Re: Panhard rod

[Bob Brooks <rbrooks@domain.elided>]

Tom:

Depending on   bar setup you can still get side to side movement of the rear.  If
the 4 bar is set up such that the both bars on each side attach to the frame
rail, you will have side to side movement. If you set up the 4 bar so that  a
pair of the bars, usually the lower ones, attach at a center point, they will act
as a track locator, or panhard bar.  This will limit side to side travel.

But remember the bars will no longer swing in the same arc.  So you may have a
problem with suspension binding.


The problem is that this change will result in a 'Less" adjustable 4 bar.  You
won't have quite so much control over the weight transfer.

A better rear for straight line stuff, would be a conventional 4 bar. Both bars
on each side attach to the frame rail, and either a track locator or a panhard
bar.

My guess would be that this setup would work better off road as well.   But it
would be a guess.

Bob Brooks

Tom Mandera wrote:

> Tom Harais wrote:
> > With this design the up and down movement of the differential results in NO
> > SIDE movement of the differential. The diff is "fixed" in place from side
> > to side.
> > The attachements I've seen were "cages" set up that mounted between the
> > diff cover and diff using the existing bolt holes and two gaskets (one
>
> I've thought of a secondary cover that goes on *OVER* the diff cover as
> a sturdy attachment point for a double-V 4-link.
>
> If I'm going to go through the trouble of a locating system for the rear
> end to eliminate body sway... (I think I want a fairly flat suspension
> for cornering with this spring-over truck.  Single wheel articulation
> isn't an issue, but full suspension travel *together* is.. like when you
> land a jump)..
>
> How about a 4-link that would eliminate any axle wrap I'm likely to see
> with 4.88 gears and a flat-shot-spring spring-over.
>
> A 4-link location system would eliminate wheel hop and should rule out
> any sway since 4 steel rods would be locating the rear axle fore/aft and
> side to side.
>
> If I'm going to go through the bother... might as well do a little more
> work and go whole hog, right? ;-)
>
> One of these days I'll have to plunk down a few bucks for those books
> Richard mentioned.. things like link-length and such are all important
> factors.
>
> (of course, if I go this far.. some will wonder - why not coil-overs,
> Tom?.. I think there's something in a race rules books that I read (for
> some sanctioning body I might someday have fun with) that says something
> about retaining the "stock suspension concept" or some such.. I think it
> was SCORE that had that.. i.e. if it's leaf sprung, it remains leaf
> sprung.. but you can "trick it out" so long as it's still leaf sprung.)
>
> -Tom "I'll stick with NO locating links for now and just let the leaves
> do their job" Mandera



--
Bob
rbrooks@domain.elided

Micrel, Inc.
http://www.micrelinc.com