I understand that there are many other kits out there that have there advantages and RK is no slouch. However in my experience I ahve some reasons for not wanting a parallel type suspension.
1. I don't agree with placing all of the push load on one axle mount that was designed by jeep to be one of TWO mounts and considering that jeep manufatured those mounts to be as cost effective as possible. Maybe if they somehow beefed up the axle mount.
2. Any type of parallel suspension ( whether it be a triangulated 4 bar, a 3 link, a 5 link or the more common 4 bar) is designed to be a geometrically consistent as possible. And to be infinitely adjustable, however this exsists with multiple verticle mounts for each bar. This is a great design and it works wonders to maintain pinion angle and caster curve but unless you are going 100 mph across the pinnacles in Ridgecrest, it is a moot point. When you are litterally crawling over rocks, your pinion angle is secondary since it is turning slow.
3. I understand that parallel kits are strong and do a great job I am just stating that in this particular case, simplicity is more important. Radius arms (ladder bar, y-link, etc) are a very simple and effective way to locate the axle and they remove the mind numbing mathmatical equations that go with the parallel setup (like axle preload, instant center, roll center, COG, etc). I am not saying that the customer needs to know this information, but it lends to the fact it is complicated and the likelihood of failure is higher.
As far as solid stock vs. tubing, I am no metalergist but I have been told that strength is a close relationship between surface area and wall thickness. With thin wall you loose wall but with solid you loose surface.
With suspension loading that occurs when the suspension is bound and being held in place by a stronger force (usually traction) and it unloads when that force is weakened or removed. If your suspension is tuned right then there is little to no bind then it does not "load," yet another benifit to radius arms-the only thing it can bind with is the steering or the d-line (d-line is pretty flexible and all suspension have to contend with the steering).
I am in no way flaming RK, their kit has to work, otherwise the company would not make it and people would not be happy with it, but on the other hand the radus arm system is just as widely used with customers that are just as happy.
The above are only reasons why I do not want a parallel linked kit.:eyes: Don't come looking for me please.
I think that was all of it razdrvr
