4 link vs leaf spring Dual purpose

[ntsqd]

Just because they work doesn't mean they don't suck. Lemmings are as lemmings do.

 

[tgell001]

I did a bunch of research on this very topic in regards to my Land Cruiser about 10 years ago. Here's the quick and dirty summary:

There's a lot of engineering that will need to go into a 3 or 4 link suspension system in order to make it ride well and drive correctly. It's not just bolting up the link parts and going. Fitting up used Jeep parts likely won't work well because a Jeep has a different wheel base and center of gravity when compared to your Toyota. Those are some of the most important aspect of designing a linked suspension.

I'd suggest that you find some books on setting up linked suspension, so you get a good idea of what concepts like antisquat mean, what they do, and how they affect your ride. After you've done that, look up the 4link calculator (or 3 link calculator) where you will put in wheel base, tire size, center of gravity, etc.

Heres a few from a quick google search:

Chassis Engineering by Herb Adams
Fundamentals of Vehicle Dynamics by Thomas D. Gillespie
Race Car Vehicle Dynamics by Milliken and Milliken

Once you've got a good plan there, then go start taking measurements from your truck. You'll find that the idea place to put your upper link mounts won't work because that's where the crankshaft of your motor is. So make some more drawing, then go adjust the 4 link calculator output so that you can make thing work in the real world, and then you need to decide the compromises that you will need to take on order to make it all work.

Oh and per my Land Cruiser? I just did a standard spring over with leaf springs.

Sorry for jumping in, but I couldnt ignore the mention. I have those 2nd two books left over from undergrad haha.. Really good reads and old versions have to be cheap by now or even free. Admittedly, I haven't opened them since