Anyone got a feel for how effective this will be for street use?

http://www.steeda.com/news/steeda_ne...ts_linkage.php

 

A couple of companies have them available. Saleen appears to have a well designed one. http://www.saleen.com/SC101_Services...howCatalog.php

So does Fays. http://www.fays2.net/

 

Thanks for the links. probably more than I'd need for the type of driving I do. Good for a "twisties" guy though.

 

I agree. It's the closest thing to independent suspension you can get, but I don't think it would be something that I could take advantage of on a daily driver either.

 

Have friends who have the Saleen Watts Link on their cars, and customers cars who we have installed them on. HUGE improvement for sure. If Saleen made one for an SN95, I would be all over it in a minute.

 

maybe thats something we could get them to create for us?? i have an HPM panhard bar on my 98 cobra and that made a huge difference

 

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Do you know how much unsprung weight a setup like this adds?

 

Honestly, at this point I dont see Saleen investing anything more in the SN95 platform. You could look at the Fays2 Watts link - which is available for the SN95.

 

Hey there,

Not sure to be honest with you. In the case of an S197, you are replacing the panhard rod and diff cover with other components. Not sure what the difference in the parts is. Might be interesting to see next time we do a Watts install here.

For the SN95 I have no idea at all. Have never seen the Fays setup in person - just have read about it. I know Jim Fays is very good at getting back with people with answers to questions. You might want to check with him on the SN95 version. He has an S197 version also - but I personally dont think it performs as well as the Saleen or Griggs setup.

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Just curious--why not? It uses similar engineering as compared to the Griggs (prop mounted to the chassis, not the axle. This is in theory a better design, as it doesn't affect roll couple the way the Saleen one can (with the axle mounted prop).

I would guess the Griggs, Fays and now the Steeda perform similarly. The Steeda will just cost twice as much.

 

Hey there,

Not a Watts Link or suspension expert by a long shot, but my understanding is that this design is not a true “center-pivot” design. A frame mounted center pivot design like the Steeda and Fays only provide correct suspension geometry at the point when it is set (static - not moving up and down). This will change as the suspension moves. This is why both the Steeda and Fays system have to allow for adjustment of the center pivot point. The Saleen has a static position for the center pivot point – no need for adjustment. It is in the correct position all the time as it’s able to move up and down with the rear end as it moves up and down. I have heard of people who have removed the Fays system and installed a Saleen system in its place.

The Griggs Watts is different in-that it is a rear-end mounted system (true center pivot) but Griggs provides adjustment, up and down, of the center pivot bolt for adjustment and pre-loading which is what Griggs GR40 system is all about, adjustability...

Also have to wonder about the Steeda attachment points. At least with the Fays system, the mounting system seems to make contact with more surface area of the rear end (if that makes sense). The mounting system on the Steeda looks as thought it might crimp the axle tubes. Might just be me, but it doesn’t look as stout as the Fays (a similar system).

The Steeda system will probably sell well. There are many faithful Steeda followers around. We are a Steeda and Saleen distributor - so we have both bases covered

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The roll center is fixed at the center link pivot. On one design (Saleen et al), the roll center is fixed to the rear axle housing, regardless of body position (e.g, up or down, or roll). On the Fays design, the roll center is fixed to the body , regardless of axle position (up or down, or roll). From an engineers standpoint, I am not as excited about the Fays design because the axle brackets are clamped to the housing. Clamped things can come loose. Just personal detail preference. As far as unsprung weight change my WAG is its a toss ... alloy center cover plus pivot link, plus 1/2 the wt of the two horiz rods vs two big axle clamp weldments and 1/2 the wt of the two horiz. rods.

 

BIG discussion earlier this year, so more info here....

http://forums.bradbarnett.net/showth...t=watts&page=1

 

I highly recommend the Saleen kit. I previously had the Roush suspension kit but adding the Watts Link made a dramatic difference in handling. There is one of those traffic circles near my house and it is real small with a very tight turning radius -- I can really scream around that thing now. The Saleen kit also changed the stance of the car for the better.

 

Lower or higher in the rear ?

 

I honestly can not see how this would alter the stance of the car. It does not support any body weight, except for lateral forces when cornering. Might add a few pounds of component weight just behind the rear axle, but not anything of substance that wold settle the car down. Only way to alter the stance is wheel/tires and springs.

 

Agreed -- logically it should not. But it looks to me like it not only centered but lowered the rear. A number of other people who installed the kit have said the same thing. I did not take any measurements before the install because I did not expect it to change the height. I did check my pinion angle on the ds and that is still in spec.

 

I have a Watt's Linkage on my Crown Vic. The first thing I noticed was that the rear-end stability is actually worse than the previous 4-bar link setup where the upper control arms bolt between the upper portion of the pumpkin and the chassis (similar to 79-04 Fox). The Watt's Linkage laterally locates the pumpkin to the chassis, while the 4-control arms limit the vertical travel of the axles. Hitting a pothole in a turn sends the rear end wagging all around. Driving on a mesh bridge surface causes the car to "wig-wag" like crazy. However, the handling is far superior to the old setup.

Examining the rear suspension on my 07 GT, it seems far simpler and has fewer parts. It may not be as efficient as a Watt's Linkage or other setup, but it does a good job on the street. The only instances where I ran into problems was taking off on rough roads in Livonia. It felt like the rear wheels wanted to go their separate ways and leave the chassis behind.

 

Steeda just announced the price of their Watt's link!
Steeda's Watt's Link

 

add that to the list of things i want and cant afford