinnings.
I've never seen a rear suspension like this one... check it out. Scary to see how people are being "creative" these days.
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https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/05/c031_3JPG-1.jpg
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Bryce
05-18-2009, 07:08 PM
looks almost like truck arm suspension. interesting!
novaderrik
05-18-2009, 07:14 PM
the suspension looks ok- but i really love the exhaust system..
i think they bought every $2.99 90 degree elbow they could find at Autozone and used galvanized chain link fence posts for the rest..
oestek
05-18-2009, 07:22 PM
looks almost like truck arm suspension. interesting!
I had the same thoughts.
oestek
05-18-2009, 07:22 PM
the suspension looks ok- but i really love the exhaust system..
i think they bought every $2.99 90 degree elbow they could find at Autozone and used galvanized chain link fence posts for the rest..
That's classic! LOL!
Travis B
05-18-2009, 07:24 PM
thats a pretty standard two link suspension and is widely accepted in the mini truck air bag it cheap world. Unfortunatly it works has drastic amounts of pinion angle change and binds terribly but does locate the axle and move up and down. With that bag so far up I bet it gets a ton of lift. :bsjerk:
BritishGreen68
05-18-2009, 07:29 PM
2 link work fine in a "cruiser" situation. I have seen a ton of them in mini trucks and full sizes as stated above, they seem to work fine if your not trying to get ultimate traction or road race or whatever. C10 chevy trucks have them stock so they cant be that bad.. i would be willling to bet it rides fine in that car.. but yes there are better setups... i also saw the relocated ball joint on the upper arm.. also very popular in the bagged truck scene. As long as its done correctly really nothing wrong with that either for getting the car low.. actually there is really no reason to rip on the car. It obviously doesn't fit in with some tastes on this site but not everyone can afford expensive parts on every area of the car, the exhaust exhausts right? Nothing looks hacked, actually i dont think ive ever seen someone take time to make an adjustable pinion angle 2 link.. Hood scoop and wheels are just ugly IMO, ... to each there own...
oestek
05-18-2009, 07:34 PM
The front scared me. The rear looks stout as hell, but not something I'd like to wheel on the auto-x, or highway ramps for that matter.
oestek
05-18-2009, 07:35 PM
I guess they missed the Air Bar 4-link kit that Air Ride Tech sells for these cars. Could have saved the effort of building what they did.
BritishGreen68
05-18-2009, 07:43 PM
I guess they missed the Air Bar 4-link kit that Air Ride Tech sells for these cars. Could have saved the effort of building what they did.
The air bar is very nice but its expensive. I am putting a "version" of one in my car, but they are $2200 from ART. I bet the 2 link in that car is less then $600 with the bags and probably does what the owner wanted it to do is all im saying,,. Actually i was looking at the welds and all the gusseting they did on the frame and front A arms, fab work actually is pretty nice,. I would guess someone who does mini truck type stuff did all the work. Not something you would want to put alot of HP to or try to slalom probably lol.. Man the wheels just need to go into a dumpster somewhere..
oestek
05-18-2009, 07:47 PM
Agree on the wheels and the bug catcher coming through the hood.. and I spared you the interior shots. Woof.
I bet he paid more than $2200 for the fab work. Says he's got over $65k in the car. He's also using an A/C compressor as his air supply for the bags. Another truck inspired idea. Must be an off-roader at heart.
moreHP
05-18-2009, 08:06 PM
:pat:Wow.
novaderrik
05-18-2009, 11:12 PM
2 link work fine in a "cruiser" situation. I have seen a ton of them in mini trucks and full sizes as stated above, they seem to work fine if your not trying to get ultimate traction or road race or whatever. C10 chevy trucks have them stock so they cant be that bad.. i would be willling to bet it rides fine in that car.. but yes there are better setups... i also saw the relocated ball joint on the upper arm.. also very popular in the bagged truck scene. As long as its done correctly really nothing wrong with that either for getting the car low.. actually there is really no reason to rip on the car. It obviously doesn't fit in with some tastes on this site but not everyone can afford expensive parts on every area of the car, the exhaust exhausts right? Nothing looks hacked, actually i dont think ive ever seen someone take time to make an adjustable pinion angle 2 link.. Hood scoop and wheels are just ugly IMO, ... to each there own...
yes, the exhaust is functional, but spending $65k to build the car and then not spending the $300 it would cost to have a halfway decent exhaust bent up just makes no sense.. makes me wonder what other corners were cut when building the car.
JEFFTATE
05-19-2009, 05:20 AM
Crazy Man , Crazy !!!
XLexusTech
05-19-2009, 05:39 AM
Perfectly acceptable for its intended use. (making a small leap here)
Charley Lillard
05-19-2009, 05:40 AM
Don't be such a hater Kevin.....You know you want it.
chevy42083
05-19-2009, 06:10 AM
thats a pretty standard two link suspension and is widely accepted in the mini truck air bag it cheap world. Unfortunatly it works has drastic amounts of pinion angle change and binds terribly but does locate the axle and move up and down. With that bag so far up I bet it gets a ton of lift. :bsjerk:
The pinion angle change was addressed with the adjustable links... interesting... but just a band-aid. Although, the longer the arm, the less the pinion changes. Depending on how far back the motor sits, and how long those links are, it may not be too bad. Don't most truck arm/2link setups just mount like a leaf spring and use shims to adjust pinion angle? While more of a pain... it would be must cleaner looking. Though this setup probably looks awesomely high tech and ingenious to the average joe.
The A/C compressor converted to an engine driver compressor for bags is gaining popularity. No noise, plenty of air, one less electrical draw, and one less "thing" to pack somewhere.
oestek
05-19-2009, 07:07 AM
Don't be such a hater Kevin.....You know you want it.
I've already got a hacked-up '62 Galaxie, Charlie... and I'm the one to blame for it!
Yelcamino
05-19-2009, 09:07 AM
Don't be such a hater Kevin.....You know you want it.
That's what I was thinking but I didn't want to say anything! :lmao:
buickfunnycar.com
05-19-2009, 09:25 AM
to each his own,car looks tastefully done and I've seen worse exhaust systems...
Rhino
05-19-2009, 09:59 AM
The pinion angle change was addressed with the adjustable links... interesting... but just a band-aid. Although, the longer the arm, the less the pinion changes. Depending on how far back the motor sits, and how long those links are, it may not be too bad. Don't most truck arm/2link setups just mount like a leaf spring and use shims to adjust pinion angle? While more of a pain... it would be must cleaner looking. Though this setup probably looks awesomely high tech and ingenious to the average joe.
The A/C compressor converted to an engine driver compressor for bags is gaining popularity. No noise, plenty of air, one less electrical draw, and one less "thing" to pack somewhere.
It's probably a matter of semantics; but for clarification, the pinion angle change through the suspension's arc can not be addressed with a static link. Regardless of it's adjustability. You can correct it for ride height, but you'll still have the same change with travel. You're absolutely right that a longer arm would help with the angular change. I have a similar setup on the front of my TJ. Long arms mounting on a belly skid to the bottom of the axle, then smaller arms mounted between the upper mount and lower link for controlling pinion angle.
chevy42083
05-19-2009, 10:59 AM
Yeah... I wasn't very clear. I just meant it could be adjusted after being put on the road to get the best out of the setup.... not that it would change or anything. A perfect design before hand would negate the need completely.. but would be "set" at proper at a given ride height.
thetoystore
05-20-2009, 08:37 AM
that suspention was built to gain alot of lift. thus the bags on the bars to clear the massive wheels and the low fenders. not but its diffently not a good racing suspention but for low and slow crusing to town driving it would be fine. is there a better option. well yea but its not bad
terryr
05-21-2009, 01:40 PM
With the bags and shocks at the front of the arms it will have a very soft ride with poor control.
The front balljoint is way beyond the proper angle. Complete with torched a-arm.
If those rear links would self adjust pinion angle as the suspension rose then he'd really have something neat.
TonyHuntimer
05-21-2009, 07:27 PM
With the bags and shocks at the front of the arms it will have a very soft ride with poor control.
The front balljoint is way beyond the proper angle. Complete with torched a-arm.
If those rear links would self adjust pinion angle as the suspension rose then he'd really have something neat.
Great minds think alike. :) I was thinking all of what you wrote. That front control arm and ball joint are scary. I've seen a lot of similar wheels on pickups and SUV's.
The owner should install some limiting straps. Those shocks look like they are maxed out and holding up the rear axle. Last time I checked, that's not good for shocks or airbags.
Lowend
05-22-2009, 11:15 AM
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venturabeachpup
05-23-2009, 01:14 AM
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LOL... I like the look of the car and would drive it if Kitty could ride shotgun!
MrQuick
05-25-2009, 09:17 PM
ahhh come on...Toonces would roll dat!
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vince
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