4-link installation, some help...

[MikkoV]

Installation of Four-links, first time, hints and tips please:) Car is 2gen Camaro and in track & drifting use.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2011/04/cee2017_cp-1.jpg

I got that Competition engineering kit for basis, but should i go with link angles and dimensions that are in instructions. Does link angle (meaning front brackets height) and link lenght mean much, or is it just links mutual difference in angle what makes differences in car behaviour. I have been talking with few my friend that drive rally in here and their instructions are pretty different when talking bars angles. im going with idea that put mounts that way that bars are level when installed in middle holes, then lower bar, 1 hole downwards and upper bar 2 holes from start point...?

Instruction ->

http://forum.vastaheitto.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=4116.0;attach=5164 ;image

Some problems...

Bar lenght, In 21" lenght that link bars are front mount are directly in place of roll cage main bar.
So those are 21", does 17" sound too short? My suspension travel won´t be long, 3-4" travel maximun in and out.

Other installing options:

Put links inner side of frame rails but that doesn´t sound good option.

Or lower bars outer side, normal leafspring line, and upper bars inner side of frame.

Or both in normal place, lower bars 21" and upper bars 17" lenght, just cut front mounts and mount in different line.

Im planning to chop my floorpan by first idea, shortening 4" of from bars, but how critical bar lenghts and front mount mounting heights are?

[silver69camaro]

It's a little bit of both length and angle. Angle is the biggest deal, and a 17" link length isn't a big deal. One issue you'll have is severe roll bind, especially with sphericals (roll articulation will be about zero). If you use urethane rod ends, you'll gain a little bit of articulation, but the jam nuts will often break loose and preload one of the links. I say this because I saw that you'll be drifting.

When you say track use, do you mean drag racing?

[MikkoV]

It´s competition spec Drift car and im also trying to run few circuit races with it.

In drifitng axle roll is very minimal (if i understand correctly what you mean by roll bind, my technical english...) About inch out (max.) and max 2 inches in, so max axle roll about 3 inches.

So what is wrong in this setup in yur opinion? Pretty much all rwd rally cars have 4-link setups here and those have lot soften springs and few times more movement in suspension. Is it preload what messes things?

[srh3trinity]

I don't know much about rally cars, but a lot of the cars on this site running a four link are using a triangulated four link. The upper and lower links are not parallel like the one pictured above. The upper links are canted at a different angle as opposed to the bottom links so that they help locate the axle in the absence of a panhard or watts link. http://image.jpmagazine.com/f/9308558/154_0603_04_z+jeep_suspension_four_link_lingo+tria ngulated_four_link.jpg

[MrQuick]

It´s competition spec Drift car and im also trying to run few circuit races with it.

In drifitng axle roll is very minimal (if i understand correctly what you mean by roll bind, my technical english...) About inch out (max.) and max 2 inches in, so max axle roll about 3 inches.

So what is wrong in this setup in yur opinion? Pretty much all rwd rally cars have 4-link setups here and those have lot soften springs and few times more movement in suspension. Is it preload what messes things?

Well the nice thing about the system you are running is you can play with the adjustments, and with a drift car you will need alittle less articulation than a road car.
For drifting I'd imagine you would not want alot of anti squat. Maybe put you instant center slightly behind your center of gravity vertical location. Might make it pivot easier.

Plot out your suspension befor you weld it in. Play around with a scale drawing. Set it up so you can adjust to the far ends of both ranges. Low anti squat of 40% to 120%. Its going to be about experimentation and adjusting....lots a tires.

[MikkoV]

I played few hours with 4-link calculator and i think that i sorted out how i mount brackets.

Does anyone know how much is anti-squat on stock 1978 camaro with leafs, lowered 3" with lowering blocks. Cause that´s the start point i think that i set this near it for basis and try change it from there.

[exwestracer]

Stock IC is at the front leaf spring eye, so if you know how to find Anti squat from there you've got it.

Don't overlook Matt's comments about roll bind. Unless you run the upper and lower links parallel (no !C), that setup is TERRIBLE in roll compliance. Might work well to get the tail out on your drift car, but I'd be concerned with how predictable it would be breaking loose...

[MikkoV]

Roll bind, i desided to change other rod ends from uniball to some more flexible ones, urethane or rubber. Thanks for comments and tips.

[MikkoV]

About roll bind again. Now installed and seems to allow over 2 inches of bind without resistance, still with sphericals. So that´s not issue for me...