I needed to build a bracket for a Watts Linkage on a O/T car I'm building. I wanted it to be adjustable, so I can change the Roll Center. I couldnt find anything that would fit the car and the axle I'm using, so I made my own. First, I made a Template/ Mockup out of cardboard and maskingtape. Then I took measurements off that, and copied it in steel.
And test fit under the car. View attachment 915666 View attachment 915667 View attachment 915668 It all needs to be finishwelded, and the holes for the centerbolt are still undersize. ( I'll drill those to size after the finish welds, so they will by nice and straight and inline ) Next I'll make the outside brackets that mount to the car...
Sweet! Thanks dude! What did u use for the center pivot and arms (sorry not sure what the right name for that part is, but the part inside the bracket)?
Alfa Romeo Alfetta. Its too wide for the car I'm putting it on. But thats allright, because the outside ends are going to be replaced with Heim Joints ( so I can shorten the tubes then...) The center pivot ( I think its also called the "football" ) and the inside ends of the tubes have rubber in them now, but I've found a company that sells Polyurithane replacements for Alfa's.
So it is a stock part (for now at least)? Huh... didn't know a watts link was used by any of the OEM's... Learn something every day...
The way you can see things like this in your head before you start fabbing just amazes me. Iceberg: I think the Dodge Durango uses a factory watts link also. But it aint no where near that pretty.
That looks good. I like your fine adjustment. But I had to sacrifice having that because I wanted the centerbolt to be in double shear.
Yeah, ideally double shear would be better but... It's a 3/4" bolt, we used a similar setup for the panhard bar in 3200# BGN cars and never had a problem and it's worked well for this. Makes it easy for quick adjustments at the track. How are you going to make the outer ends of the links adjustable?
Yeah, I know. It doesnt have to be double shear ( it wasn't on the Alfa Romeo I got the Link off ) But bolts in double shear make me happy... For outside adjustment, I'll make a vertical row of holes, just like I did on this bracket. But that is more to make sure that nothing goes into bind, and to keep the sideways loads as horizontal as possible. The Roll Center is determened by the pivot on the centerlink, so that is the critical one. I think I'll only do 3 holes for adjustment, instead of the 5 I have on the Axle Bracket. For ground clearence. ( this will be a Street Car as well...)
Some of us go for looks...others look for GO. Looks good to me Alex and it will obviously do the job it was designed for and do it WELL.
Me too.... I want to be right there next to you screaming and and ****ping my pants as we drift thru a corner at 100+
How do you get the nut on the bolt for the center pivot (Footbal), it looks like the bracket is tight to the pumpkin?
Its open on the right hand side ( with a flange on it for strength ) I can get in with a open ended wrench, and there is space between the bracket and the pumkin so I'll be able to use a nut and a lockwasher. I'm using a long bolt ( so the sideways loads are on the shoulder and as little as possible on the threads ), that I will cut down
I am also building a watts link on a truck I am building ,and I not sure how much force is exerted on the center bolt.I am installing heim joints on the bars. should I use a br*** or poly bushing on the center bolt ?
I'm starting with stock streetcar parts, so I'm trying to stiffen things up. If I was building from scratch, I'd probably use a br*** bushing. Or bearings. I've seen a setup that a guy built for a racer, and he used front wheel bearings. ( he had the whole spindle bolted to the underside of his trunkfloor... and the hub was his Football. It looked crude as hell, but it seemed to work well.)
I disagree. For a lot of us, function IS form. There is something to be said for elegant and spartan utility. Unen***bered functionality has a beauty all its own. Let it never be said that engineers cannot wax poetic, when properly motivated.
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