4-Link Tech

[AssBurns]

I'm going to update the OP with this as well, but here is the link to the 3 and 4 link calculators for download. Scroll to the bottom right of the page for the Excel based calculators.

https://patooyee.com/calculators/calculators.htm

 

[4runner DOA]

Still waiting on @Hank to do his write-up.

 

[Hank]

Still waiting on @Hank to do his write-up.

I'm still waiting for me to finish the damn thing. Still need to settle out the ride height, bump stops and bypasses.

 

[AssBurns]

Some work that we got done on my buddy Robert's 4runner this past weekend. Next up is getting the 14" x 2.5" ADS coilovers mounted up.
We had to make a new crossmember in the rear and new mounts for the F150 tank. He had the @Eimkieth tank relocation kit, but since we cut the stock crossmember out, we had to make new mounts.

 

[AssBurns]

Finished my portion of the work on Robert's truck. Next it's going to someone else for all the sheet metal work.

 

[Dezert4Runner]

I love the notched frame with coilovers, how much travel does it pull bumped and strapped? Not articulated, but drooped out?

 

[AssBurns]

I love the notched frame with coilovers, how much travel does it pull bumped and strapped? Not articulated, but drooped out?

Honestly I have no idea. I didn't measure the travel. They are 14" coilovers with a slight angle inboard. With it strapped and bumped, I am guessing 13-13.5". I really don't know.
He did take it for a cruise in the dirt yesterday and said it was a night and day difference. Especially the lack of body roll when cornering. He said his front shocks need to be firmer since the rear actually has performance now.

 

[Dezert4Runner]

Ok, my truck next! Actually I couldn’t deal with a cross bar in my cargo space for the times I fold the seats down for various cargo since I use it like a truck bed at times. After looking a little closer, did you make the cross brace removable? I like how it’s tucked against the rear seats. Reminds me of the shock hoops in prerunners that are designed to be able to fit dirt bikes in the bed still.

 

[4runner DOA]

Ok, my truck next! Actually I couldn’t deal with a cross bar in my cargo space for the times I fold the seats down for various cargo since I use it like a truck bed at times. After looking a little closer, did you make the cross brace removable? I like how it’s tucked against the rear seats. Reminds me of the shock hoops in prerunners that are designed to be able to fit dirt bikes in the bed still.

You just need a truck too. Makes life easier.

 

[Dezert4Runner]

You just need a truck too. Makes life easier.

I had a 1st gen doublecab Tacoma and it stayed mostly stock until I sold it in 2011 and got a 3rd gen 4Runner

It had a baby bed as it was but I was able to squeeze a YZ 125 in there cockeyed. A low pro bed cage would have made the bed as useful as a 4runner rear cargo area.

 

[4runner DOA]

I had a 1st gen doublecab Tacoma and it stayed mostly stock until I sold it in 2011 and got a 3rd gen 4Runner

It had a baby bed as it was but I was able to squeeze a YZ 125 in there cockeyed. A low pro bed cage would have made the bed as useful as a 4runner rear cargo area.

One thing I'm happy I did was get the access cab 2nd gen. Did me 2 favors. Kept more than 1 person asking for a ride at a time, and got me the 6 foot bed.

 

[AssBurns]

Ok, my truck next! Actually I couldn’t deal with a cross bar in my cargo space for the times I fold the seats down for various cargo since I use it like a truck bed at times. After looking a little closer, did you make the cross brace removable? I like how it’s tucked against the rear seats. Reminds me of the shock hoops in prerunners that are designed to be able to fit dirt bikes in the bed still.

Yeah we used some tube clevis’s to make the cross bar removable. It’s still pretty narrow back there due to how the shock hoops kick in and coilovers being right there, but his kid can still sleep back there comfortably which was the goal. We tried to keep the cross bar as close to the seats as possible with just enough room to get a strap around it for tying things down if needed.

 

[Tetten]

so turns out 3 linking these LWB tacomas involves compromises on top of compromises, so I'm back to 4 linking w/ sway bar and just relocating the gas tank.

Got an odd ball question
Is it possible to mount specialty joints (ballistic, johnny, etc) vertically? Looks like the only downside is that they can't be greased while installed but I can only find photos of them mounted horizontally. I'm wondering if they can be used in the vertical style upper link mounts that located the joints closer together like this:

 

[theesotericone]

so turns out 3 linking these LWB tacomas involves compromises on top of compromises, so I'm back to 4 linking w/ sway bar and just relocating the gas tank.

WTF? I thought you'd have your shit back together by now?

Wheeling season 2020 cancelled. lol

 

[4runner DOA]

so turns out 3 linking these LWB tacomas involves compromises on top of compromises, so I'm back to 4 linking w/ sway bar and just relocating the gas tank.

Got an odd ball question
Is it possible to mount specialty joints (ballistic, johnny, etc) vertically? Looks like the only downside is that they can't be greased while installed but I can only find photos of them mounted horizontally. I'm wondering if they can be used in the vertical style upper link mounts that located the joints closer together like this:


View attachment 26831

I'd think it would have to do with range of motion. If you're mounting the rod end horizontal you've got no travel.

 

[Tetten]

WTF? I thought you'd have your shit back together by now?

Wheeling season 2020 cancelled. lol

Not happening any time soon, just sorting things out for next year and making sure what I'm planning is going to work. Got a couple 3 link brackets and after taking measurements and seeing how other people were doing things it quickly became obvious that everyone 3 linking these is making compromises...and some people are making huge compromises.

 

[Tetten]

I'd think it would have to do with range of motion. If you're mounting the rod end horizontal you've got no travel.

That's probably it. Heims can be mounted however someone wants, but the angles might be too much for those special joints to be mounted vertically.

 

[kasnerd]

so turns out 3 linking these LWB tacomas involves compromises on top of compromises, so I'm back to 4 linking w/ sway bar and just relocating the gas tank.

Got an odd ball question
Is it possible to mount specialty joints (ballistic, johnny, etc) vertically? Looks like the only downside is that they can't be greased while installed but I can only find photos of them mounted horizontally. I'm wondering if they can be used in the vertical style upper link mounts that located the joints closer together like this:


View attachment 26831

is it possible to move the mounts down and outwards on side to give more uptravel? bonus for using less metal when tied into the gussets.

 

[kasnerd]

caveman drawing for engineering purposes

 

[Tetten]

caveman drawing for engineering purposes
View attachment 26832

My question was more out of curiosity than something I needed to do out of necessity. I want as much strength as possible in my set up so I'm keeping the axle link mounts as far away as possible while maintaining ground clearances.