Watts link ???

[67 455 Bird ragtop]

Thinking about using a watts link instead of a wichbone on my car. While it's not a protouring it will be 95% street driven. I found what looks like a nice bolt on set up from the same place I bought my rear disk brake kit years ago. Looks like a nice set up. I like the fact that it bolts to the center section since I have already powder coated my houseing. Any comments ???

http://www.tsmmfg.com/wattslinkage.html

[Marcus SC&C]

That`s an odd watts link design. I`d like to see some decent photos of it. An axle mounted watts is okay but for handling and tractability there are advantages to a frame mounted one like this. http://scandc.com/new/node/253 Aside from adding an additional crossmember for added structure it keeps the length of the moment arm between the CG and RC exactly the same length at all times. Similar to the front suspension. An axle mounted watts will still see a large variation in the length of that moment arm making the car less linear and predictable, all else being equal. Mark SC&C

[BMR Sales]

Hey Mark,


We have a Torque Arm rear suspension with a adjustable Watt's link, here is a kit that a Customer powercoated Hugger Orange to match his car:





Do you ever get over to Tampa? We are on the east side of Tampa near Gator Ford off I4

[67 455 Bird ragtop]

Thanks BMR. If I do get over there, like this weekend for my grandson's first bday it's usually on the weekend.

I should probably add my car is a pro street, narrowed 9", 22" between rails, ladder bars with coil overs. I started to install a wishbone setup but then started to re-think that. Car will be like 95% street/cruise. Would like to find a bolt up, at least where the axle houseing is concerned. I already powder ccoated the houseing and would rather not have to get it re-coated :(

[TheBandit]

I'm pretty sure you can get or make some clamp-on mounts for the axle side if you put the pivot on the frame as in the fays2 design posted above. You wouldn't have to recoat the axle in that case.

Is this your rearend? If so, it looks like your coilovers are going to be tough to work around.

[exwestracer]

That's not a "true" Watts link. The 2 rockers at the center are geared together, which allows the tie rods to change angle (with travel) but does not allow the center mechanism to move side to side.

I have seen a few of these on street rods but NEVER seen one used on a performance car. Just off the top of my head, I would think the R/C would be located at the pivot height of the 2 rockers. I have concerns about the durability in a high-G load application.

Someone feel free to provide more definite info....

[67 455 Bird ragtop]

I'm pretty sure you can get or make some clamp-on mounts for the axle side if you put the pivot on the frame as in the fays2 design posted above. You wouldn't have to recoat the axle in that case.

Is this your rearend? If so, it looks like your coilovers are going to be tough to work around.

Yes that's it. The car is a Pro Street car not Pro Touring. This site has given me some great advice and ideas during my build. The suspension was originally build with a diag link for the ladder bars. But I recently started looking for a more stable option. I started to install a wishbone when I became curious about a watts link. The one I have found bolts to the front of the pinion mount. So it won't have any issues with the coils like the Fays2 or the BMR setup would have. I may end up sticking with the wishbone setup. But I'm not in a rush just yet.

[dontlifttoshift]

The watts link isn't the answer in every situation. The wishbone setup works very well in an application like yours.......why fight a watts link in that narrow of an envelope.

[67 455 Bird ragtop]

My thoughts also Donny. Just wanted to explore all options.

[Tony@Roadstershop]

I agree.... where ladder bars and narrowed pro-street rears are concerned... a good old fashioned panhard bar will work just fine as well.

[Marcus SC&C]

I`ll pile on and agree too. I was picturing a drag race adj. 4 link, you didn`t say anything about ladder bars. A wishbone would be a great choice for that set up. Mark SC&C

[67 455 Bird ragtop]

I`ll pile on and agree too. I was picturing a drag race adj. 4 link, you didn`t say anything about ladder bars. A wishbone would be a great choice for that set up. Mark SC&C

Yep I realized I left that out of the original post. But thanks for all the good feedback. LOTS of good info on this site.

[exwestracer]

Yes that's it. The car is a Pro Street car not Pro Touring. This site has given me some great advice and ideas during my build. The suspension was originally build with a diag link for the ladder bars. But I recently started looking for a more stable option. I started to install a wishbone when I became curious about a watts link. The one I have found bolts to the front of the pinion mount. So it won't have any issues with the coils like the Fays2 or the BMR setup would have. I may end up sticking with the wishbone setup. But I'm not in a rush just yet.

Just my $.02... Unless you are getting rid of the ladder bars, I wouldn't worry about any sort of locator that will "free up" the axle. The ladder bars aren't going to let that happen anyway. If that 9" is pinion centered, you can make a bracket that bolts right on to the pinion support below the driveshaft and attach a wishbone there and to the ladder mount bolts in the front...

[67 455 Bird ragtop]

Ladder bars staying. Have a wishbone ready to go. It mounts to the inside of each ladder and a single slip welded to the ladder bar crossmember.