Thread: 55.2-59 4 link decision
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Old 11-05-2021, 12:32 PM   #6
dsraven
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Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: calgary alberta
Posts: 7,854
Re: 4 link decision

whatever kit you go with, look at the diameter of the tubing and the wall thickness of the tubes. also consider the length of the bars/tubes. short bars will make the fore to aft location of the axle change slightly as you go over bumps so it becomes important to have the truck set up at ride height so the axle location can be dialed in. also, before you take stuff apart, plumb bob the old axle location and mark the floor and the frame so your new suspension can be set to keep the axle where it is supposed to be. it;s a good idea to do a frame squareness check prior to any mods as well, just so any defects can be addressed prior to setting something new up. it could be compared to building a house on a foundation that is not square. nothing is square from the floor up so problems get worse as you carry on.
some kits made for traction and planting the tires as per drag racing may not drive well on the road going through corners etc.
there is something to be said for keeping the leaf springs as well. easy to replace, even if you are doing a complete job including new more modern hangers etc. totally depends on budget and your wants for a final outcome.
things to consider
tube diameter, wall thickness and length
size of the bar ends and urethane bushings or heim joints-are they readily available
panhard or crossbar length and location.
beefiness of the bracket material used and how it is braced/bolted up
real estate taken up by the system and what else will be affected
ride expected
use expected-buying a system that is non adjustable and expecting it to plant the tires at the strip may be expecting too much, and vice versa.
brackets with holes to place the bars in different locations to change their angles will be more for traction. parallel bars will be more for street. check the summit site for ideas and pics of the different styles. not endorsing anybody here, it's just the first site that came up on my google search. a little research now will make a difference later. never good to rush in on the underpinnings since they are the base of the build. like the foundation of the house. chassis dimensional checks should be included in there someplace.
https://www.summitracing.com/search/...sion-link-kits

4 link calculator for you to see all the dynamics of a set up
https://www.performancetrends.com/4link.htm

frame checking procedure can be found in the assembly manual along with dimensions drawings of the frame. good to download this as it comes in handy for other stuff too
https://www.trifive.com/d1/55-59Assy.pdf
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