3 link suspension

[radrambler]

Originally Posted by dennis68

No one is going to debate that 3-link or T/A arrangement is a better way to go than a 4-link in a "G" machine application, it is a fact not an opinion. Your post does come off a bit arguementative though.

i just wanted to stop anyone before they started with ..this company does this in a 4 link blah blah blah...BECAUSE YOU KNOW THAT NOT EVERYONE KNOWS..HARMLESS OR NOT
IM NOT ON HERE TO DEBATE..IM ON HERE TO HAVE FUN....THATS THE WHOLE DEAL FOR ME .FUN.I DIDNT WANT ANY PISSING CONTESTS WITH SOMEONE WHO DOESNT ALREADY KNOW 3 LINKS ARE BETTER....3
ITS ALL GOOD....I DONT WANT TO SOUND NEGATIVE TORWARDS ANYONE ...
I JUST WANT TO SHARE THE CAR THING AND HAVE FUN!!!!!!

THANKS
RADRAMBLER

[Mean 69]

Hi guys,

***Rad: I don't think you need to worry about the debate between four link setups, and three link setups on this forum, it is pretty simple to show the benefits of a three link over a four link. Technically, what it sounds like you have is a torque arm, and though there are three physical links on the system, it behaves quite a bit differently than a "three link" (the main thing being that the center link on a torque arm is rigidly mounted to the axle assembly, whereas a three link is joined via a bushing or link, and is allowed to rotate in bump/droop).***

Attached is a Solid-model of the Lateral Dynamics Three Link setup, all of the work was engineered in Solidworks software, including strain/defelection analysis on critical points. We use Bill Mitchell's WinGeo to model the actual suspension kinematics for those of you familiar with the software packages available. This design is an "improved" version of what has been in our test mule for nearly a year now. Improved, meaning the brackets and other aspects are a bit better thought out than the prototype, but the suspension geometry is the same, and we are pretty proud of it.

The setup has yet to be installed on a customer car, though two cars are in the process of installation at this time (one first gen on the east coast, one second gen in our shop in California). Both cars are on rotisseries, and will serve as the basis for generating an extensive installation instruction and setup guide. The setup is commercially available right now, though due to the SEMA show, deliveries will be a couple weeks out. We had some issues finding reliable suppliers early on and that cost us a good amount of time, but we now have found reliable, capable folks for the elements we don't have the tooling to build, thanks to some key contacts from friends in the industry. All of the crossmembers, brackets, and most importantly, the rear end assembly (9" Ford based assembly) are fixture welded by us, I am very confident that you will be extremely pleased with the quality. You won't have to fuss with welding brackets to the axle tubes and needing to straighten things afterwards, we take care of that for you. Installation is not terribly complex, but does involve some careful cutting, and of course, welding of the crossmember brackets. It is no more complex than installing a set of mini-tubs, or through floor subframe connectors.

The kit is a very complete setup, less components that are very customer preference specific. Namely, the center section/differential/gear setup, axles, and brakes are not included. The reason is that there are so many options, it would be very difficult for us to stock all of this at this time, though we can recommend and supply these components as an option to the kit. Brakes are based upon the highly popular Corvette "C5" configuration, so any commercially available C5 kit will work, from the very good, budget friendly GM parts, to aftermarket endurance race setups, and anything in between. The base kit comes with a set of Bilstein mono-tube coil over shock absorbers, custom valved for our application so you don't need to fuss with setting. A matched set of Hypercoil or Eibach springs is also included. Penske Racing Shocks are available as an upgrade, and though relatively expensive, these shocks are generally regarded as the best practical racing shock, and are highly supported: you can't go to a track these days and NOT find someone that can rebuild/service Penske's. The model shown has heim/rod ends in all pivot locations, however, high durometer rubber bushings are included on the base kit to help keep road noise down. Rod ends in all locations are also available. Because we control all aspects of the design, custom width rear ends, full floating axle-hub setups, and other configuration are all available.

Our website is under construction, we will have a temporary one up in a few days with more details and pictures of the setup. We will be at SEMA with a booth (#52425) and a display setup, so if you attend the show, please stop by and say hello. I'll drop some pic's of the hardware here in the very near future.

Mark

[TravisB]

Mark that is a nice set-up! Are you going to be doing anything with A-bodys...just wondering!

Looks great though

[Mean 69]

Are you going to be doing anything with A-bodys

Thanks Travis, and yes, we will be doing many more like products for various cars in the near future. Current plans are to do a front subframe for second gen F bodies (projected release February '06), a first gen subframe, and then we will be looking at different platforms, including Mustangs, other GM cars, and Mopar as well. If you have some ideas or needs, we'd love to hear about them.

Here are a couple of pic's of the first gen crossmembers. We should have some pic's of the rear end housing in a day or two, as well as the Watt's bracket. Moving steadily along. Matt won't let either Katz or myself weld any production stuff, it's an ongoing internal joke for us. Here's an example why.

Mark

[radrambler]

Originally Posted by Mean 69

Thanks Travis, and yes, we will be doing many more like products for various cars in the near future. Current plans are to do a front subframe for second gen F bodies (projected release February '06), a first gen subframe, and then we will be looking at different platforms, including Mustangs, other GM cars, and Mopar as well. If you have some ideas or needs, we'd love to hear about them.

Here are a couple of pic's of the first gen crossmembers. We should have some pic's of the rear end housing in a day or two, as well as the Watt's bracket. Moving steadily along. Matt won't let either Katz or myself weld any production stuff, it's an ongoing internal joke for us. Here's an example why.

Mark

LOOKS LIKE NICE PRODUCTS......WISH YOU GREAT SUCCESS

[TravisB]

Originally Posted by Mean 69

Thanks Travis, and yes, we will be doing many more like products for various cars in the near future. Current plans are to do a front subframe for second gen F bodies (projected release February '06), a first gen subframe, and then we will be looking at different platforms, including Mustangs, other GM cars, and Mopar as well. If you have some ideas or needs, we'd love to hear about them.

Here are a couple of pic's of the first gen crossmembers. We should have some pic's of the rear end housing in a day or two, as well as the Watt's bracket. Moving steadily along. Matt won't let either Katz or myself weld any production stuff, it's an ongoing internal joke for us. Here's an example why.

Mark

Cool....that is a nice looking piece mark welds look nice! I was just wondering seems like the camaros are always taken car of first then companys usually start on other stuff I was just interested in what else you had in mind.

Thanks for the info MARK good luck, products look nice!

[race-rodz]

just outa curiousity.... what kinda products for early mustangs are ya thinkin about?

[Mean 69]

Rodz, at this point we have a couple of ideas in concept only. It would be natural for us to do a three link derived off of the F body deal, and we will most likely do that, but the front stuff is a bit different due to the "fixed" front frame. The stock frame structure is decent enough to build off of, thankfully, but it might make better sense when we look deeper into it to remove the front and replace with a new setup. It will certainly be a front steer rack and pinion based unit, and rather than design a system "around" an off the shelf rack, our approach is to start with the suspension, and then develop a rack to compliment "it." If you have ideas, we'd love to hear about them.

The early Mustangs make terrific track cars due to their light weight. It makes everything a lot easier, you don't need as much power, brakes become more effective, etc. There are lot of them too, especially coupes. I can't think of a better supported car in terms of replacement parts (i.e. body panels, trim pieces, etc), so it kind of baffles me why there aren't more of them in the "PT" theme. We have a 65 Fastback, but that car will likely be prepared in vintage legal trim next year, so when it comes time for product development, we will likely do a mid 60's coupe.

Mark