Started installing my Watt's link today.

"Slow4o" (Slow4o)
01/14/2014 at 21:30 • Filed to: None

Got about half way finished.

It's hard to get much done when you only have about 3 hours a day of free time between sleeping and work. Luckily this is a pretty simple install and I should have it done tomorrow. For those that don't know what a Watt's link does, here is a write up from the manufacturer: !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . Here is a pic of the Watt's link "brace" (didn't realize it was blurry when I took the picture):

It's nice and red. And here it is installed:

I also got the axle clamps on, so tomorrow I will be installing the actual linkage portion of the system. Have to finish it tomorrow since I am going to take it to the shop to get the brakes bled, then it is all ready for my track day on Saturday!

DISCUSSION (15)

Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs > Slow4o
01/14/2014 at 22:28

Is there a TLDR version of this Watts link? I only have 3 hours a day or less, of free time.

GTCL > Slow4o
01/14/2014 at 22:46

I'll read the full link later, but is this a more robust pan hard bar? I noticed it mentioned centering the axle. Also, their website is crazy. I can't tell what is going on with the links.

jsmizira > Slow4o
01/14/2014 at 23:09

Cool watts link. But I always wondered why they link the center link to the car. That just makes the roll center of the car as wild as if you had a pan hard bar. It's a lot of metal for no reason in my opinion. And you still have to weld the shackles to the axle if you have high hp/tq #s and drive hard.

Slow4o > jsmizira
01/15/2014 at 00:24

I'm a little confused by what your saying here. Sometimes I get the words confused when its related to suspension geometry. The point of this unit is to lower the roll center of the car, while keeping your axle centered. And I haven't heard of anyone that tracks with this unit having to weld anything. There are several supercharged V8's that are running Fays2 Watt's links. Either way unless I swap motors I will never have the horsepower to mess this thing up. I have heard nothing but glowing reviews from the road course crowd on this unit.

Slow4o > GTCL
01/15/2014 at 00:31

Yea the website is really bad. But unlike a pan hard, a Watt's link doesn't have just one pivot point, like a pan hard bar does (where it attaches to the frame). It will be more clear when I install the propeller and the actual links, but this unit gives it a central pivot point, allowing it to keep the axle dead center with the body. Here is the link that I meant to post: Watt's link theory . It's more in depth and better explains what is going on. Basically it allows the links between the axle and frame to travel both laterally and vertically, independent of each other, while the panhard bar has to move in an arc.

Slow4o > Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs
01/15/2014 at 00:33

Basically a panhard bar moves in an arc, meaning that the axle gets off-kilter when you have both lateral and vertical movement. The Watt's link has both a vertical pivot point and then lateral pivot points, allowing them to move independently of each other (if I am understanding it correctly). This keeps the roll center low, and the axle straight with the chassis. I think this is a good explanation, but if someone wants to correct me feel free.

Slow4o > Slow4o
01/15/2014 at 00:36

Here is a link to what the unit looks like assembled: Fays2 Watt's link . So it kind of gives you an idea of the pivot points for the unit.

jsmizira > Slow4o
01/15/2014 at 01:23

You may not ever need to weld anything with your car. But I know when ever we attach anything to the axle which would kill us if it ever broke in our American iron or AIX mustang. We were better safe than sorry with metal on metal clamps.

Once you get it installed keep an eye on the clamps and check the tightness on all the bolts before track events. Aside from that you should be good.

jsmizira > Slow4o
01/15/2014 at 01:41

Here is a blurb of something I wrote on watts links for a company who makes them for mustangs.

"Tech Question: Why does should Watts Link attach to the axle instead of the chassis like other manufacturers do? Wouldn't it be simpler and less expensive to make it the other way?

Answer: Very good question. The difference in performance between the two mounting methods has to do with roll center migration. Variations in roll centers as the ride height varies up and down with acceleration braking, turning and road surface irregularities causes variations in the vehicles attitude as this occurs which. This translates into what is at a minimum a confidence killing “unsettled feel” in a corner; and at worst, difficulty in maintaining control while driving at the limit. Spring and damping rates that compromise ride quality and tire are usually employed when roll centers are variable. We went to great lengths in the design of the front SLA system to reduce vertical roll center migration to an absolute minimum. So, at the back end of the car we do the same.

The greatest advantage of a Watts link over a Panhard bar is the ability to fix the roll center at the center of the Watts link bell crank. With a Panhard bar, as the vehicle rises or squats, the roll center rises and falls as well. With a Watts link, if attached to the rear axle housing the roll center does not move at all relative to ground, (except for minor amounts due to compression of the tires). When attached to the chassis the roll center rises and falls like the Panhard bar, negating most of the advantage of using a Watts link in the first place."

Slow4o > jsmizira
01/15/2014 at 02:05

Interesting. I'm assuming this was for Grigg's or Whiteline or one of the other differential mounted units. I ended up with this one because this car is just an HPDE car and my skills as a driver aren't nearly good enough to take advantage of the difference between this Watts and the diff mounted ones (from what I've read the difference is there, but not massive). Also it doesn't hurt that this is much cheaper and I can install it myself!

jsmizira > Slow4o
01/15/2014 at 02:16

Hit the nail on the head with Griggs. The fact that you can install the watts link without having to weld is pretty cool and I know Bruce would love it to be that easy but he is also a bit of an engineering perfectionist. His new stuff for s197 chassis are pretty cool though.

jsmizira > Slow4o
01/15/2014 at 02:17

And just one last thing. Your car looks awesome and I love the black plate.

Slow4o > jsmizira
01/15/2014 at 02:17

Yea I just don't want to spend the money to step up to the Grigg's level yet lol. Just not that good or dedicated or rich. One day hopefully.

Slow4o > jsmizira
01/15/2014 at 04:55

Thanks! I'm going to explain the plate in another post, but man I love the black and white Texas plate, especially on my car.

GTCL > Slow4o
01/15/2014 at 09:18

Very cool piece. I can't wait to hear your thoughts on how it changes the feel of the ride. Good luck with the rest of the install.