Houdini

iTrader: (2)

My Watts-link showed up tonight!

Just have to wait for the spacer to come in, them I'm all over this install.


Almost forgot... just a preemptive

chevynation

iTrader: (8)

Sam, how much unsprung weight does this kit add? Not enough to worry about I assume, or not enough to outweigh the benefits.

Big Bird WS6

iTrader: (9)

sam, with the riht parts will this work ona s-60 rear car. also instead of straped. could a person just weld on the tabs?

Sam Strano

iTrader: (41)

About 11 pounds of unsprung weight is added. Consiering stock 16x8" wheels are 18 pounds each and a lot of aftermarket wheels are 25 each (let alone the tires), plus what folks add with things like TA's, and bigger rear axle housings, it's pretty minimal for the gains in location you get laterally and the fact the roll center will not longer change dynamically like with a PHB.

Sam Strano

iTrader: (41)

Does your S60 have 3" axle tubes? If it does, it'll work. The axle clamps can be tack welded in place for some extra security if you feel you need that. It's not recommended they be seam welded incase you need to remove or re-orient them for any reason.

RooRnZ28

iTrader: (14)

hey Sam, another question: how much room is lost between the rear end and the gas tank vs our stock phb setup?

just thinking about it because i have a turbo right there so space is crutial... also any improvement in handling is good since my car is mostly a street car, elspecially how it shows in those vids it makes sense

2FAST4U

Yeah what about with a sumped or aluminun CAS/Nasty tank? Something like this.

smurray

OK so i actually made a seperate thread about this, i was hoping to not have to post in here as well but it seems i might need to.

My car, along with others it seems, has a scary tendancy to flick its rear end out under hard braking at high speeds. I had to nail my brakes at about 110-120 and much to my surprise has to noticeably correct to keep her in a straight line. I was thinking that maby this is caused by the PHB when the rear suspension decompresses under hard braking. The PHB levers the axle outwards, not something you really feel at lower speeds, but once you are cooking the small difference adds up enough to kick the rear end out noticeably.

Its probably worth noting that the rear end kicked out to the left.

So i was wondering, does anyone else think i might be logical here in that a watts might prevent this, or atleast mitigate it to some degree, or am i just shooting in the dark.

Sam Strano

iTrader: (41)

Honestly fella's I can't answer your questions about the "gas tank" because I've never considered the stock stuff to be anywhere near in the way of the gas tank. The Watts generally has more room up top than the stock PHB brace that runs on an angle. The Watts link frame runs from the right side mount straight across to the left an only turn up to the body on the left. I can't say for sure if it'll work for either of your cases (or that it won't).

As for the guy with the funky braking... it could help, but if you don't have decent shocks on the car that's where you need to start.

RooRnZ28

iTrader: (14)

do you have any pics that look like this? i am just curious to know how much space is lost after the PHB, as my turbo is pretty close.




see this is how much space i am working with

Sam Strano

iTrader: (41)

The gas tank is up above the axle, you're worried about the space below and behind...

Honestly, I think the Watts and your turbo would want to occupy some of the same space.

Houdini

iTrader: (2)

The spacers showed up today, now I got everything I need. I'll start turning the wrenches on Friday, and pictures will follow shortly there after... might be the first one to get it hooked up to a S60 rear.

BuffJoeyD

iTrader: (2)

Im dyin to get a watts link but its just a tad out of budget right this second. I would also love to have one to compare to the couple rear mount turbo F-bodies.

UMD_Jesse

iTrader: (6)

So does this watts link mean that you could resize, bracket and install the older, supposedly STRONGER late 60's GM 12-bolt rears that dont have provision for a torque arm???????? The kind that can be found all day on ebay for a few hundred bucks??

BillS

iTrader: (13)

no you still need the torque arm. it just replaces the PHB

Major_Lee_Slow

iTrader: (1)

I'm seriously thinking about purchasing one of these this winter. I really like the idea of the adjustable roll center height without having to weld/hackup the current frame. However if I drop the roll center I'd probably have to get a bigger rear bar or run some monster rear springs to maintain the same roll stiffness, it would also be very beneficial to be able to adjust the rear roll stiffness to fine tune the setup. I know of one company who does make adjustable rear bars, but they are currently not offering one in a large enough diameter, but that could change with enough interest. Just PM me if you are interested because I don't think I am allowed to post a non-sponsor name on this board.

bigredhelland

iTrader: (1)

gonna dig this post up. its been over a month... whats the latest on the watt's link people? hows it working for those of you who have installed one?

Sam Strano

iTrader: (41)

Well, we have picked up the the company that makes adjustable rear swaybars as part of our product line--but as for now it does not work along with the Watts Linkage....

Sam Strano

iTrader: (41)

The feedback I've gotten is mostly by phone. So far the reports have been all positive.

2002_Z28_Six_Speed

iTrader: (19)

The thing with a 4 link or leaf spring axle... doesn't the GM panhard axle actually mount the springs slightly behind the axle where as the other two styles have different locations??
You would have to move the spring perches. It is completely doable. Just makes it less tempting.

It works good. Most of the install is just making sure its all lined up and kosher.

It lives up to everything I could ask of it. Personally, I could use some longer watts links because my breather is in the middle of my Moser 12 and the size that it comes with won't let me get past the middle of the axle tubes.

The only advantage to longer links is the prop pivots less with longer links.... I have thought about it, though.