How To Set Up A 4 Link

A four link suspension kit will optimize the performance and overall ride quality of your rig past balancing triangulation, increasing the forcefulness of power, and giving you maximum control.

Installation Tips for Calculation a 4 Link Pause

4 Link Suspension Kit

Prep: Before you install your off-road pause parts, admission a link calculator. With this tool, you tin make up one's mind how certain numbers volition affect your vehicle and make some comparisons. Note: A four link without a panhard bar is not recommended for front applications where a steering box is used. The straight upwardly-and-down move that a 4 link provides conflicts with the side-to-side swing of a drag link. This causes severe bump steer and tin can exist quite unsafe.

Lower Links: The lower links are commonly the easiest of four link suspension parts to setup. The flatter you tin can get them at ride height (when viewed horizontally) the better. Length should be ii-times the bicycle travel you expect; longer and flatter links by and large perform better. A 36"- 42" link is normally used for rigs with a wheelbase that is long plenty to conform the size. Longer links are easier to bend, no matter which cloth is used. Triangulating the lower links helps accept some of the horizontal load off of the upper links and lowers the whorl axis, which reduces flex steer.

Upper Links: The upper links of a 4-link setup can exist difficult. The old rule of thumb on length is to brand them 75% the length of the lower link – this keeps your suspension geometry more consistent through travel, just information technology also causes the pinion angle to aim downwards as the suspension droops. Instead, making the upper links the same length as the lower ones – or slightly longer – will allow the pinion to roll up with droop. This helps to keep the driveshaft alive, and tin be very useful in short wheelbase rigs with brusk driveshafts or in low-pinion front applications.

Separation: Link separation affects many of the handling characteristics of a vehicle. For vertical separation at the beam terminate, the general rule is to try for at to the lowest degree 25% of your tire size. Then for a 40" tire, it is a good idea to endeavor and have at to the lowest degree x" of separation. This isn't always possible because links usually require compromise. At the frame end, vertical separation controls your anti-squat, or anti-dive in the front. Anti-squat is ordinarily a thing of commuter'southward preference. If the frame-side separation is the same equally the axle, the vehicle has 0% anti-squat – or no resistance to the body squatting during dispatch in the rear – or braking in the front end, which most drivers do not similar. Anti-squat can be added past making the separation less at the frame than at the axle. Horizontal separation at the axle is normally set by pushing the lower links out as far as you can, while preserving enough clearance for your tires and steering. Wider lowers at the beam helps with stability. On the frame side, the lowers need to allow for tire clearance at full lock. Some drivers similar more than triangulation, but it is a matter of preference. The horizontal separation for upper links should be opposite of lower links: broad at the frame and narrow at the beam end. For the axle end, it is ideal to get equally little distance between the upper links as possible. This creates more triangulation and helps the axle remain centered as it travels vertically. At the frame stop, mount the upper links equally far apart as yous tin can. This makes the vehicle more stable during side-to-side motions.

Potential Fabrication Challenges

Y'all may not be able to complete an "platonic" setup for a four link suspension. Oftentimes, compromises must be made in guild to avoid clearance bug. In this example, adjustable mounts help you make changes easily and allow you to experience each adjustment from the driver'south seat. This is most helpful once y'all meet how your rig will react to terrain changes and driver input.

Fabrication Experience Required

To install a 4 link pause, you volition need prior welding and avant-garde fabrication experience.

Tools Needed

The tools needed for installation include: eye and face up protection, a power saw, grinder, welder, jack stands with floor jack, tape measure, angle finder, and level.

Special 4 Link Interruption Product Details

Barnes' heavy-duty four link kits comprise all of the mounts, heim joints, tube inserts, jam nuts, and brackets (predrilled to match commodities size) you need to complete a DIY suspension.

Applicable Vehicle Makes and Models

Barnes 4wd should accept the custom off-road parts yous need to fabricate a four link system on most 4x4 vehicles.

Additional Off-road Parts

If y'all'd rather put together your own 4-link suspension system, you lot can customize your selection of Shock Brackets, Tabs, and Towers, DOM Tubing, and all of the other necessary heavy-duty suspension parts. If yous have any questions regarding installation, give us a call at (828) 551-7616 or email [email protected]