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07-25-2020, 01:46 PM | #1 |
Gone Wild
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Santa Cruz, Californnistan
Posts: 326
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4 link vs. Radius arms and Panhard bar
Thoughts on performance and function with a 4 link vs simpler radius arms and track bar?
Seems like the radius arm setup will be simpler and require less parts. Any reason the 4 link is worth the extra cost and time? |
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07-25-2020, 04:05 PM | #2 |
Searching for The Way
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Medina, Ohio (NEOHIO)
Posts: 11,421
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Re: 4 link vs. Radius arms and Panhard bar
What cart are we talking about? In general a 4 link is IMO the best style of rear suspension system, provided the geometry is correct and the spring rates are correct. On a golf cart it's all fabrication and trial and error.
With that said, some carts a 4 link is not possible, or is very difficult to do. Most gas carts the short links will interfere with the drive belt location. Electric carts seem to have much more room. On my G1 with G2 rear and swing arm, I cannot fit a 4 link. So the plan is to have a "3 link". You might enjoy my thread on this subject... https://www.buggiesgonewild.com/showthread.php?t=153805 |
07-26-2020, 12:01 AM | #3 |
Gone Wild
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Santa Cruz, Californnistan
Posts: 326
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Re: 4 link vs. Radius arms and Panhard bar
2001 CC DS Electric
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07-26-2020, 10:31 AM | #4 |
Searching for The Way
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Medina, Ohio (NEOHIO)
Posts: 11,421
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Re: 4 link vs. Radius arms and Panhard bar
If you have the room the 4 link is superior IMO.
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07-26-2020, 03:35 PM | #5 |
Gone Wild
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Santa Cruz, Californnistan
Posts: 326
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Re: 4 link vs. Radius arms and Panhard bar
I guess it's not really all that much harder. Gonna pull the body off next week and have a look.
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07-26-2020, 04:24 PM | #6 |
Getting Wild
Join Date: Oct 2019
Location: Cultural Wastelands Of Central MI
Posts: 113
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Re: 4 link vs. Radius arms and Panhard bar
You're not building a drag car or a a corner-carver. Radius arms and a track bar (or a Watts linkage if you're really crazed) is a helluva' lot simpler and will serve your purpose just fine. Cut spring leaves off behind the axle, use them for control arms, add coil-over shocks and a panhard bar. Just like a 40-year old late model circle-burner. Been there.
Jim |
07-29-2020, 12:16 AM | #7 | |
Gone Wild
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Santa Cruz, Californnistan
Posts: 326
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Re: 4 link vs. Radius arms and Panhard bar
Quote:
Got the buggy stripped down to the frame. Gonna really look at it this week. Also trying to figure out shocks. I need about 15 inches at ride height. I found springs from the Honda Foreman Rubicon. They are 17" eye to eye. The Rubicon weighs 690 lbs. Seems that this would be a pretty good fit as length seems good (with a couple of inches of sag) and vehicle weights are similar. Thoughts? |
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07-29-2020, 12:19 AM | #8 | |
Gone Wild
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Santa Cruz, Californnistan
Posts: 326
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Re: 4 link vs. Radius arms and Panhard bar
Quote:
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07-29-2020, 06:50 AM | #9 |
Searching for The Way
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Medina, Ohio (NEOHIO)
Posts: 11,421
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Re: 4 link vs. Radius arms and Panhard bar
Utility atv shocks are great. Sport atv shocks will be a little on the light side, but will ride nice and soft. UTV shocks will be too stiff. I've tried all 3, various models and styles. I get them used on ebay for about $100 a pair or less.
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07-29-2020, 07:15 AM | #10 |
Searching for The Way
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Medina, Ohio (NEOHIO)
Posts: 11,421
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Re: 4 link vs. Radius arms and Panhard bar
Just a thought on this, I too have considered a radius arm suspension. Here's what I came up with. The radius arm suspension (aka 2 link) is great for simplicity and strength and it does a great job at keeping the rear axle from rotating and binding. However, the downside is that it does not articulate. Some people even call this type of suspension a "swing arm" type because the motion is a swinging motion. Here's a video of what I mean.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ISNuE091FT8 This type of suspension is what I have on my G1/G9 hybrid cart. The G1, G2, G9 have a swingarm suspension type that moves in a swinging arc and leaves nothing to be desired. I've tried soft shocks, stiff shocks, short shocks, air shocks.....it just rides like crap because it has no articulation. If one rear tire hits a bump, the whole rear end hops up and down. Now if you build the radius arms/trailing arms with heim joints, now you have articulation. That will require the need for a panhard bar to keep the axle on center. Now you're into a little more work. Now you are in the 3 link territory because of the need for the 3rd lateral link or panhard bar. Have you considered a "3 Link" setup? |
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