where to start in 4-Link design???

77Chief

New Member
Joined
Aug 24, 2006
Location
Raleigh/Hickory
I was just wondering where some of yall started when deciding where the track bars should connect and angles length and all the good stuff. I got a 77 cherokee chief. Thanks for any help
 
I spent a lot of time reading about peoples builds and researching design choices. There is a thread in the axles and suspension forum with some of this right now. It has some good information. I started by looking to see where everything would fit. Then I plugged my numbers into the 4 link calculator as a sanity check. Now I am debating it with people, and in the end I will probably just weld it in the same place I initially saw. it has the best numbers and it fits so it is practical.
 
Thanks man, thats what im doing right now just kinda getting an idea of what I might wan't. How do I decide what length's angle's to use while keeping in mind I wana run 42's and tuck um well? Im guessin this is going to be alot more visiual in the design stage! I do have solid works a 3-D design program.
 
Solidworks is a lot of fun. The 4 link calculator will help you get some sanity numbers. In the end it seems to always end up being a build what will fit and try to include some room to adjust it.

From my reading with off road stuff 4 links are not a science. It looks like 80% is a good starting point. You want your lowers as long as you can realistically make them. Then the uppers are 80% of that. You want 10-12 of vertical seperation at the axle side, and of course 80% or less at the frame side. These numbers are not the solution but a starting point so that you are in the right area.

I am going to end up with about 11 inches of seperation at the axle and 4 inches at the frame. The lengths of the arms are closer than a 20% difference. Some run equal length arms so that they can go ahead and build a spare or two and not have everything different. You also want you links as close to level as you can get them. Less angle makes the forces much nicer.
 
Thanks man this gives me a good start. I have never designed any thing for a truck and am looking foward to getting this started!!! I dont know much about metal's, is their a general grade of steel that I should use and what size should I use???
 
From what I am told don't skimp on the steel. I just bent the second set of control arms on my front. Next up is 2 inch diameter 3/8s wall DOM lowers and 1.75 diameter .120 wall DOM uppers. I wouldn't normally use the 1.75 but I have it so it is cheaper then buying new steel.
 
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