Outer Limits 4x4 Board

I am in the very early stages of planning a custom link suspension system and am thinking about what bushes and/or bearings to use. I am doing this on quite a tight budget so as easy as it would be to simply pay someone to make it for me it just wont happen that way.
What I have are two Patrol panhard bars which I was thinking of using for the lower arms and two Patrol trailing arms for the top links. So now this is a cheap way of obtaining the links I need, I am unsure what bearings I can run in them to give me a nice free moving high misalignment setup.
I was thinking of using something like a spherical bearing in one end and a rubber/poly bush in the other to take any shock or vibration. I do not know what there is in the way of a nice flexible bush on the market that I could use in this manner. I did find reference to some Polybushes that looked exactly like what I was after but apparantly they are no longer in production. Anyone know of an alternative? What is out there on the market that might be of use?
Now this brings us to the other end. Will I be happy with another bush in this end as the other for flexability? It all depends on what products are available I suppose This is why I am thinking of a sperical bearing or maybe something like those Johnny Joints or similar but again not knowing much about them or knowing of a supplier in Australia.
Hopefully some of you can help out and point me in the direction of what is available out there. I am sure there are products available to suit my needs, just have to find them.

Cheers

Hmm, noone has any info at all to share?

There is no short answer to your questions unfortunately. Ask 10 different people what works for them and their vehicle and you will most likely get 10 different answers.

For link joints the best for flex and strength is probably heim joints. Repco can get these as well as being readily available on the web. Engineers however are reluctant to pass them, so unless its an offroad only vehicle I would probably go genuine GQ control arm bushes at both ends of the link. Easily engineered and give acceptable flex and heaps easier and much cheaper to replace than a heim.
Also note that flexibilty comes from having the correct angles in your links more than what joints you use. You could have the most flex enhancing joints in the world and it wont mean a thing if they are going to bind as soon as you mount the kerb.

Just my opinion but I wouldnt be using panhard rods as lower links either. One good whack on a rock and they will bend more than a mardi gras float rider. Its probably just as cost effective to buy a length of heavy wall tube and tap the ends for your joints or just weld some tube on the end and fit your bushes straight in.
Or you could use heavy wall SHS (Im planning on using 50x50x6) which is structurally stronger again.

Please be advised that I havent ever built a link set-up before but I have done alot of research into the one I will be building. I just dont want you to think I know what Im talking about

There is a shitload of measuring and calculation involved in linking out a rig. But here are some very helpful links.

First, read this (it will take you a while):

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthre ... suspension

Then, read this which sums it all up quite nicely:

http://www.4wheeloffroad.com/techarticl ... index.html

The download Triaged's 4-link calculator and get to measuring:

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=204893

You probably will have no idea on how to use the calculator at first so here's a link to give you a hand:

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showpost ... stcount=21

Make sure you post pics of your build and post em up on here. There are quite a few guys who have done plenty of linking out on this board and will post up if you are doing it horribly wrong.

Thankyou V840,
Its better to get 10 different answers than none at all. I myself have never built anything like this either so have to start somewhere. Have done a little searching around on the net but as far as I have gone as yet.
The links you have provided I am sure will give me heaps of good information to go forth with.
On the articulation side of things I am pretty happy to use rubber bushes but am a little concerned how they will handle the axle moving up and down. This would put a bit of strain on the joints twisting them rotationally. I am just not sure as to how well they would handle too much of that.
I know the panhard rod is going to be a bit weak but I can easily strengthen them with a backbone for virtually nothing. I can see how I go first I suppose. It is just that they are about the perfect length. The other concern with the panhard is that the bish is only 45mm. The trailing arm bushes are 50mm and bushes are available in this size. I am finding it hard to find 45mm bushes that would be suitable for this application. Anyone know where I could find 45mm bushes???

In the linked suspensions I build for streetable vehicles I used standard GQ/GU bushes at both ends of the control arms. For the lower control arms I use a minium of Schedule 160 pipe it is 42.2OD x 6.4mm wall. Uppers you can use a lighter material like 32NB Heavy wall 42.3OD x 4mm wall.

trust me, dont use the panhards for anything but mock ups. Get a length of heavy wall. It doesnt cost that much and you will have a hard time bending it. Keep in mind that a link will have to support the weight of the rear of the vehicle is you get hung up on it.

Check this out:



This is about as good a link setup as you are likely to find anywhere and as you can see they are still exposed to rock damage. They need to be strong or you will be replacing them regularly.
Having said that however I dont know what rig this is for and if the panhards have a heavy enough wall then they might work? It just seems a good idea to over engineer it so you are not re-doing work after every wheeling trip.

EDIT: Go with what bubs said. He obviously know his shit.

Bubs, do you ever build your links so that they are wristed to allow for twist under articulation or do you find that the solid links are fine?

v840 wrote:Bubs, do you ever build your links so that they are wristed to allow for twist under articulation or do you find that the solid links are fine?

Solid ends as always allowed enough twist, stock GQ bushes are good to 30* of flex.

bubs wrote:

v840 wrote:Bubs, do you ever build your links so that they are wristed to allow for twist under articulation or do you find that the solid links are fine?

Solid ends as always allowed enough twist, stock GQ bushes are good to 30* of flex.

Sweet, thanks dude.