gm02ceta

iTrader: (9)

Only interested in those who actually have one installed. Which brand and the pros and cons. Thanks

Chris Paveglio

iTrader: (2)

There are several threads, perhaps older, of answers to this. Yes I have one on my 4th gen. It's definitely an improvement. Not as dramatic as new shocks were. But makes the rear end feel more confident in general. The only downside is the increased weight, but really that's not a real concern for the improved handling you gain. Oh and if you need to replace your gears or diff it's in the way. Fays2
I say do it.

Racer-X-

I had a custom made Watts linkage on a mid 1970's Olds Cutlass many (30+) years ago.

It always adds a lot of weight. If you set it up like that Fays2 setup, at least it's mostly sprung weight on the chassis/body.

What car are you putting this on, @GM02ceta? Don't most 4th Gen F bodies have a stock panhard rod? IIRC, the mounting points (chassis and axle) on that setup are pretty strong. The bar itself is a little on the flexible/wimpy side. But it would be trivial to get some 1" ID tubing and some threaded bungs and rod ends (either spherical bearings or poly bushings) and make a stronger rod that fits the stock mounting points. Speedway Motors has all the hardware for that. DM if you need a parts list.

2JAWZ

iTrader: (1)

I had one on a past car. A Fays 2. It had a couple drawbacks as mentioned but it planted the rear of my car to the pavement making it awesome for curvy road driving. I loved it

00PewterSS

iTrader: (3)

I pretty much just autocross my car now. But, the Watts link is a huge improvement and critical if handling alone is your goal. I have a Fays 2 on my car now for about 4 years. It is less isolated, so more noise (I have all rod ends so everything makes noise), and can get in the way. I wouldn't consider the weight a problem for the performance gain.

LilJayV10

iTrader: (39)

I had a Fays2 setup for almost 10 years on my 00' Hawk and absolutely loved it. I went with bigger exhaust and had to go back to a PHB...which makes me sad..

gm02ceta

iTrader: (9)

I'm currently upgrading the entire suspension front and back with UMI goodies with coilovers and everything else except the K member. The UMI watts link looks beefy but also heavy so I'm considering perhaps Midwest Chassis's Watt Link.

00PewterSS, installing one seems fairly straight forward but did you install it yourself and if so was it difficult to center rear and adjusting the rods?

00PewterSS

iTrader: (3)

I think if you have a stock rear suspension in the car it would be no trouble. I did have some trouble trying to fit everything because I had a Ford 9", with larger bar and UMI coilovers and 3" exhaust. It does fit, just took a bit of effort. It is not difficult to get the rear centered. Just follow the instructions or you could cause it to bind. I usually use ratchet straps to move the rear... but I also did this work on a 4 post.

I did talk to UMI when they were developing their Watts link and I'm sure it is good, but I have no experience with it. The midwest products I also have no experience with, but it seems on the light duty side. I likely would still purchase the Fays 2 setup, since I have had good luck with it.

rentedmule

The customer service is great at Fays 2 as well (as it is at UMI too) - I needed some swaybar mount spacers that weren't listed on their site and Jim immediately responded to my email and sent them out quickly. No input on driving impressions, it's still sitting on a shelf beside the car.

mikedamageinc

iTrader: (49)

I have the UMI watts like on my Camaro with 9" and all the usual suspension parts. It feels so much better and just more like it should. Since I did the axle at the same time and went from 3.73 back to 3.40 gear, it's hard to compare times but I dropped around 2 seconds at VIR full course. Part of that is driver mod and just more confidence in the car.

The UMI watts only adds 10-15 pounds which is mostly spring weight and is on the right end of the car, definitely nothing to worry about. The setup takes a little time and patience but again well worth the effort. Also I have a 3.5" single pipe exhaust and it fits fine.

cancam99ss

iTrader: (8)

curious what exhaust set up did you run that you had to get rid of it.

Thanks

corner_inc

This does most of the work of the Watts without the cost and complexity.

https://www.umiperformance.com/home/...-leveling-kit/

SRZ

iTrader: (14)

Do you think itll clear a 4" exh? Only reason I never pulled the trigger on one as no one could answer that. Stk rear, 25mm sway bar and ground control coil overs is what's back there.
Thanks for any info you may have.

Sam Strano

iTrader: (41)

No, not really. If the only goal is to lower the roll center a lot, then your statement would be correct. But that is still a PHB, still asymmetric. And the roll center on that is always lower than you have to option to run on a Watts link.

Sam Strano

iTrader: (41)

I am a Fays2 and UMI dealer both. I've used both and both work well. There are some cost differences, there are some differences in setup and exhaust clearance too. There are some differences in how they adjust, how easily that's done. A few others make them too, but often details are missed. It is critical the length of the arms is the same, and the angle of the arms is equal but opposite, otherwise you induce a bind, and many people are unware of this.

When a watts is done right, it adds a level of stability to the back of the car that allows more tuning options in springs, bars and shock damping to be used. Not having the car wiggle it's *** all over as it's moving up and down changes the behavior of the car a lot.

cancam99ss

iTrader: (8)

i would assume Fays2 has less clearance than the umi for exhaust. i am about to try and fit a 2,5 true dual set up from Hooker with my fays... do you think it will clear?

Sam Strano

iTrader: (41)

a 2.5 should clear both just fine, stock is closer to 3" and it's the cheaper systems or those that are larger like 3.5 or 4" that have real issues.

RedDeadG8

iTrader: (3)

for those of us with the MWC 9" is there a Fays2 or UMI watts link that works otherwise the obvious answer is to use the MWC watts link. Think i was reading there may also be the need to buy adapters for the rear swaybar (stranos and other aftermarket) for clearance with 9" rears like the MWC

looking just at MWC watts vs UMI they look substantially different in construction.

mikedamageinc

iTrader: (49)

It should, that would only be 1/4" bigger radius but would take someone good with exhaust to make it clean

00PewterSS

iTrader: (3)

There isn't a lot of room for a 3" pipe, I can't imagine a 4" would have any clearance at all. It could fit, but it is going to likely hit both the Watts link and the heat shields. IDK about that true dual either since I think on that system both 2.5" are trying to share the same space as the 3" pipe normally.