Ron Sutton Offset 3-Link install

[CraigS]

As the top link changes length that will change pinion angle. There is so much discussion about getting that angle correct, I wonder what the effect is of it changing every time the gas pedal moves. Educate me please.

[Ron Sutton]

Originally Posted by Vegas69

In all seriousness, the front of these old cars is usually the major weakness, not the back. I think this is great to maximize your rear dynamics but you better make the carpet match the drapes.

Yup!

[gerno]

What's the plan to laterally locate the axle. I assume a Watts. Do you have any pics of this piece and how it sits within the total rear package?

[Flash68]

You sure about that? Payton thought the same thing....

Originally Posted by Ron in SoCal

It's got a JRS designed C6 suspension with fabricated frame rails. Came out pretty good.

[Ron Sutton]

Hi Craig !

Originally Posted by CraigS

As the top link changes length that will change pinion angle. There is so much discussion about getting that angle correct, I wonder what the effect is of it changing every time the gas pedal moves. Educate me please.

First, just a reminder that this is a track car, not a cruiser.

We run just enough static negative pinion angle that the driveline & pinion yoke are in line under hard acceleration ... which is always the goal with performance & race cars. The amount of static negative pinion angle required varies with each torque absorber application, but they are all in the 3°-5° range.

[Ron Sutton]

Hi Steve!

Originally Posted by gerno

What's the plan to laterally locate the axle. I assume a Watts. Do you have any pics of this piece and how it sits within the total rear package?

It will be a very trick watts link set-up with 6" of roll center adjustment. Photos will come when Mike Tolle is installing it.

[carbuff]

I thought I read this here in this thread, but I can't locate it at the moment... You (Ron) mentioned doing a rear axle with a 13" high upper link from the axle centerline. Looking at the side view of the axle being built here, based on these angles, that would go right through the crossmember for the rear coilovers. How do you deal with that?

Related question... If you draw a straight line between the upper and lower link mount points, it doesn't pass through the centerline of the rear axle. Why is this? Is there a specific reason that the 2 are located that way (behind the axle centerline)?

So many questions, I know... I am loving learning about these details, so thanx as always for sharing so generously!

[carbuff]

Originally Posted by Ron Sutton

Technically they are considered parallel lower links, but they are a smidge (1/8" each side) narrower in the front. This is to insure the outside lower link is never pushing the rear end towards the outside of the corner, under acceleration.

Got it... Thanx!

[carbuff]

Originally Posted by Ron in SoCal

It's got a JRS designed C6 suspension with fabricated frame rails. Came out pretty good.

Did I read that you are looking at relocating the UCA mount points? Given how Jake builds these mounts, there is a bit of room to move the mount if you fill in the existing holes.

Also, adjusting caster and camber was relatively easy with this setup. Jake set mine up and machined spacers from 1" stock for the initial alignment. Eric and I used shims to adjust the alignment until we got to the point we wanted (based on Ron's specs), then Eric just machined a new set of spacers to those thicknesses. Worked out pretty well.

While I hate reading the story of Payton's project with Jake, I will say that the measurements on my subframe from Jake were pretty spot on when I recorded them for Ron. At least as accurate as I could measure them. Ron and I never discussed moving the UCA mounts, although I didn't present that as an option (and wouldn't really want to at this stage unless it would make a dramatic difference). Ron has all of my numbers along with one other JRS subframe I think, so I'm sure he will suggest the best changes as appropriate.

[FETorino]

Originally Posted by Flash68

You sure about that? Payton thought the same thing....

I guess it's a good thing we got it out of Jakes before he got in deeper.

It still seems with the Sutton designed offset three link with adjustable on the fly instant center and roll center out back and Jakes stuff up front the carpet won't match the drapes.