4 link and bag help: Off-topic discussion forum: Grassroots Motorsports Magazine

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July 28, 2011 12:02 a.m. NickF40 Dork

I was gonna ask which would be a good choice, Toyota or Harbody/Datsun pickup but I figured the answers would be "both would have rust to look after" and "both good trucks too"

minitruck content...Now I got a few guys, one knows his suspension and the other has been in trucks for as long as i'm living, but I wanted to ask you knowledgable crowd. What's the best way to mount 4 links and position (front or back) for the links. Brace and/or stiffen the links? Cantilever or over axle bag setup better? I was also told 3 link is the best for keeping the suspension straight up and down, especially with bag over axle.

I'm helping my buddy work on his early 90's Toyota pickup and he already ordered the bags for a cantilever setup and 4 links but still open to options since well...we're still waiting on them I also plan on bagging a truck so I know some of you won't know what i'm talking about haha

and yes, here is a pic so this thread isn't deemed worthless
July 28, 2011 10:38 a.m. NickF40 Dork

anyone

found out his links will be coming today so I figured get an idea where to mount and all that
July 28, 2011 11:15 a.m. RealMiniDriver Dork

I know you're working on Toys, but truck rear suspension is pretty much the same across the board. You could spend a day reading the bagging section of s10forum.com for ideas. Lots of info there.
July 28, 2011 12:39 p.m. SkinnyG HalfDork

I haven't bagged a ride, but I've been doing a LOT of research.

Since I own a Hardbody, I frequent www.infamousnissan.com, where there are a LOT of bagged rides. There's a few Toyota and Tacoma forums out there you can find with some mad tyte Google skillz yo.

I like the way Hardbodys look lowered, as well as the early 90's (pre-Taco) Toyotas. You should build what you like to look at.

The general consensus on the Nissan forum is bars as long as possible, top bars angled for lateral location. Instant center around the front bumper of the truck. This will require moving the gas tank, most people put it behind the axle. Bag on bar will give you more lift (and probably less load carrying capacity, if that matters.

Reverse four-link (bar mounts ~behind~ the axle) are generally frowned upon, though I don't fully understand why - as long as the geometry is correct I think it should work.... That would save moving the tank.

I'm tempted to bag my truck, and I'd probably do a parallel four-link and a watts link, or three link and watts so I don't have to move the tank.

Usually with a step notch like you show above, you need to notch or raise the bed floor to cover it.

All this stuff tends to be illegal, so making it less of a heat score is a good idea.
July 28, 2011 6:54 p.m. AquaHusky Reader

Hows about a GM A-Body style fo' link? You can utilize the existing forward leaf mounts, then weld on a couple ears for the upper splayed links? Just a thought.
July 28, 2011 7:09 p.m. moparman76_69 New Reader

You want performance or just low?

Assuming just low the cantilever bag mount is the best bet, big notch with triangulated upper links to help center the rear. Mount a panhard bar and a couple of titanium drag blocks and call it a day.
July 28, 2011 7:57 p.m. Derick Freese Dork

A plug for Infamous. Man, it's been a while since I was over there. I still have some Hardbody stuff I need to get rid of.
July 29, 2011 9:17 a.m. NickF40 Dork

yeah RealMini, for the most part they are all the same

Skinny-DO IT! bagged trucks are fun and I would maybe go 3 link, keeps everything aligned on the Hardbody's and like you said, keep your gas tank and I also agree, love the Hardbody's and the 80-'s and 90's Toyota's.

thanks for routing me to infamous! I have been looking for that site for a while now, i've been looking at a lot of sites, I just figured to ask you guys too. That's pretty much what we were thinking then, I told him to brace the rear bars especially, just weld on a plate on the bottom so they are stiffened up some more. A lot of guys just run open bed like that, few raise the bed and weld it in to cover it all. As for gas tank, he'll be running a cell.

I think the reason reverse isn't that used is that it puts all the momentum toward the rear, this mainly gets thought about when they lay frame, it get's unstable from moving around.

moparman-haha you nailed it! when I do my truck though, I want to go low but also perform a bit too but that's another topic