3-link w/ stock Trailing Arms? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Long63 · 03-20-2009, 06:50 PM

I searched all over the forum and couldn't find a straight answer to this, but its my first post so go easy on me.

I am wondering if its worth it to setup my stock 63 rear suspension with an upper wishbone to make it a 3-link and eliminate the panhard bar. The truck probably won't be bagged but will get a big static drop, 6 inches at least. The wishbone looks like a superior locating device over the panhard bar, is there a ride and handling advantage? Mostly I just think it looks cool and would be fun to make.

It seems to me that I wouldn't have to worry about the pinion angle because the rear axle is already located by the stock trailing arms, just square it up side to side.

Thanks

mvfd70 · 03-20-2009, 07:57 PM

I'm not sure if that would work or not. What I am planning on doing with my drop is just using an adjustable panhard bar. Most of the vendors have them I'd think. Brothers actually has them on sale right now for $62.99.

Long63 · 03-20-2009, 08:06 PM

Yeah, I know theres a bunch of track bar kits available, I just wanted too see if something different would work.

chevy_mike · 03-20-2009, 08:22 PM

A Watts link setup would work great to center the axle.

joe231 · 03-20-2009, 08:30 PM

a wish-bone will work, but it will have to have a slip joint in it.
With the stock arms the length of the wish-bone will have to change through out the suspension arc......

fastbagged68 · 03-20-2009, 08:47 PM

I have a wishbone on my suburban in my avatar. It works great! But you have to do it the opposite way it would normally mount and with a slipjoint in it. I will post pictures of mine if a couple days. They will be in a post about my new air system install of ACCU AIR. Look for it by the end of this weekend.

fixit-p · 03-20-2009, 08:47 PM

I think that would be a cool setup if you changed the way the trailing arm attached to the axle where it would pivot instead of being a rigid connection but I wonder if the trailing arms not being parallel would cause a poblem?

Long63 · 03-20-2009, 10:40 PM

Right, since the factory setup has the axle bolted directly to the arms, the wishbone must have a sliding link, unlike the true 3-link where the lower links pivot on the axle housing. I couldn't figure this part out before.

03-20-2009, 06:50 PM	#1
Long63 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Binbrook, ON Posts: 5	3-link w/ stock Trailing Arms? I searched all over the forum and couldn't find a straight answer to this, but its my first post so go easy on me. I am wondering if its worth it to setup my stock 63 rear suspension with an upper wishbone to make it a 3-link and eliminate the panhard bar. The truck probably won't be bagged but will get a big static drop, 6 inches at least. The wishbone looks like a superior locating device over the panhard bar, is there a ride and handling advantage? Mostly I just think it looks cool and would be fun to make. It seems to me that I wouldn't have to worry about the pinion angle because the rear axle is already located by the stock trailing arms, just square it up side to side. Thanks

03-20-2009, 07:57 PM	#2
mvfd70 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Opdyke, IL Posts: 775	Re: 3-link w/ stock Trailing Arms? I'm not sure if that would work or not. What I am planning on doing with my drop is just using an adjustable panhard bar. Most of the vendors have them I'd think. Brothers actually has them on sale right now for $62.99. __________________ 1978 Chevrolet Silverado 3/4 ton 400 small block. 2000 F-250 Powerstroke 2002 GMC Yukon Denali XL Last edited by mvfd70; 03-20-2009 at 07:58 PM.

03-20-2009, 08:06 PM	#3
Long63 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Binbrook, ON Posts: 5	Re: 3-link w/ stock Trailing Arms? Yeah, I know theres a bunch of track bar kits available, I just wanted too see if something different would work.

03-20-2009, 08:22 PM	#4
chevy_mike Never Ending Projects Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 3,836	Re: 3-link w/ stock Trailing Arms? A Watts link setup would work great to center the axle. __________________ . 1965 C10 Panel, Tiki Express http://www.67-72chevytrucks.com/vboa...d.php?t=506580 SOLD 1968 Chevy C10, Long, Fleetside, Hot Rod Hauler http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=313233 SOLD 1965 Chevy C10, Long, Fleetside, Hot Rod C10 http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=415702 SOLD We were given two ears and one mouth for a reason... listen twice as much and speak half as often...

03-20-2009, 08:30 PM	#5
joe231 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Palmer, Alaska Posts: 13,821	Re: 3-link w/ stock Trailing Arms? a wish-bone will work, but it will have to have a slip joint in it. With the stock arms the length of the wish-bone will have to change through out the suspension arc...... __________________ *CHEVY ONLY*

03-20-2009, 08:47 PM	#6
fastbagged68 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Tri Valley California Posts: 792	Re: 3-link w/ stock Trailing Arms? I have a wishbone on my suburban in my avatar. It works great! But you have to do it the opposite way it would normally mount and with a slipjoint in it. I will post pictures of mine if a couple days. They will be in a post about my new air system install of ACCU AIR. Look for it by the end of this weekend.

03-20-2009, 08:47 PM	#7
fixit-p Registered User Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Yay Area CA Posts: 2,329	Re: 3-link w/ stock Trailing Arms? I think that would be a cool setup if you changed the way the trailing arm attached to the axle where it would pivot instead of being a rigid connection but I wonder if the trailing arms not being parallel would cause a poblem?

03-20-2009, 10:40 PM	#8
Long63 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Binbrook, ON Posts: 5	Re: 3-link w/ stock Trailing Arms? Right, since the factory setup has the axle bolted directly to the arms, the wishbone must have a sliding link, unlike the true 3-link where the lower links pivot on the axle housing. I couldn't figure this part out before. Last edited by Long63; 03-20-2009 at 10:40 PM.

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