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Thread: Rear Suspension Setup

  1. #1
    Tyre Kicker

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    Rear Suspension Setup

    Just bought a shell which has been four linked, turreted etc, no panrod or watts link mounts have been added yet as undecided what to install.

    Its going to be for fast road/track use running an ST170 motor, hoping to get around 200hp.

    So what is best to run?

    Slipper Springs and Turreted Shocks

    Coilovers, Four Link and Panrod

    Coilovers, Found Link an Watts Link

    I had planned on using an english axle.

  2. #2
    Spanner Monkey

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    Re: Rear Suspension Setup

    Hey, I decided to go with Coil overs and watts in the end. I personally think for tarmac that isn’t far wrong. The watts kits for English are reasonable - with 200hp though I assume you wouldn’t be using standard diff centre and axles? The other thing to note is that when fitting the watts be prepared to spend a bit of tome on setup, both to get the watts towers on and in the correct place but also the ride height. Cheers.

  3. #3
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    Re: Rear Suspension Setup

    I wont be Tarmac rallying, so not sure if Watts is just an overkil?

  4. #4
    Mechanic davemk1's Avatar

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    Re: Rear Suspension Setup

    If you're going to do some welding then why not do it all! Turrets and six link will give you far greater axle control.
    I've done this to mine but I thought the watts bracket that welds to the back of the diff looks a bit flimsy and might flex under side loads so i reinforced mine.
    Have a look at mine. It's post number 42
    http://www.turbosport.co.uk/showthre...=169899&page=2

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    Spanner Monkey

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    Re: Rear Suspension Setup

    Yep, second that, it’s a good thing to reinforce the towers. If you take it on a track then the extra location will help, unless it’s an oval track going the right way for the panhard. :-)

  6. #6
    Racer Decade Plus User rallyrob's Avatar

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    Re: Rear Suspension Setup

    And if you were to decide to use a panhard rod dont forget to strength/ plate the boot floor over the tower area as they can split the boot floor. Though this is only more important if you're going rallying.

  7. #7
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    Re: Rear Suspension Setup

    The car as already been done, it was meant to be panrodded but wasnt done until engine choice was made.. being as im going zetec I know which side to go..

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    Racer Decade Plus User Forest_rallying's Avatar

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    Re: Rear Suspension Setup

    If you are going for coil over suspension then you need to make sure the turrets are strong enough to take the whole weight of the rear end of the car, you might well have to tie the roll cage into the turrets to give them some support. A normal turret is only there to act as damping for the rear shockers.

  9. #9
    Bodger

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    Rear Suspension Setup

    Hmm it's a tough call, from your post the shell is already turreted so coilovers all the way.

    As long as the cage is tied into the turrets and each turret is linked to the other turret.

    From a linkage point of view I have tarmac rallied both panhard and Watts.

    I rally an opel manta which comes with panhard as standard tied into the chassis rail, all I had to do was reinforce it. It never failed and I rose jointed each end of the rod so had great control over suspension geometry.

    When I turreted the shell and 4 linked the axle (as the bhp went up) I jumped to 6 linked as there's no ifs or buts.

    Honestly I can't say I notice a huge difference from panhard to Watts as the jump to coilovers is where the big gain seemed to be.

    If the panhard tower needs welding in anyway why not go Watts?.....

    Sent from my CLT-L09 using Tapatalk

  10. #10
    Bodger

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    Re: Rear Suspension Setup

    Off topic, do you need to run a panrod if running four link with slipper springs?

  11. #11
    Racer Decade Plus User

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    Re: Rear Suspension Setup

    Quote Originally Posted by MrKnifey View Post
    Off topic, do you need to run a panrod if running four link with slipper springs?
    Certainly do or a Watts linkage as 4 links even with slipper springs offer very little axle restraint

  12. #12
    Bodger

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    Re: Rear Suspension Setup

    ok thanks

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