Parallel 4 link front for my 80 (1 Viewer)

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kidglove13

kidglove13

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Ok, I have researched till I am blue in the face

My 80 is slowly becoming a trail rig, I will be getting another daily driver in the coming weeks

I have not done any real measuring or figuring yet
But, would it be possible to mimic the rear 4 link on the front?
It would not be exaclty the same obviously but it does look like it could fit with proper fitment

Of course I would figure a way to move the tierod to the front of the axle.

What are your thoughts?

And dont say just 3 link it because that is not what I want to do
The rear set up of an 80 works so well
 
Factory suspension works as well as it does because it hasn't been lifted. When you start changing what the angle of the links are at ride ht. you change the performance of the vehicle. This is one reason people build longer links. It helps to keep the angle right.

Flatter is "ALWAYS" better!

Yes you can do something similar, its all a matter of fitment. If you run 2lowers, 2uppers & panhard, your suspension will experience less bind if the uppers and lowers are the same length and angle to eachother.

Most dont go this route because of fitment issues. It becomes an issue of keeping a decent amount of separation between the links both at the frame and then at the axle.

Link separation handles the torque. The more separtion you have the less strain on the bracket, joints, bolts and link material.
 
I understand all of that even at 5+ inches or so of lift the rear of the 80 works great and the front radius arms arent the best
The rear 4 link on the 80 the top arms are about half the length of the lowers
Less binding is what I want, and I dont want a three link, why, I dont know I just dont want a three link
I still think that there might be just enough room to squeeze it in there
I guess I really need to sit under the truck and really look at it
Yes fitment is going to be the biggest issue by far on an 80
 
I was under the impression that people used a three link with a panhard to avoid bump steer.
 
Still in the figuring stage
But this would be a setup similar to the rear of the 80 with a panhard as well to help with bump steer

For the tierod I was thinking about getting another steering arm from a righthand drive 80 and moving the tierid to the front
 
Building a 4 link for the front of the 80 is certainly a doable setup. Why you are opposed to a 3 link I don’t get though. If you are using a panhard bar in both cases you will have a much easier time of it going with a well built 3 link. The issue with the 4 link becomes mounting both upper arms in the same position, you will have to make compromises to do this. With a single upper link you will more than likely be able to get better separation at the mounting points which will more than handle the torque.

Mimicking the rear suspension is not a good idea. Yes, the rear suspension does work, it is my opinion that it would work far better with longer upper links. The upper links are limited by the fuel tank. Remove your shocks and springs and cycle your rear suspension and watch how the axle moves. Longer upper links would cut down on the change in pinion angle and be far smoother.
 
Well lets clarify somethings, first off the rear off an 80 has a panhard, but it also has two uppers and two lowers. This sometimes is called a 5link. You can also call it a 4link, but its still different than a trianglulated 4link which is still different than a double triangluated 4link.

Yes a panhards purpose is first to locate the axle laterally and second to follow the draglink or visa versa depends on how you want to slice that pie, some like to say its the draglink that follows the panhard. What ever you want to call it.

A 5link in the front will work just fine and be very stout. But under extreme amounts of flex will bind more than a 3link. The 3link craze only came about recently (10 years or so) because there is "NO" binding. You can run 20" shocks with out the link interferring with your travel. But we are talking about an 80. Two upper links is stronger, so just do it.
 
My goal is to free up some articulation in the front end, but not to where I would need 20 inch shocks
My off roading has got to apoint where the stock 80 radius arms are becoming less than desirable
I understand that it is an 80 and not a rock buggy, but I love the size and capacity of the 80 and its capabilities for such a large rig
I want just alittle bit more from the front
I think that an 80's off raod capabilities can be enhanced just a bit more but obviuosly there will be limit due to the size of the truck and the weight

I know that this has been beat to death over the years but, besides Tools R Us who made his own radius arm set up no on has really can up with a solution besides full blown rework of the entire front

There has to be a reasonable way

I am not looking for a debate here just constructive feed back

Right off the bat is the problem of joint seperation at the axle because of upper space restrictions
What would be the minimum working joint separation at the axle that would be reasonable and functional

This is going to happen
I just want to get all my ducks in a row before I get to work
 
Last edited:
would a four link in the front still be driveable on the highway?
 
if you're going that route why not just put the rubicon express type radius arms?
 
If it is done right I do not see why not, people drive 3 links on the road
I have thought about those arms as well, and now rethinking the 3 link option again as well
It is that I dont want to fxxx this up and do it right the first time
The big question is space and link seperation on the axle
Even at 5+ inches of lift it still looks tight
I need to really start messing around with link brackets and cycling the front axle to see where everthing ends up, that will be the only way to tell what will fit and what wont.
First I need to go pick up my new to me putt putt DD so that I can take the 80 out of comission and start messing with it
 
I'm excited to see what you come up with! Once I get the new body and all of the tube work done on my 80, I will be 3-linking the front. I'm going 3-link due to being slightly easier... Basically I will copy what Action Jackson did but with a few changes. Hopefully it will work out the way I have in my head! Heck, I've only been thinking about it for 5 years...
 
My head hurts from so much info
It is almost to much info, because now it is starting to confuse me a little bit
I guess sometimes too much info is not good
Alot more figuring and head scratching
Jacksons build is looking more and more attractive because it is all right there for you to see
We will see
My head hurts I need some advill
 
I don't see why get you free problems with 4 link .. 3 link + panhard and you are done .. then H steer and 60 series setup to move both steering links to the front ...
 
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