What kind'a truck and what do you plan to do with it ?????
Gene

 

if it's going to be mostly street, go with ladder bars. They are much easier to adjust than a 4 link. 4 links are mainly for racing due to sooo many different adjustments for different track conditions.

 

If your going for street,Go with 4 link.You will get a better ride then ladder bars... Plus you can dial them in for best performance.

 

Triangulated four link for the street...

 

Triangulated four link for the street...

They don't make a Triangulated four link,It's called Triangulated four bar.some people sell them, calling it a Triangulated four link,But it's is suppose to be called Triangulated four bar...The good thing about it,You don't have to run a panhard bar.The bad part is you can't dial it in like a four link set up. :thumbup:

 

4 link or ladder bars

All depends on the budget u have and the horsepower u want to put to the ground.Tell me more about the setup.

 

I am curious, what is the difference between a link and a bar?

Some of the benefits of a triangulated set up is the lateral control of the rear axle without a panhard bar as Mr. rustyknutz pointed out. The roll center for the rear axle can be lower than is practical with a suspension that utilizes a panhard bar or watts link typically. Anti-squat can be adjusted like a parallel four link if multiple attachment points are incorporated. The Pinion angle and chassis preload can be altered if adjustable links are incorporated, and they perform very well on the street for handling. Another benefit is that unlike a paralled four bar/link suspension, rotational movement is greatly improved with a triangulated setup. Anyone that has run a paralled four link with urethane rod ends can attest that the jam nuts come loose from time to time. That is due to the twisting of the bars with body roll from either cornering or turning from a flat road to an uphill driveway etc, while the ends stay fixed in their mounts.

Mostly drag racing...parallel four link
Mostly street driving...triangulated four link
Nostalgic appeal...ladder bars

 

four bar

I went with the bar. Wish I went with the 4 link so I could set the pinion angle a little easier...just my 2 cents

 

its a 85 silverado with probably around 450 horse mostly street driven but like to take it to the track so im thinking triangulated 4 link is gonna be my best bet

 

anyone got any good plans they would share to make a kit or anyone kno anywhere that sells a good kit for not to expensive

 

anyone got any good plans they would share to make a kit or anyone kno anywhere that sells a good kit for not to expensive

This place has some nice stuff.I bought some bar's from them already.

http://www.suicidedoors.com/front_page

 

http://autofabcart.net/

This guy has it all and the parts are dead on..

ladder bars/coil overs for straight line max effort, 4 link fo most all else.

 

its a 85 silverado with probably around 450 horse mostly street driven but like to take it to the track so im thinking triangulated 4 link is gonna be my best bet

I see you have 2 threads going.

http://www.hotrodders.com/forum/how-can-i-get-my-truck-hook-up-149068.html

 

They don't make a Triangulated four link,It's called Triangulated four bar.some people sell them, calling it a Triangulated four link,But it's is suppose to be called Triangulated four bar...The good thing about it,You don't have to run a panhard bar.The bad part is you can't dial it in like a four link set up. :thumbup:

Four links, four bars, all the same. You could as well call it a four bar linkage. Don't get hung up on terminology. Maybe the OP had parallel in mind, or maybe triangulated, but lecturing him on irrelevant (and incorrect) terminology doesn't answer the question.

http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~rapidproto/mechanisms/chpt5.html

 

if it's going to be mostly street, go with ladder bars. They are much easier to adjust than a 4 link. 4 links are mainly for racing due to sooo many different adjustments for different track conditions.

Semi-correct. Ladder bars are for straight line racing (drags). On the street over uneven terrain they will try to twist your axle like a torsion bar, and something may eventually break.

 

Four links, four bars, all the same. You could as well call it a four bar linkage. Don't get hung up on terminology. Maybe the OP had parallel in mind, or maybe triangulated, but lecturing him on irrelevant (and incorrect) terminology doesn't answer the question.

Not correct. A 4 link and 4 bar are NOT the same. Way more adjustment with a 4 link.

 

Four links, four bars, all the same. You could as well call it a four bar linkage. Don't get hung up on terminology. Maybe the OP had parallel in mind, or maybe triangulated, but lecturing him on irrelevant (and incorrect) terminology doesn't answer the question.

Wrong!!!! There not the same.Don't care what you have read,They are different. :nono: :nono: :nono:


And I'm not putting him down at all,I think he should know they are different...It is what it is...

 

Get it straight from the horse's mouth.

I can't argue with most of what the guys have said to help you. I will add this: arm yourself with knowledge of those sytems. A picture can truly be worth a thousand words. Get on line with Alston Chassis and get their catalog. It answers all your questions so clearly, shows photos, and also gives you costs. You can't go wrong if you do this. They have expert people that can tell you the best choice for your use and they can provide all the additional parts you will need to build in the required high-misalignment of the rod ends. Alston parts are super quality. I have also gotten good service and top quality parts from S&W Race Cars. If you go with ladder bars, don't go with the cheap ones because it is a pain in the butt to set the pinion angle. The good bars have adjusters built into the bottom tubes. Also keep in mind your truck is no lightweight and you are hitting the tires with a lot of force with 450 engine HP. Get it from the pros and good luck!
Pat

 

OK guys, I guess you mean that a link has an adjustment on each end, and a bar doesn't.
So in the interest of learning your definitions... does it matter if the link end is a Heim or a bushing?
I see some kits have a bushing welded to one end of the bar, and a threaded bushing on the other end - is that a link or a bar?

Tom

 

Casperdude
First does your truck smoke one tire or two , posi or non posi ?
Second do you know what the rearend gear ratio is ?
Third is it stock height or has it been lowered ?
Fourth are the springs below or above the rearend housing?
Gene

 

1. A real four link.
2.A four bar.
3.A triangle four bar.

You can get them with the same ends on all of them.But that don't make them the same... :nono:

 

On a 4 bar system the bars are normally parallel like on street rods and do nothing to improve traction ???????????
And on a four link system the bars are not parallel and have many adjustment holes so the instant center can be adjusted to improve traction ?????
Thats the way I understood them to work.
Gene

 

On a 4 bar system the bars are normally parallel like on street rods and do nothing to improve traction ???????????
And on a four link system the bars are not parallel and have many adjustment holes so the instant center can be adjusted to improve traction ?????
Thats the way I understood them to work.
Gene

Your correct!!!!!! :thumbup:

 

OK guys, I guess you mean that a link has an adjustment on each end, and a bar doesn't.
So in the interest of learning your definitions... does it matter if the link end is a Heim or a bushing?
I see some kits have a bushing welded to one end of the bar, and a threaded bushing on the other end - is that a link or a bar?

Tom

Tom all the adjustable end do,Is let's you dial in your pinion angle right,And also to set your bar's to the right lengths. Heim joints are used on race cars,Bushing are used on the street,They will give you a better ride.Hope this helps..

 

So... if I weld up the holes on that 4 bar it becomes a four link?