RS Motorsport :: Classic Speed Restored

Watts linkage on ebay.



http://cgi.ebay.com.au/FORD-ESCORT-MK1- ... 43a224426e

Oh yuk!

Thought you might say that......It would probably just push the chassis rails apart.

Doesn't have to look good to work Danny

hey Danny where is your version you where going to sell?

Actually the brackets and pivot are ready to go just got to take some phto's as they are basically the same as the one I use but have a different design milled into plates


Danny

my understanding on watts link design is that there needs to be a weak point in there somewhere. in the event of a shunt you want the rods and/or bracket to fail rather than the boot floor or chassis rail.

I guess tying into the cage would mean that the bolts on the diff brackets would have to have a low shear rating to compensate??? I am no engineer so way out of my league here.....

A calibrated rod end let-go, or perhaps a single shear diff mounting bolt letting go is the preferred option in V8 Supercars. So everything needs to be strong enough to break a 1/2" rod end in tension.
Easy to diagnose and a cheap repair.

While it is not the prettiest thing I have seen, I can't see a problem with they way it mounts, it will transfer load to both chassis rails as they are now tied together, so if one bends in an accident, the other will too.

It would certainly put less load on the chassis rails than the GP4 style watts link brackets, or a panhard rod tower, and as neither of those seem to cause any problems I can't see why this would either

If you hit something hard enough for your watts link or panhard rod to bend your chassis, then you would have substantial damage whether it was there or not

At least it's a simple solution for people who currently run trailing arms Danny.

What solution, the arms aren't going to make much difference to lateral location and if they do you're going to have problems


Danny

The Linkage was based on a similiar concept to this one
http://www.fays2.net/fays2_watts_link_22_.html

The linkage has been tried and tested successfully on heaps of Mk2 Escort Rally Cars in Ireland and I can assure you they give it a serious pounding on the harsh Irish countryside with no worries using some enormous BHP and hump back bridges.