Suspension Tech General discussion of suspension for the Ford Ranger.

(3 Link) link lengths.....

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Old Jun 22, 2008
  #1  
Free89BroncoII's Avatar
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(3 Link) link lengths.....

I want to do some rough double checks......

Im getting ready to build my 3-links for my SAS swap. Now Im running 38" TSL's. Just bare with me and see if this sounds correct.

With mounting tabs welded off the rear of the D44 and monted under the frame rail, my lower links eye to eye come out to 40" which is 8 degrees of angle on the links. 25% of my tire size puts the upper link mount approx 7" above my axle center point. Now making the upper 3 link at 70% of my lower link being at 40", would make my upper link eye to eye 28". My upper link will mount directly to the lower link on one side....

So, this will make my lowers 40" and my upper 28"... sound good
 
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Old Jun 22, 2008
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lol.....

Another question...... Im using an EB D44, I still need to cut off the wedges and brackets, and remove my axle bracket on the Bronco. My lower link mounts will be off the rear of the axle, my track bar will be on top of the passenger side axle tube. By looking at the picture, Im wondering what side is going to be the best to mount the upper link mount. Keep in mind the upper link bracket will be roughly 8" tall......

 
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Old Jun 22, 2008
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sounds like a midified radius arm suspension instead of a real three link
 
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Old Jun 22, 2008
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Originally Posted by SuperGildo@RRP
sounds like a midified radius arm suspension instead of a real three link
Its a ylink on one side. Same setup Im "using"
 
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Old Jun 22, 2008
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Those numbers sounds real close to what I came up with for mine, Bryan. The only one I'd question you on is the upper link length. I always understood it to be 75% the length of your lowers, not 70%.

I got my info from these articles:

http://www.4wheeloffroad.com/techart...t_1/index.html

http://www.4wheeloffroad.com/techart...t_2/index.html

Even though the article is for a 4-link, I'm lead to believe the 'number crunching' is the same/similar.


Originally Posted by SuperGildo@RRP
sounds like a midified radius arm suspension instead of a real three link
My thoughts too..


Originally Posted by redranger4.0
Its a ylink on one side. Same setup Im "using"

So then if its a y-link or whatever you wanna call it, its still more a radius arm suspension that a true/real 3-link. My whole opinion/stance/understanding of the benefit of a 3-link over the radius arm setup is to keep a good pinion angle throughout the range of the susupension's travel?
 
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Old Jun 23, 2008
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Originally Posted by redranger4.0
Its a ylink on one side. Same setup Im "using"
really? I thought you were using three separate links...
 
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Old Jun 23, 2008
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Free89BroncoII's Avatar
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Ill have to look into that. I used the 4 link calculator from TRS, that was the only one I could find at the time.
 
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Old Jun 23, 2008
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Here is a pic of White Rhino from Pirate's 3 link....



Here is the upper link mounted to the lower

 
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Old Jun 23, 2008
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This may be of some use for you. I haven't had much of a chance to play with it yet (as I'm more trying to get my axles built first), but it should help out.

3-Link Calculator
 
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Old Jun 23, 2008
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the sad thing is I dont have Microsoft Excel so I cant open that file....
 
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Old Jun 23, 2008
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If you have gmail you can open it through that Google Documents... or you can download OpenOffice for free and that will do that will have a program that can do Excel. But that's only if you really wanted to use it.
 
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Old Jun 23, 2008
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I'll try it now.....

Another idea Im having is running the track bar mount on the passenger frame rail to the driver side axle. This would be a little more mounting room for a link mount for the 3rd link...(on the passenger side)
 
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Old Jun 23, 2008
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Originally Posted by Free89BroncoII
I'll try it now.....

Another idea Im having is running the track bar mount on the passenger frame rail to the driver side axle. This would be a little more mounting room for a link mount for the 3rd link...(on the passenger side)
whoa whoa whoa, I hope you have plans of full hydro cause this Idea will just not work...
 
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Old Jun 23, 2008
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thats the idea im toying with right now. I allready have assist, now thinking full hydro
 
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Old Jun 23, 2008
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Using the 3 link calculator, my lengths look good..... looks like its time to start building
 
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Old Jun 23, 2008
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does the three link calculator have a element for mounting links on the arms?

also, current setup pictures?
 
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Old Jun 23, 2008
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The 3 link calculator im mainly using for lower arms. The upper seems to be somewhere in the 70-75% range of your lower link. Its hard to explain but you have the idea. Its like a modified trailing arm setup the 3rd is just an anti wrap arm. As long as when you cycle the suspension there is no bind in the third arm you are good.

No pics of setup, the front is stripped down currently.....
 
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Old Jun 23, 2008
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Originally Posted by Free89BroncoII
The 3 link calculator im mainly using for lower arms. The upper seems to be somewhere in the 70-75% range of your lower link. Its hard to explain but you have the idea. Its like a modified trailing arm setup the 3rd is just an anti wrap arm. As long as when you cycle the suspension there is no bind in the third arm you are good.

No pics of setup, the front is stripped down currently.....
lets call a spade a spade. so its basically a wristed radius arm setup. its like calling a y link on a jeep a 4 link. I honestly dont think it really matters at all how long your "upper" is, its a fixed link
 
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Old Jun 23, 2008
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Free89BroncoII's Avatar
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see, we are on the same page..... I couldnt see why the upper length would make such a big difference, but everyone else says it does....
 
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Old Jun 23, 2008
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Originally Posted by SuperGildo@RRP
lets call a spade a spade. so its basically a wristed radius arm setup. its like calling a y link on a jeep a 4 link. I honestly dont think it really matters at all how long your "upper" is, its a fixed link
I agree. The only true need for the specific length of your upper would be if it connects to its own seperate point on the frame.
 
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Old Jun 23, 2008
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well..... I guess I will find out the hard way.. lol, Ill let you know how it works
 
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Old Jul 1, 2008
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kinda diggin this back up from last week.

if you are shooting for a true 3 link what are the height differences between the upper and lower on the axle end? what about the frame end?

From looking at this build the upper and lower are nearly the same length or the upper is even longer

 
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