EastTexasMinis

Well seeing as how i have never worked on a mini, i think i have a basic understanding on how the different mods can be accomplished. the one thing that just confuses the hell out of me, is the rear suspension (as far as a 2,3,4 link type stuff). Like what your personal preference is and how they work and maybe where i can find a tutorial. it seems i can find tutorials on everything else except this (maybe im not looking hard enough). I just want to fully understand how they work and all that before i go jumping headfirst into a project. Thanks

2 link is the cheapest and easiest to install the down fall is you pinion angle will change and rarely be correct except where you set it. so as the ass end bounces the angle changes. Which can ware out pinion seal quickly or rear end if too far off.

I prefer 4 or 6 link. that way your pinion doesn't change and normally get a smoother ride depending on how baggs are set up.

if you really want to know more about rear susp go to ask max on street source and look at all his threads

two links are cheap and easy and i have had plenty of them but like jeff said your pinion angle will change drasticly you get very little articulation in the rear and they do affect your traction

3 4 6 links all work on the same princaple they allow your pinion angle to remain somewhat the same through travel and can be set up for the traction articulation and travel you want there is just a ton of ways to set them up but there is a right and wrong way to do them

jeff is right about the 2-link it is the cheapest and easiest its wat i run on my truck!! and as far as the pinion angle goes if u set it up right and install shocks to limit the travel and make it ride right the pinion angle can be decent!!!!!!! as far as the rest of the link setups go if u dont get the geometry right on them they can cuase all sorts of problems like the truck we have in the shop right now the 4 link was setup wrong so wen u get over like 50 its like a roller coaster goin down the road!!! but on the other hand u can do side to side on any setup but a 2 link!!! 2 links are strickley for up and down

so i went on youtube today and i found this.......

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YoAu-gPPktQ

so is this basically what you guys are talking about?

i think the video is for a 4wd vehicle but i figure it could all work out for the same principle

seen this video before definately good video to show you how pinion angle works depending on link bars and setups.

that does show how the pinion angle can change depending on your set up but when doing a four link there is alot more to deal with than just your pinion angle the angle of your bars as to where they will intersect on there imaginary path or there instant center will have tons of affect on how your vehicle will preform if you really want to study up go to amazon or your local book store and get tune to win by carrol smith he covers all of the general theroy in front and rear suspion geometry and set up its for race cars but they all work and function on the same princapal

on a 2 link, would you set the angle to be right at ride hight or layed out? and also, does where the bags are mounted affect the pinion angle as well? I've been thinking about getting a 2link for my truck with the bags on the lower bars. what is ya'lls opionion for the best rear setup for a daily driver bagged ride. or is the dont bag your daily rule something I should really follow?

you want your pinion angle right at the height that you will drive at the most the location of your bags on the link bar will affect how much lift you get which the more travell your susp gets with a 2 link the more your pinion angle will change through the range of motion. two links are not the greatest as far as performance goes and traction but they work they are tough if done right and they are reliable and especilly for the ameture they are easy to do ekstensive sells and installs tons of them they do work

if you are gonna do your daily just make sure you do it right dont cut corners on work or with cheap parts plan it out and do it right i drove a bagged and bd dually for two years every day and it had a two link only problems i had was my fualt dragging through a lowwer arm and a brake line............................ so if you are gonna do your daily just do it right if you dont trust your work pay a reputable shop to do it for you the right way

thanks for the comments asshole. appreciate it.

not a problem

IMO, i think a 3 link would be the best on a daily driven truck.... no instant center to deal with (unlike a 4 link) and you dont get as much axle wrap that a standard 2 link would give you. the axle will also articulate better than the 2 link will also.... just figured i would throw it out there....

A THREE LINK WILL NEED THE INSTANT CENTER SET

how so? most three links have an offset design (if you are trying to utilize stock components) and will have the intersecting point equal with the lower bars making it act as a parrallel link but with 1 triangulated bar which zero's the need for a pan hard bar.....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suspension_(vehicle)
http://www.minitruckinweb.com/tech/susp ... to_03.html