Whiteline Watts Link Failure

[Roadracer350]

Not sure why the watts failure would cause a problem at the front? Now if you were at speed and went super gopher off the track mowing grass sideways then yea but at 15?

 

[NoTicket]

Well the car shook back and forth with no support at the rear. The front is not designed to be rotated at all around the drive train. I'm not sure that it caused it but it was not there that night and has been there since.

Sent from my XT907 using Tapatalk

 

[Roadracer350]

Check strut mounts, swaybar end links, LCA Bushings, tie rods etc.

 

[kona302]

Would a Watts link, whichever design be worthwhile for a DD?
I hate to interupt but there hasn't been a post here in two weeks or so.

Or should I just make a simple upgrade of the panhard bar?

 

[Department Of Boost]

Would a Watts link, whichever design be worthwhile for a DD?
I hate to interupt but there hasn't been a post here in two weeks or so.

Or should I just make a simple upgrade of the panhard bar?

IMO overkill. Not that I am against overkill though.

 

[kona302]

Well that left me in the same place kinda... haha

I may just go with the simple upgrade. Its completely stock so anything would be better.

 

[Norm Peterson]

I may just go with the simple upgrade. Its completely stock so anything would be better.

'Upgrade' presumes that you're expecting some sort of improvement. Exactly what are you looking for that an aftermarket PHB will produce that the OE PHB will not?


Norm

 

[Gray Ghost GT]

Would a Watts link, whichever design be worthwhile for a DD?
I hate to interupt but there hasn't been a post here in two weeks or so.

Or should I just make a simple upgrade of the panhard bar?

There are a few of us that daily drive our Mustangs with a watts link that also see some road course time throughout the year. No problem using these parts daily.

Definitely an upgrade over the OEM panhard bar; might be considered "over kill", but it definitely improves handling if you decide to push it along some twisty roads.

If you're not thinking watts link, and only considering an aftermarket panhard bar, chose the vendor with the sexist models. LOL Can't find model holding watts link.

 

[NoTicket]

A watts link will provide a significantly better ride, and will handle better on shitty roads. In my opinion it is definitely worth it.

An upgraded panhard bar will just increase NVH and not provide any significant benefits for a DD.

However, a Watts Link is still at least $650 (assuming new) investment.

edited for clarity

 

[dontlifttoshift]

Could someone explain to me why a watts will ride better and/or handle better on a shitty road than a PHB? IOW, what major effect does a lateral locating device have on ride quality that a person with a completely stock car would say WOW.

Keep in mind that I also do not understand

The front is not designed to be rotated at all around the drive train

so you may have to dumb it way down for me.

 

[skwerl]

I wanna know who is selling $650 panhard bars.

 

[NoTicket]

Could someone explain to me why a watts will ride better and/or handle better on a shitty road than a PHB? IOW, what major effect does a lateral locating device have on ride quality that a person with a completely stock car would say WOW.

Keep in mind that I also do not understand

The front is not designed to be rotated at all around the drive train

so you may have to dumb it way down for me.

The quote about rotating about the drivetrain was badly worded (and based on a flawed idea). At the time I was thinking along these lines:

The rear of the car was free floating side-to-side. When I turned, the rear of the car started bucking from side to side. The drivetrain would have stayed pretty much straight, since the rear axle was still presumably not moving. The idea was that something that in the front of the car that was connected to the drivetrain, that was never intended to be moved in relation to the body, was stressed when the body started bucking about.

However, in retrospect it was a pretty dumb thought because u joint in the driveshaft would keep anything from affecting the front of the car.

As for how the watts link would affect ride quality... The watts link was the only modification I had made to my suspension, and it got rid of the rear end shimmy that would happen when going over large dips. Additionally, when driving over bumpy portions of the road the car feels less harsh. When I first put on the Watts Link it was pretty noticeable. This last weekend I took it off and put back on the PHB, and it feels a lot worse than it did with the Watts.

Maybe the improvement in ride quality is all placebo as I am sure you are implying. But it is a significant change in the geometry, and not just swapping one lateral location device for another.

 

[NoTicket]

I wanna know who is selling $650 panhard bars.

I meant for a Watts Link.

 

[kona302]

The quote about rotating about the drivetrain was badly worded (and based on a flawed idea). At the time I was thinking along these lines:

The rear of the car was free floating side-to-side. When I turned, the rear of the car started bucking from side to side. The drivetrain would have stayed pretty much straight, since the rear axle was still presumably not moving. The idea was that something that in the front of the car that was connected to the drivetrain, that was never intended to be moved in relation to the body, was stressed when the body started bucking about.

However, in retrospect it was a pretty dumb thought because u joint in the driveshaft would keep anything from affecting the front of the car.

As for how the watts link would affect ride quality... The watts link was the only modification I had made to my suspension, and it got rid of the rear end shimmy that would happen when going over large dips. Additionally, when driving over bumpy portions of the road the car feels less harsh. When I first put on the Watts Link it was pretty noticeable. This last weekend I took it off and put back on the PHB, and it feels a lot worse than it did with the Watts.

Maybe the improvement in ride quality is all placebo as I am sure you are implying. But it is a significant change in the geometry, and not just swapping one lateral location device for another.

This is what I do not like about the suspension.

 

[NoTicket]

Just to be clear, that is what happened when my Watts Link broke, and the rear of the car has no lateral support. When I say bucking, I mean it was moving several (2-5 inches though I obviously could not have measured it) back and forth.

What you are feeling with a panhard bar is likely a few millimeters of lateral movement. Some of that could be resolved with an aftermarket panhard bar since it will have stiffer bushings or rod ends which will not allow as much play as the stock bar.

 

[Department Of Boost]

What PHB? I can't see it???

 

[skwerl]

What PHB? I can't see it???

I believe it's PIIHB.

 

[Department Of Boost]

I believe it's PIIHB.

I see what you did there!

 

[csamsh]

I believe it's PIIHB.

I don't ge.......OH. Now I get it.

 

[Sharad]

When I first upgraded the PHB on my car, I could feel the improvement right away. There was less play in the axle in the corners. That said, my dad's S197 has a WATTS link, and I could feel the difference (improvement over my PHB) the first time I drove the car. It basically comes down to how much you're willing to spend.