Seems most everyone prefers the Ford front wishbone to a 4 bar setup, why is that? I want to put an 8BA in my '36 & CE says I need a '37-'40 split wishbone; they don't offer a 4 bar setup, maybe there's a good reason they don't? Since I don't have one of the later wishbones, I thought a 4 bar setup might be the way to go. Any opinions or thoughts would be appreciated.
I am running 36 splt bones with a super bell 4" drop, with no issues. Why would that be different from CE, other than possibly the perch width or boss thickness?????
Four bar would probably work better in most cases but wishbones or hair pins are more trad, and look better imo. Four bar works better with a tube axle.
Full fendered it does not really show. I'd still run bones because I've seen a few cars with 4 bar bushings that were getting chewed up. Less stuff to go wrong with bones, but you only get one shot with setting the initial caster.
On a 4 bar system the ends that attach at the frame have bushings. When the suspension moves up and down equally from side to side all is well but under normal driving conditions this seldom happens this way, each side moves at a different rate. Being that the ends are bushed this forces the entire front end ***embly to bend, twist and flex. Also I do not like the look of a 4 bar set-up where it meets the frame. Now splitting a wishbone looks clean and a lot smoother and on the end where it fastens at the frame you use a tie-rod end. With this set-up when the suspension moves at different amounts from side to side the tie-rod ends swivel eliminating all the twisting, flexing and binding of the components. The best system believe it or not for full suspension travel without any bending, flexing and twisting is the stock unsplit wishbone. It fastens and pivots in the center at the rear with the transverse spring also fastened in the center at the front. The only drawback for this set-up is side to side control which can be achieved with a good pair of tube shocks.
If you are putting an 8BA in a 36 with an early Ford trnasmission, you do not need to split the wishbones. Even if you use a t-5 and a ch***is engineering center x-member plate , you can make up a spacer and use the ball with the stock wish bone. They recommend the 37-40 wishbone, as it is narrower than a 35-36. With their dropped axle which is narrower overall, the tires will rub when turning. You can have your stock axle dropped (their are Hambers who provide this service, do a search). One of the reasons that CE makes the axle narrower is that most disc brake kits move the wheels out. There is nothing wrong with splits wishbones, on the 35-40 Ford, they mount them close together underneath which works good. Plus 4 bars do not look good on these cars.
I honestly don't think that the front end moves enough to warrant putting a four bar into a car with a single traverse leaf spring. . . plus a wishbone just looks right.
If my memory serves me the only reason to use a 4 bar would be with a tube axle..I don't want a debate here..but the original axle flexs at the ends with a wish bone or split wishbone...tube axles are not designed to flex and can have disaterous consequences..just a note...d32
Great disscusion, Just some "Useless informatiom", Over here,(Down Under), our "Department of Registration" wont allow us to split wishbone ends more than 12" apart..... Regards Dave.
NO debate here Dudley just a small clarification. If and when you use a 4 bar it should only be with a tube axle never with an I-beam axle. The I-beam axles design makes it unflexible where a tube axle can and does flex which is required with a 4 bar set-up, not the other way around.
I have both; my coupe has a fourbar/tube axle setup, and my pickup has split bones. The coupe had split bones before it got the fourbar. They all work fine. Make your decision based on economics and aesthetics, and have fun.
I believe you've got it backwards. I beam axles flex quite a bit. If you don't believe me, split some wishbones that are still pinned on the axle, then grab the ends and watch in amazement as you can pull the split ends up and down away from each other. Tube axles are less forgiving: no flex.
No debate here either but I was always told a tube will NOT flex as needed with split bones. It will crack the tube axle when used with bones. A tube axle should be used with a 4 bar set upas it is not a ridged in a flexing motion due to the bushed ends. An I beam axle WILL flex and is the only axle to use with split bones. Just what I was always told. Am I wrong on this?
I have had experience with a Super Bell tube axle with split bones under my old 39 Ford,,and you are right,,major problem when I hit a very rough old railroad track,,,the spring perch got in a bind and snapped off even with the top of the axle,,, Split bones,,only use the forged I beams,,,HRP
Tube axels do not flex and shouldn't be used with split wishbones at all. I beams are designed to flex which is why you can get away with splitting a front wish bone without too many problems.
This is interesting reading. 38 years ago, my Model A coupe had a beam axle and split wishbones. The whole set-up (axle, spring, wishbones, backing plates, brakes, brake drums, hubs, etc), chromed, was bought cheap at a swap meet because at the time, 4-bars were the way to go (Pete & Jake's and all that). Interesting to see things come full circle. One of the arguments for a 4-bar back then was exactly what has been mentioned: tube axle had no flex.
The Jalopy Journal
