Does anyone know the minimum or maximum that link bars or a big A-arm must be at, to keep an axle centered? I'm asking in degrees off of the north and south center line of the car? Any help would be great, including any web-sites that have this info. I've looked. I'm not being lazy. Just can't find it.
Maybe I'm a little thick headed, but I'm not exactly sure what you are asking. Can you post a pic of what you have in mind?
Aim for 45 degrees off the frame centerline, but no more. Past that point, stability will begin to diminish. The triangulated arms can be from axle center to frame, or frame center to outer axle, as shown. Here's what I think you are after....
You could have a look under a Chevelle or other GM car with triangulated 4-link rear for a real-world example that works.
This was answered a week or so ago by El Polako. The angle BETWEEN the angled links should be close to 90º
what are the considerations for having the angled bars wide on axle pointing inward or narrow on axle pointing outward. One point I see is that the first needs a cross member for the mounting brackets where with the second the brackest can go on the frame rail. As an extension of the original question what about bar lengths, top and bottom.
As best I can figure, it's a matter of the angle of thrust. Have the bars from outer axle to inner frame and you push on the center of the car. If one wheel loses traction, the wheel with grip is pushing on the center of the car, so less energy is trying to make the car swing out. This is a minor influence and largely depends on how high or low the brackets are in relation to the axle. If the top bars are high ad bottom are low, they share the thrust load more than if the top bars are down close to the axle. The math is head spinning. Anyway, that's the best I can figure. Maybe an engineer will argue with me and we'll both learn something.
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