Sway bars or Watts Link

[Sky Render]

Jim Fay: "Watts Link lowers your Mustangs roll center and helps keep your handling response symmetrical in both left and right cornering. Because the F2S Watts Link keeps the axle centered under the car, the rear of the car now follows the front suspension rather than fighting it."

I've never heard a single negative word from anyone that has run a Watts Link. Who are these 'others' of which you speak?

I know a guy who's a suspension engineer, and he hates Watts links, but I never understood why.

 

[Sleeper_08]

As said above "it makes the rear of the car feel a lot more confident not as squirley in and out of turns". The biggest benefit I felt was in chicanes but in all corners the car felt more stable and thus my confidence was increased and thus the speeds were higher

Some models, such as the FAYS2, also let you adjust the roll centre.

Unless you are pushing your car really hard, which you should only be doing on a track, then Watt's link is probably not necessary.

Here is an explanation of how it works - as you will see it was invented by James Watt a long time ago;

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Watt's_linkage

 

[Sleeper_08]

I know a guy who's a suspension engineer, and he hates Watts links, but I never understood why.

Ther is no accounting for some Engineers

I am also an Engineer, Mechanical, and I love mine.

How percentage of original Trans Am cars ran Watt's links?

 

[Philostang]

The only negatives I've ever heard about them is increased weight, greater complexity of parts, and increased cost of production. Only the weight is a performance negative, and most of that is sprung.

The other concerns are related to durability (more parts that can go wrong) and economics (increased cost to consumer or lower profit margin for producer). We've seen both of these concerns arise in this thread already.

FWIW, I'm looking forward to what my Fays2 can do for me this year (but I've also been running an aftermarket panhard for years, and still insist something over the stock unit is a must-do modification for damn near everyone).

Best,
-j

 

[SoundGuyDave]

Just a counterpoint: the FR500S ran a stock PHB, and they weren't exactly slow...

 

[Sleeper_08]

Just a counterpoint: the FR500S ran a stock PHB, and they weren't exactly slow...

Dave - was that by choice or as a result of the rules?

As you are well aware, what the rules say can prevent you from doing what you would really like to do. That is one reason I am not interested in running my car in Solo because with my SC from what I understand it puts me in the same class as a Ferrari 430. Of course there are also other reasons.

 

[Germeezy3]

Dave - was that by choice or as a result of the rules?

As you are well aware, what the rules say can prevent you from doing what you would really like to do. That is one reason I am not interested in running my car in Solo because with my SC from what I understand it puts me in the same class as a Ferrari 430. Of course there are also other reasons.

Thats always the biggest question, rules allowed I can bet that they would run the Watts linkage...or even better this setup!

 

[SoundGuyDave]

Spec series, with only one platform to worry about... Ford heavily involved, and an FR500C panhard sitting in the parts bin? I honestly doubt that it was a rules issue.

 

[RDK]

sway bars

I think the watts is pretty high for price..

The Hellwig adj front and rear sway bars are a lot cheaper.. which gives you $$ to spend on other mods..

 

[95CobraR]

The early T/A cars had a Watts that looked like this.

It isn't cheap.

 

[RolloTomassi]

Watts Link FTW.

Unlike a Panhard Bar, Watts linkages offer identical left/right suspension characteristics.

Compression and Rebound of suspension components are more predictable. While panhard bars move in a linear pattern, the motion of the Watts link creates a curvilinear movement which in a way, provides greater feedback as you approach the limit of friction.

The ability to adjust the roll center of a Watts is another added benefit. You can dial in understeer or crazy amounts of oversteer if the application demands. But most importantly, you can try to make the car neutral.

For my mustang I've found good results by lowering the roll center in the rear on the Watts, and adding taller (steeda x5) balljoints in the front to raise the center of gravity. Adjustable anti-roll bars can further dial in the setup. This has given my car a great setup for road racing.

The only con I can see is the noise factor. Watts linkages (at least the Fays II) comes with Heim joints. Notoriously noisy. So if you have a convertable or drive with the windows down it might not be optimal. I've found that the perfect solution to that is, and always will be: 'more throttle'.

 

[Philostang]

Just a counterpoint: the FR500S ran a stock PHB, and they weren't exactly slow...

Counterpoint to the counterpoint...

Exhibit A:

Exhibit B:

If that's a stock panhard bar, then I'm a monkey's uncle. The panhard bar brace is definitely stock. I don't know about yours, but my panhard bar never had a deep bend like this one. And if this is a stock one, then either they are pre-bent to clear the beefier diff cover, or it seems like good evidence that they can't handle the track pressure. And if Ford took the time pre-bend the race units, then I wouldn't be surprised if the bushings were also addressed, which is really the shortcoming of the OEM bar (and the basis of my comment that something must be done for nearly every driver).

"Somebody" would have had this pic if "somebody" hadn't been too tired to come out to track with me because "somebody" was too busy jet setting about the world...

At any rate, in the end JetSetDave may be right, but the FR500S were also gifted with some pretty amazing other equipment and a fair number of gifted drivers that help set those fast times.

BTW, the Watts is now in...I think Sleep was spot on when he once said that putting the parts on is pretty straightforward, but the adjustment is very time consuming. I'm getting giddy folks! 3 weeks!

Best,
-j

 

[Gray Ghost GT]

If your 2011 GT is basically stock at this point and you're just getting into HPDE, then I would first upgrade your sway bars followed by the Fays2 Watts Link. You'll need seat time experience to really reap the benefits of the Watts Link - HPDE 3. Take a look at the Strano adjustable sway bars.

 

[RolloTomassi]

One thing to keep in mind is the compatibility of the watts link if you are planning to run an aftermarket diff cover. I've heard some people having clearance issues.