Thread: D2's flexing

Mine is all standard just with 235/85R16's. For now!!

Originally Posted by disco_thrasher

tell more too please

The radius arms are bolted to the axle using 2 bolts. This is so that every time you accelerate or brake that the axle doesn't rotate. That setup is great is you hit bumps and hollows so that the whole axle moves up and down as the radius arms work in harmony.

If you try to articulate, or twist the axle as if you are driving one wheel up onto a rock, this causes the radius arms to work against each other. If the radius arms were bolts solidly to the axle with the 2 bolts, then the radius arms would always have to be aligned with each other, and the implication is that then you wouldn't be able to achieve any articulation. If the radius arms can move in relation to each other then the suspension geometry will allow articulation. The bit that allows that movement in a radius arm suspension design is the bushes, and the more the bushes can flex and allow misalignment of the bushes, then the easier it is for the suspension to articulate. The design of drilled/slotted/holey bushes is that they allow more movement within the bush which allows more articulation.

5-link setups replace the radius arms. A radius arm setup has 1 arm (link) which is bolted to the chassis with one bolt (to allow movement) and 2 at the axle (to prevent rotation of the axle). This occurs on both sides of the axle. A five link setup replaces the radius arm with 2 links per side, both which are bolted to the chassis with one bolt and the axle with one bolt. One link sits over the other generally and roughly, with the 2 links preventing the axle from rotating when braking and accelerating, but it allows less resistance to articulating as the 2 links work like a moving parrallelogram as each end of the axle raises and falls. This setup is duplicated on both sides of the axle which adds up to 4 links, and the 5th link is the Panhard rod which provides lateral location of the axle.

The implication is that the 5 link allows more articulation than a radius arm setup.


Pictured below is a 5-link suspension setup



The 5th link is the Panhard to provide lateral axle location, but on the rear there is already a watts linkage which is arguably a better setup for axle lateral location which is why I wondered if this was going to be retained.

Yes, the watts will stay for sure.
There's a massive amount of force put on the bushes and arms, as a wheel goes down the diff housing wants to roll forwards a bit, as the opposite wheel wants to go up the housing wants to turn the other way, the only way movement is achieved is through the give in the bushes. The design of the 5 link the stress is far less and you gain far more opposing movement.
Im having a hard time waiting

I'v gotta see this also. You've put a lot of time and energy into your suspension!

Slunnie and Baffle thanks for the explanations awesome it gives me a better understanding now

lets get some more flexing pics up

Originally Posted by Slunnie

I'v gotta see this also. You've put a lot of time and energy into your suspension!

AH HAA, you got different bushes, that's why yours was better up the ramp OMG more money, I hate you Simon

Baz.

Baffle - are you still looking at the SLS logic?

Originally Posted by Redback

AH HAA, you got different bushes, that's why yours was better up the ramp OMG more money, I hate you Simon

Baz.

Hehehe, no they are just standard LandRover bushes. There isn't anything trick under there that you don't know about. Actually those bushes are only about 3 years old too, so still relatively stiff.