Watts linkage mounted at the Front of a 9" Center Section?

[BANKO]

I was wondering if anyone has ever done this? I have seen a watts linkage mounted on the lower portion of a center section to assist in controlling front to rear motion. I have not seen it done to control lateral motion.

Mounting it to the front a center section seems interesting due to the inherent strength of the center section at this location and the tighter packaging that may be achieved near the center of the pinion.

The disadvantages seem to be packaging challenges relative to the link mounting locations, clearance to the floor pan under full compression and bearing size needed to clear the pinion yoke.

-Josh

[Bryce]

Mounted under the rearend still controls lateral movement.

I have a picture of a front mounted watts link. I will find it when I get home. Look up IMSA cars for some ideas.

Front mounted will aloow zero rollcenter height change and puts it at pinion input height which might be too high.

[exwestracer]

Originally Posted by BANKO

I was wondering if anyone has ever done this? I have seen a watts linkage mounted on the lower portion of a center section to assist in controlling front to rear motion. I have not seen it done to control lateral motion.

Mounting it to the front a center section seems interesting due to the inherent strength of the center section at this location and the tighter packaging that may be achieved near the center of the pinion.

The disadvantages seem to be packaging challenges relative to the link mounting locations, clearance to the floor pan under full compression and bearing size needed to clear the pinion yoke.

-Josh

Josh,
I have seen one mounted around the pinion support on a 9" Ford. This was on an SCCA Trans-Am car years ago. I believe the pinion support was turned in a lathe to accept a bearing on the outside. I've heard that Stock Car Products produced them, but I'm not sure.