4 link setup questions

knucklehead 61

NAXJA Forum User
i am installing a 4 link on the rear of my red p.o.s. trail rig.
stats are: d60, 14b, 5.38's, lockers, 14" ori struts, 39.5 iroks, 3 link front.
so i have been looking at various 4 link charts from various xj builds and there does not seem to be any rhyme or reason to them. they are all different.
i am pretty sure that there is some science to properly setting up the angles & separation but can't figure it out. can someone chime in & school me on where & why to put the bars in a certain location? i need to start fabbing up the rear cross member & this is holding me up. thanks in advance! :cheers:
 
Mess around with the 4 link calculator.
What are you hoping to acheive, how do you want it to handle?
Mine is a hacked up trail rig, I wanted it to be stable and to climb the steep stuff without it feeling like it was going to flip over backwards. I went with lower antisquat and an instant center that was WAY out in front of the rig.
I've been super happy with the stability and climbing.
 
Jes, where do you get the 4 link calculator?
can you post your calcs?
i used to know how to setup a 4 link on my old drag car but have no clue what the numbers mean for a rock crawler or how the differences make it react.
 
Are you doing double triangulated or triangulated upper and straight links on the bottom?
I am triangulated upper and straight lower.
My lowers are just forward of the factory front leaf mounts.
The lowers are on the inside of the "framerail" at about the same spot.
The uppers meet at the axle on my Rockcrusher bridge.
The lowers are straight back and mount to the "front" of the axle for clearance.
The axle is mover rearward about 8".
Ran the same set up on my YJ and haven't had any drivability issues on the XJ.
Mine is a trail only rig and it's not perfect but it tracks straight and is very flexible.
I have a thread with pics on here.
Also, a more recent build is the 44s & 3 link thread.
I didn't use any calculator for mine. I read alot and just made what I thought looked good and I lucked out on the performance end.
I did look at some calculators to help with my idea but didn't really use a formula.
Good luck,
Stukboy
 
Last edited:
Read this thread...

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=204893

I copied my numbers from a friend that has a similar driving style to mine and had a manual transmission. We both agreed that being on a waterfall, dumping the clutch, and bounching off the rev limiter while the rig still feels stable was a characteristic that we liked. I'm running a double triangulated setup(which is difficult).
Realize that the base ride height numbers are just that. When you are in the real world the rig is sitting differently one way or another and the numbers may be vastly different. I tried to copy my friend's but since I still have a frame I had to tweek the numbers a bit. Telling you random numbers at this point would be futile though.
I shot for a low 60s antisquat(which is probably even lower when under compression on a waterfall) and my instant center is something like 128"s.
You are going to have to put the links where they fit then reverse engineer to get the numbers to where you(think you) like them.
 
Jes, let me know when you get bored & want to go on a field trip to my fun factory.
i would love to pick your brain on lots of stuff.
 
Let' see that sessy rear crossmember you posted on pirate.
 
Let' see that sessy rear crossmember you posted on pirate.

aarrgghh matey! here it is again. got it all tacked up.
2x4 x 3/16 with 1/4 plate wings.
i already had pics of it in my stoopiddumgay blog here:
http://www.naxja.org/forum/showthread.php?t=1042976
100_1548_edited-1.jpg

100_1549_edited-1.jpg

100_1550_edited-1.jpg
 
Where did you get the link brackets from?

they came with the ruffstuff 4 link kit.
i don't like their upper link frame end brackets though & will probably fab my own. :gee:
their lower axle mounts are lame as well. they should be angled, not straight & there does not look to be enough material on them to cut the angle in with.
 
Can you get bolts in there?

From the angle of the pic it looks like you cant.

oh shit i didn't even think to check! :eyes:







yes, of course i checked. they are close, but the bolts fit with 1/8" to spare. :thumbup:
 
Can you get em in there with a joint in place, or only with the joint not there?
 
Can you get em in there with a joint in place, or only with the joint not there?

yes, of course i checked. they are close, but the bolts fit with 1/8" to spare. :thumbup:
...with or without the heims 1/8" still measures the same. :roflmao:
 
Back
Top