how much triangulation

[thetoystore]

well i have my rear suspention drawn on paper and my triangulated bars that will be used to control lateral movement is 51 degrees. i know that 45 degrees is perfect so will 51 work?

[Norm Peterson]

Which way is that 51° being measured?

51° with respect to the rear axle would put it about midway between the GM A/G bodies (45°) and the Fox Mustang (about 57° from the axle but usually given as about 33° off the vehicle longitudinal axis).

I don't immediately see any reason that 51° the other way (off the longitudinal) wouldn't work, at least theoretically. Keep in mind that the forces in the uppers for cornering and acceleration/braking would change a bit.

If 51° is the total angle between the two uppers, that's getting to be a pretty narrow angle that won't resist lateral loads very efficiently. Half of that (25.5°) is way tighter than the 33° Fox Mustang arrangement. Keep in mind that people have been adding PHB's to the Fox chassis for a reason (even though the behavior tends to get a bit messy up around the limit when you add PHB to a converging/triangulated 4-link).


Norm

[thetoystore]

i measured the 51 at the points were the triangulated arms would meet in space. ie about 3 in beyong the point at wich they mount

[Norm Peterson]

Does that mean that the upper arms are 51° measured between them or is that 51° being measured between either of the arms and some completely separate reference line?


It may be that the reference to 45° in your first post is what's confusing me (arms inclined at 45° to either the lateral or longitudinal axis would be 90° apart from each other, if that helps you understand why I can't figure out which things are supposed to be 51° apart).


Norm