Re: locating rear susp

Rich Atherton (gumby(at)connectexpress.com)
Sat, 30 May 1998 19:52:36 -0700

I had thought about this very thing a couple of months ago, but for = a different application, but it would work here as well The Idea is a = modified Panhard rod X 2. connected to opoist points (top and bottom) = on a pivoting plate which is attached to a bracket bolted or welded to = the differential. It won't do anything for wheel hop, but will provide = an absolute position (adjustable center point) for the rear axle. = Rhudimentary picture below. If you want a better one, email me = personally and I'll send yo the picture I created for this, we can't = send attachment through the list. Here's the Picture. panhard system = exagerated in size here.

o~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~o / B \ =20 ||||||| | o |~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~o |||||||
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|||||||=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D| =
|=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D|||||||
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The "o" represent panhard rod tie rod ends. The "B" is the pivot point = in the bracket. The plate is diamond shaped (not seen here) with a = pivot at the top and bottom. The can rotate around the center pivot = "B". OK, as the axel drops, the panhard rods rotate the plate but keep = the axel exactly in the center. Someone with autocad coutld work out = the actual geometries, becasue there is still a problem that needs to be = worked out. If only one wheel rises, (the left wheel for this argument) = the entire axle will have to swing up in an arc pivoting at "B" = Obviosly, this isn't a good thing. So initially this pivot point should = be as vlose to axel center line as possible. It may be possible to do = this on the back side of the differential. The "o" connections at least = at the frame end will need to be rubber mounted like normal suspention = mounts. This will give "some" play.

Let me know what you think!! Rich

BTW this is best viewed in Fixedsys font