Ford Ranger 4 link questions

[joemac]

I'm considering using this setup on my Ranger. They claim it does not need a panhard/track bar. What do y'all think?

http://www.kplinks.com/product.php?productid=313&cat=48&page=1

When I mount the crossmember and shock mounts should they be vertical or the tops tilted in looking from the rear? And what about vertical or raked back looking from the side?

[mitch_04]

What are you trying to accomplish with this suspension? I believe the downside to the wishbone suspension is that it can bind when one side is compressed or extended without the other. If you have a Johnny Joint/Heim link on the end of the wishbone, that may help. The wishbone will stop side to side movement of the axle, so you do not need a panhard bar. I would assume they will tell you what is the best way to mount the shocks with that kit, but I could be wront. Shoot them an email or call them directly. If this is just a cruisin pickup and you aren't trying to ride on 3 wheels you should be fine. If you are building a track pickup, you might want to look at a different kind of suspension.

[joemac]

Track as in straight track or road course? Building it mostly as a street truck but might like to autox or similar a little.

[mitch_04]

Road course, where you may see enough "twist" on the front end of the wishbone to bind up. I think you would be fine, once you step up from "might like to autox" to "will see occasional autox" or "every weekend at the track" you may need a little more, but you will also probably be doing other things at that point as well, like a fully fabbed rear suspension, since you probably can't find too many autocross Ranger parts out there.

[exwestracer]

Joe,
I think I'd stick with a true triangulated 4 link if you plan on carving corners. To make a long story short, that offset upper link (with triangulation) is going to give you different handling characteristics in left and right turns.

[joemac]

Hmmm, yea I don't want that.

[BK2LIFE]

yeap, wouldnt touch that set up for anything more than the up and down airirde minitrucks it was designed for. it was not designed for any type of cornering or handeling.

either a straight four bar and a watts link, or a triangulated. your frame is c-channel so your chassis will have quite a bit of flex as well