Xlink vs aframe vs 4 link

Joined: 21 Oct 2007 Location: rothwell

Hey guys i have a project under way and would like some opinions on what to do with the rear suspension.

4 link seems the easiest option but is it the best for flex and can someone PLEASE explain the Xlink thing to me.

Cheers

Joined: 22 Aug 2005 Location: act

x-link is the way to go

Joined: 19 Dec 2002 Location: Sydney

nissaneatstoyota wrote:

Hey guys i have a project under way and would like some opinions on what to do with the rear suspension.

4 link seems the easiest option but is it the best for flex and can someone PLEASE explain the Xlink thing to me.

Cheers

okay, im going to take a stab in the dark here and say you drive a patrol, now you are talking about the rear end correct? Xlink comes into play when you are running radius arms like the front for example, now on the rear id definitely go a triangulated 4 link, will work best for you,

there is no point putting radius arms in the rear just so you can run a xlink, personally i dont like them anyways,

Joined: 21 Oct 2007 Location: rothwell

thanx ozy but what is wrong with xlink ?????????? Rolling Eyes

And yes another Patrol but a leaf sprung Mq ute.

Joined: 19 Dec 2002 Location: Sydney

nissaneatstoyota wrote:

thanx ozy but what is wrong with xlink ?????????? Rolling Eyes

And yes another Patrol but a leaf sprung Mq ute.

well if its a leaf spring MQ ute, and your going to coil the rear, id definately go the 4 link rear option, its all going to be custom no matter which way you go, i do not see the sense in fitting radius arms to the rear even if using a xlink,

now the reason for not linking them, i have driven one, plus seen one in use, and wasnt happy with the way it handled, but hey its my opinion, if you love them and want to fit one to the rear go for it, but with all work involved both way 4 link still wins for me mate

Posted: Mon Jun 30, 2008 10:24 am

nissaneatstoyota wrote:

... leaf sprung Mq ute.

4-Link works well and isn't too hard...

Posted: Mon Jun 30, 2008 1:33 pm

WICKED wrote:

nissaneatstoyota wrote:

... leaf sprung Mq ute.

4-Link works well and isn't too hard...

x2 or is that x3! Rolling Eyes

Joined: 19 Dec 2002 Location: Sydney

just re-reading this, i missed the A-Frame, bit, i run one in my comp truck and dont have a problem with it, but if i built it again id go a 4 link,

Joined: 21 Oct 2007 Location: rothwell

Thanks for the advice guys although Wicked has a vested interest in this and his advice might be slightly biased #Rofl

.

Ozy i have seen an A frame in action in a mates shortened Hilux,Buzz did the whole thing in his shed from scratch and it works bloody well for a Toyota(crap i hope he dosent read this).

Why would you not use an A frame again that Ute of yours seems to flex very well.

RMP&O can you please post up some more pic's of your suspension set up and the rest of the rig that looks like gr8 rig

cheers

Joined: 19 Dec 2002 Location: Sydney

oh, dont get me wrong, the a frame set up is sweet, but personally im keen to try something new, at the moment its running a a frame rear and 5 link front, id like to try a triangulated 4 link rear, and either a 3 link and panhard in the front, or something else, im just keen to try a few things,

at the moment im maxing out shocks front and rear so i cant complain there,

Joined: 30 Jul 2005 Location: wollongong nsw

hey guys this is a great thread but can i ask what is the road handling like?? is there a diferance between the three?

i was thinking of going A frame in my mq mainly for simplicity and i think (but not sure) it would be a bit easyer to set up, maintain and handle on and off road?

Joined: 21 Oct 2007 Location: rothwell

Hey Nick gooooooood question i was thinking Gq/ Gu bushes because they are reasonably cheap to buy and replace in the 4 link i will be building.

This wont be my daily driver so im not concerned re on road handling,but can someone who has one comment.

Also i have read that the top links should be 70% of the bottom links if this is true does it matter if they are mounted on an angle or should they be mounted horizontal (flat) pics would help please.

Cheers

Joined: 21 Oct 2007 Location: rothwell

Hey Ozy what did you use as the pivot point for your A frame just curious .

Joined: 19 Dec 2002 Location: Sydney

nissaneatstoyota wrote:

Hey Ozy what did you use as the pivot point for your A frame just curious .

when i first set it up, i just used a GQ lower trailing arm bush as the pivot point, but i destroyed it first trip out, so then i went to a dobbins joint,

i actually had mine on the open road the other day after a run, just had to drive it back to the trailer, with the a frame rear and 5 link front i found it handled really well, we were crusing at 70km/h, used a mates speedo for reading, i was running un balanced 38.5" swampers on 15x10's, with 2" wheel spacers, only had a minor shimmy which i think is from the tyres, they were also on 10psi,

im gunna try and give it a run on something balanced and see how she goes,

Joined: 22 Apr 2008 Location: dandenong ranges

hey guys who does the 4link in melb and how much would it cost to do this to my mq shorty

Joined: 09 Aug 2003 Location: Brisbane

Quote:

Also i have read that the top links should be 70% of the bottom links if this is true does it matter if they are mounted on an angle or should they be mounted horizontal (flat) pics would help please.

to help with geometry, have a read through this

http://www.4x4.hr/2007/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=69&Itemid=9

Joined: 21 Oct 2007 Location: rothwell

Thanks for the link Rolly that is some in depth sh*t.

I am now convinced that 4 link is the way to go i will now start getting some bits and pieces together.

I will post some pics a bit further down the track.

Cheers guys any other help would be gr8

Posted: Sat Jul 05, 2008 3:32 am

nissaneatstoyota wrote:

Thanks for the advice guys although Wicked has a vested interest in this and his advice might be slightly biased #Rofl

.

RMP&O can you please post up some more pic's of your suspension set up and the rest of the rig that looks like gr8 rig

cheers

more pics and info here....

http://www.patrol4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?s=e09b64b0c8a4a63e597de5806b204495&t=18297

The suspension works awesome, no complaints at all. Handles well on road and off both slow and fast. It is a little squishy on road but far better than I expected. It is set up to go up 4", adjustment built in. I plan to go up to 16" Fox shocks from the 12" in it now, hence the reason adjustment built into the suspension. The only thing I would like to change is my steering arms, would like them to be higher. But the drag link needs to be on the same angle as front panhard so until it comes up (16" shocks) nothing will change. I may eventually do a 4-link triangulated front instead of the 3-link with panhard in it now. We are finding I don't really need the front bump stops so more than likely they will be coming out.

if you have more specific questions pm me, post or whatever! Wink

Joined: 30 Jul 2005 Location: wollongong nsw

hey guys great info and luv the pics im sorry but i think (for me) 4 link a little complicated for a first set up and i think any custom set up is going to be an improvment

p.s this is a huge help for me so a thanks