Watts link or panhard bar? - Lateral-g Forums

EvolutionMotorsport · #1 03-05-2007, 08:27 PM

Here are some pics of one of our Watts links installed on a car. This is our Vintage watts....

http://web.mac.com/jbauder/iWeb/6970...-Watt%27s.html

Thanks....Mike

James OLC · #2 03-05-2007, 10:25 PM

The Lateral Dynamics 3-Link incorporates a Watts Link. There are several members on the board with this set up (myself included). Pictures of my install are on the OLC website at Lateral Dynamics Installation. The Watts Link is a much better alternative than a panhard bar.

deuce_454 · #3 03-06-2007, 08:06 AM

the only timee you should considder a panhard is when 1) you are an OEM and want to save money on a mediocre handling car.. 2) if you are too mechanially inept to make/install a functioning watt 3) if you only turn left (circle track) otherwise a watt's link is the ticket.

jdwill13 · #4 03-06-2007, 11:41 AM

Thanks everyone.

Maximum Bob · #5 03-07-2007, 10:43 AM

Not sure how the moderators are on this site, about telling people about a product that is not a sponsor yet, but here goes.

This company is helping us out on our 67CAMARO PT high school automotives project. The customer service is good, and Jim Fay is also a great guy to deal with.

That being said the web site is www.fays2.net, Ill try to attach a pic.

mazspeed · #6 03-07-2007, 10:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maximum Bob

Not sure how the moderators are on this site, about telling people about a product that is not a sponsor yet, but here goes.

This company is helping us out on our 67CAMARO PT high school automotives project. The customer service is good, and Jim Fay is also a great guy to deal with.

That being said the web site is www.fays2.net, Ill try to attach a pic.

I bought and tried the fays link, great quality piece, but if you have an aluminum cover on your rearend with a stainless tank, it will not work. Not enough clearance. In fact if you have the aluminum cover with almost any tank it's not going to work. If you have a ford 9 it should work.

**Steve1968LS2** · #7 03-07-2007, 10:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mazspeed

I bought and tried the fays link, great quality piece, but if you have an aluminum cover on your rearend with a stainless tank, it will not work. Not enough clearance. In fact if you have the aluminum cover with almost any tank it's not going to work. If you have a ford 9 it should work.

That's a shame, he makes some nice stuff and he's a great guy.. and a racer.

Did he say if he was gonna try to work around it?

Silver69Camaro · #8 03-07-2007, 12:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deuce_454

the only timee you should considder a panhard is when 1) you are an OEM and want to save money on a mediocre handling car.. 2) if you are too mechanially inept to make/install a functioning watt 3) if you only turn left (circle track) otherwise a watt's link is the ticket.

It sounds like I may be in the minority here, but you can have a very good handling car with a properly designed panhard bar. Doing so can make it somewhat difficult to package, to the point where the same amount of work it would take to install a watts.

Don't get me wrong, I like both, and each has their own place. But to say that it is totally inferior is disagreeable to me.

philofab · #9 03-07-2007, 04:34 PM

It's easier to get a low roll center with a panhard but it's design causes the rear end to move in an arc through it's travel. The actual side to side movement is at most a half inch with a fair bit of travel. I've heard a few really good drivers can feel the side movement when driving hard but I've never been able to feel it.

The watts link is cooler looking and fairly simple to build but it's difficult to get the roll center as low with it (new reverse style watts links may correct this). It also keeps the rear end perfectly centered so it can coexist with a trianglated four bar and some other suspensions without binding (a proper rear suspention does not need two forms of lateral control though).

Anyone know how reverse watts links (like the fey kit above) effect roll center? I've never seen these kits before. I did see a kit for a late model car (forget which one) at the sema show that mounted the watts link above the axle on it's side. Seems like it would have a very high roll center.

Silver69Camaro · #10 03-08-2007, 05:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by philofab

It's easier to get a low roll center with a panhard but it's design causes the rear end to move in an arc through it's travel. The actual side to side movement is at most a half inch with a fair bit of travel. I've heard a few really good drivers can feel the side movement when driving hard but I've never been able to feel it.

That's an extreme amount of lateral movement, and would be caused by a very short bar.

For example, a 30" panhard bar will exhibit about .070" of lateral movement under a 2" bump. .070"!! It will be more with bushing deflection, but that can be solved with heims. Who here really needs to worry about .070"?