custom 4 link front suspension Idea

[mightymg]

OK Im getting a little wild thinkin I wanna try something new for a rover front set up, that not the SG 3 link. Attatched is my Crappy Paint drawing of what it will roughly look like. The links will be heim teraflex Bars, and they will attatch to the custom cross member made out of 2x2 square stock, then It all will atatch on some custom axle mounts. The only issues I thik I may have will be the bars possibly hitting the y pipe, or driveshaft when flexed???Dweb has been pretty boring lately so I figured we need to liven it up a bit... WHatcha think...

 

[Eric N.]

I think it should make for a fun project. I think the postion of the drive shaft will make things a little interesting using 4 links but, I don't see why it couldn't be done.... Only one way to find out right?

 

[JSQ]

OK Im getting a little wild thinkin I wanna try something new for a rover front set up, that not the SG 3 link. Attatched is my Crappy Paint drawing of what it will roughly look like. The links will be heim teraflex Bars, and they will attatch to the custom cross member made out of 2x2 square stock, then It all will atatch on some custom axle mounts. The only issues I thik I may have will be the bars possibly hitting the y pipe, or driveshaft when flexed???Dweb has been pretty boring lately so I figured we need to liven it up a bit... WHatcha think...

why do firemen wear red suspenders?

 

[lwg]

If I'm not mistaken your going to want your links to be very similar in length. Might take a bit of re-engineering things to get this. I am considering 4-linking the rear end of my truck later this year. I figured it easier to start there and then work to the front.

For those who will wonder why I would do that when the existing 3-link gives plenty of travel, two-words. Axle Steer.

 

[mightymg]

The front links will definitley be the same length, and the width of the mounting brackets and all will be engineered for proper angles and spacing.., Right now its just a rough drawing, One of my best friends is an engineer so IM gonna have him get all surgical on it, and tell me where to put everything...

 

[JSQ]

depending on the pressures on your bushings, heim or otherwise, four links can be very squeaky.

just something to think about.

 

[Jack Straw]

Only concern I would have would be all the force directed to the cross member. Buildah beefy.

 

[mightymg]

OHh yeah i havea buddy on base thats a profesional welder, or I always have marc hes the man too....

 

[smithers]

Hey Lane, I was considering the 4 link design. I talked to Rock Logic about making it. They would attach to the frame and use Johny Joints. But, after talking to Seith at Rovertym I decided not to mess with it.

 

[MilSpec]

Ever heard of FrankenRover. Been there done that. Go to pirate and search. There are even pictures of it. With hydro steering.

I have thought about this myself. I would move the arms out more. Towards the stock arm placement. That way, when you are at full flex, your arm can "stretch" down. If it is in the center, then your limiting your flex ability. Its all about geometry. I would make the top arm straight back and the two lower arms angled in. Then you won't hit the driveshaft or exhaust.

 

[peter sherman]

Lane after replacing some cancer on my frame behind the cross member I would spread the load a little. The frame is pretty fn thin. I am sure you know that but!?!?!? 2 cents
Perhaps with some gussets yould be ok!
I think your y pipe would be ok but the ds may be tricky also to get the clearance you may need to move the x mem forward or backward.
sounds like fun keep us posted!!!

 

[MilSpec]

Oh, and I just saw your wanted to use a 2x2 square for the crossmember.

You want an @6000lb truck hurtling at 60 mph coming to an emergency stop relying on 2x2 stock to hold the frontend together. At least 3x3 1/4inch think. Bare minimum. Or just frame mount it.

 

[MilSpec]

Found the link.

Frankenrover

 

[mightymg]

the 2x2 I have is 1.4 inch, But ill get some 3x3 when I go to start the project, I still have lots of bugs to work on. KEEP THE INPUT COMING!!..

Jason Ill tlak to you about his when you get down here i a week or soo.. COOL!!

 

[adamsclarke]

Isn't your drawing more of a modified radius arm set up. For it to be a true 4 link...I assume all of the links should mount to the crossmember or frame???? That is the basic long arm design many jeeps have...but in that realm it has always been considered radius arms. There are a few true 4 links for jeeps...the the fabtech long arm for cherokees and such. I'd base it off something like that. I'd also look at some masive joints and links...you may even try www.independent4x.com for some beefy links.

 

[mightymg]

Large heims and links are a must,.....

 

[AKRover]

Those look like radius arms to me. A true four link has four seperate links with the uppers and lowers triangulated to keep the axle centered. There is more to a four link in a front aplication because you will have to eliminate the drag link and switch to full hydro.

The picture you have drawn will still require a track bar to center the axle.

 

[Danger]

Ever heard of FrankenRover. Been there done that. Go to pirate and search. There are even pictures of it. With hydro steering.

.

What he's thinking is not what Frankenrover did, they are different. Bigrover.com did the y-link 4-link but they did not use a HD x-member like he is planning. I wanted to do it to my old 90 but I had 3-link so there was no sense of doing it.

That's what I'm working on right now but my arms will attach to the out side of the frame so x-member not needed, and both front and rear arms will be the same length so I can carry one spare. What I like about this setup is you can remove one of the short arms on trail so you can get more flex.

Can't wait to see how things work out for you.

Good luck

Edit, Noah is right. You would need to keep your Pan hard rod for this setup to work.

 

[DiscoDino]

I'm working on a reverse four link for the front of my Rover, but that'll be stage IX of the build-up, when I get the airshocks...

 

[MilSpec]

What he's thinking is not what Frankenrover did, they are different. Bigrover.com did the y-link 4-link but they did not use a HD x-member like he is planning. I wanted to do it to my old 90 but I had 3-link so there was no sense of doing it.

That's what I'm working on right now but my arms will attach to the out side of the frame so x-member not needed, and both front and rear arms will be the same length so I can carry one spare. What I like about this setup is you can remove one of the short arms on trail so you can get more flex.

Can't wait to see how things work out for you.

Good luck

Edit, Noah is right. You would need to keep your Pan hard rod for this setup to work.

I was giving him ideas. Trying to show him, that what he is doing is not a "true" 4 link. Hell, SG's 3Link is really a 4link if you count the panhard rod. I like Bills design and was pointing it out as a design already done. The drawing is just a modified radius arm as someone already pointed out.

So how do you remove a link in the suspension for greater flex and still maintain control?

I'm in the same boat, already have the 3link, why mess with it. It does great. Nothing I can engineer will be far superior than that. Maybe modify it a little.