Watts-Link Geometry 

My friends, there is a common error here for some applications. This is a great informational video with very sound information and advice and I have gotten some good pointers too. The Watts link is a great piece of design. It can be used in different automotive applications in different ways. However, if your application is racing on pavement and you are optimizing handling and traction, the atlas for the Watts link should be mounted on the chassis, NOT the axle. It may be important to mount it this way in other forms of racing also: off-road, drag racing, etc. Yes, it is often a little more difficult installation except for full tube race chassis but, there are many benefits to mounting atlas or pivot on the chassis. (see Paul Van Vaulkenburgh's book "Race Car Engineering & Mechanics". First advantage of chassis mounting the pivot is a LOWER ROLL Center. The point through which the chassis will roll can be located lower relative to the chassis and center of mass and allow better management of cornering forces (suspension setup) so the tires can maximize grip. You are trapping yourself if you mount it on the axle. Locating it on the chassis allows a lower roll center point thus, better grip, and better handling because it allows a more compliant setup, which lets all four of your tires manage the cornering loads rather than dumping it all on the outside two tires. The lowest watts link center location on my race car is 8 inches above the ground. Of course the critical dimension is how far is the roll center is below is the center-of-gravity/mass? Second: the axle travels perpendicular to the link ends on parallel mounted links. So, if the link ends are mounted on the chassis and the pivot is mounted on the axle, the natural lean or roll of the chassis in turns means the line of travel is not vertical, it is at an angle although a shallow one. Most importantly, this means that there is lateral movement of the axle relative to the chassis and it is BUILT IN. This creates undesirable tuning issues that require you compromise otherwise optimized tuning to combat this thing that you may not even be aware of and may not be able to resolve. Think how that is when cornering over bumps. The chassis is oscillating laterally through the turn, reducing the grip with mini lateral cyclical accelerations. That is grip that you can otherwise use to corner a bit faster. If you are driving on the street with a street car, and driving carefully then, maybe how you locate it doesn't matter that much, maybe. But, if you are building a car for competition or want to maximize your car's performance in an on track environment NOT ON THE STREET then, this manner of mounting is proper and beneficial.

This and the book helped me tremendously building a truck here at the house for a friend. If not for this and Max I'd of surely not been able to optimize it like I did. The best content and knowledge for suspension design. Get the book. You'll never regret it and learn a ton from it. I did!

I am finding this channel now. I love it. Thank you. I build an offroad car so it's give me the necessery information. :)

Great work! Nothing but the best knowledge from you like always!

Loved it! but dude, I really need part two because i would like to know how to build one of this in less than a month! It's an A+ for sure if I can do this. Please pretty please upload the rest, you will be my salvation. From Nicaragua, thanks a lot

These are the best explanations I’ve seen.

Love your site and videos. I'm ordering the book. You guys so much enlighting information. My latest project is a lifted 100 series Land Cruiser/LX. The information provided let me set Panhard bar correction to the original roll center angle. I didn't have a clue about this before I started the lift. The videos came along at the right time. For a big Cruiser that has been built and lifted for off-road use, applying techniques that I learned from these videos, let the truck handle like a sports truck on curvy paved switchbacks and perform extremely well on off-road whoops. Also, with the Panhard correction, I can hit railroad crossings at regular road speed without the read shifting around and giving that "heebie geebie" feeling. The off-road community can learn a lot from this site and these videos. I have three other cars with Scott-Russell rear link suspensions. If you would ever like some pictures of Scott-Russell / Torsion rear suspension just let me know.

Subcribed just for how knowledgeable you are !

Very informative. And a well produced video.

Simplest and best video on the subject ! Thank you very much 😁👌

Value added information- just subscribed ! Keep up the great work

Good video! I use one on my Street/Drag car which is working out great!

great video .. i like racing cars and something comes understand that a good suspension gives you good advantages , and it is very common in any type the vehicle including motorcycles .. currently i have a C10 Silverado 83 i have made some modifications .. and it has responded phenomenally .. cheers .

love love love! cant wait for more videos!

Just ordered the book.

Watt's linkages aren't just for lateral location of an axle. Have a look at the rear suspension of the Alfasud - it has two Watt's linkages for longitudinal location and a Panhard rod for lateral, along with a twist-beam axle and some rather clever geometry to give roll-driven rear steering and anti-dive under braking. Saab used the same kind of setup on the 99 & 900.

looking forward for.more videos about watts link！

Thank you so much for this video! It cleared up so many questions in my head. A couple of questions that I still have are: 1) Does the link allow the axle to articulate? You showed the axle going up and down but not articulate. 2) can the center pivot be mounted on the frame and the side mounts go on the axle?

Good job... more knowledge now...thanks

Hi there, great video thanks! Can you tell me why the angle of centre plate is slightly off centre at half travel? Why cant it be vertical (perpendicular) at this point? Looking to add a rear trailing arm setup for a hotrod setup. (one each side)

Enjoyed it. just designing a micro car, myself and needed a very basic set up for low speed i need the rear two wheels which are not driven to have a basic leaf preferably one leaf and shock absorber each side thats it.

Great animation...

Wow! Nice explaining :)

First vehicle I seen fitted with this to the rear axle was the EF Falcon.

Nice video, easy with the music.

I have a 41 Chevrolet with leaf springs a fairly decent set of shocks on an anti sway bar in the back end of the car still sways fairly severely for all the stuff I have. Could I just have two soft of springs, or maybe a combination of that and a higher center of gravity than say a more modern car?

I liked the amendment. I liked that. I am from Sudan. I could tell you more progress. Thank you

Great info went come the part 2 i want to know more to make this to my kp61

Have you got any idea about why opel (or vauxhall) removed watt's linkage on astra? And what did they do to save the grip watts linkage provides?

Any information on the correct angle of the middle pivot? Is there a ratio for link length?.. perhaps dictated by the span between chassis rails, and/or length of travel?

Utilizadas en los coches hasta los 80' , dejaron de emplearlas y ahora vuelven coches con esta vieja pero eficiente tecnología...

I'm here because this video was linked in a "The Autopian" article about the new Ranger Raptor's rear suspension.

Great video, would this do anything for a 3/4 ton truck? I see talking about this only for cars. Just curious

awesome !

great video.. Can u pls explain in you next video, on how the suspension reacts when one wheel goes through an irregular surface??

So if one side of the link is damaged it will pull the axle to that side correct

subscribed. nice video!

thanks well made video..

Thanks!

How much affect does a watts link have on over steer? I have a lot over steer.

Would this set up prevent axle wrap please? From the U.K.

Getting the watts link for my 14 mustang gt 5.0.

What practical method would you recommend for finding total suspension travel ? It seems to me that rti ramp would be best. Run it up one side to max compression. Measure centre axle to wheel arch. This provides min arc length. Then reverse off and run other wheel up rti. Measure original wheel now at full droop. I can't think of any other reliable practical method. Please enlighten us?

Also make your links as long as practical; that maximizes the radius of their arcs.

Awesome 😎

This is like some learning PBS cartoon that teaches you history or something. But for people that build hot rods.... amazing lol

dodge durango 2010 has that kind of rear suspension

Great give me more please..l am building a special so will need some ideas...internal suspension using two A framed twin links..for my sidecar 🤪👍👍👏

Is it worth it to construct a watts link for a static dropped truck with a panhard bar and factory four link that is only daily driven?

Can a Wattls link be used on the front suspension?

I want to know hmm how body roll affects it.

what are the cons to watts 6 link over other set ups

What type of steel should I use for my control arms in a four link rear suspension setup? Mild Steel, chrome-moly or stainless steel?

What about one sided bumps tho?

Why does nobody seem to mount the outer (fixed-to-chassis links) level with each other ? I reckon it would reduce any error at the top and bottom ends of travel.

Yeap!!! Greatings from russian north! Im building GAZ 24 with 4link and watt. Very very low car.

Yes

Which is better?. A 4 link or Watts link?.

Actually the left axle and hub seem to be slightly bent, you sure you didnt hit a curb with the left side?

Look at this better watt’s linkage version: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-dhX6NmkmVYo.html Roll center height can easily be changed putting center propeller pivot up or down.

Amazing! What's this song?

Pretty much a Chalmers suspension setup like in some dumptrucks.

YES.....NEED MORE Input.....need more INPUT!!!

Roll?

So they can't help unbalance single side suspension.

Wouldn't half travel of the axle simply be the car or truck at rest, on its wheels without any extra load?

What happens when just one wheel hits a bump?

I come up with this idea when I was 10 years old, then discovered Saab use this on 99 model

Porschephile history buffs thank you

I'm going to guess without watching it keeps it centered?

Lateral side force would not deflect axel by rotatation of center link... Build a model and try...

Yea, I know how a watts-link works. It's in a PT Cruiser. It works like shit, and rattles like crazy after a while.

What about a Mumford link rear end ??

Opel astra j is with watts👍

Ok so earlier I went panhard rod stuff that Im running watts linkage... yeppa yeppa

There are many You Tube videos now about this suspension device. I think it's appropriate that I comment on this Channel, the Pedantic Publishing channel that all of these channels have it wrong, it is not a 'Watts link', his name is Watt not Watts. You could say Watt's link but definitely not Watts Link!

Hi, this is Kevin. I make LEGO Technic models. I just finished building a new car utilizing this type of suspension, and I’m making a video of it. I’m wondering if I could use a short clip of this video in my own video to show how this suspension works. I will credit this channel in my video and I will put a link to this video in my video descriptions. Thanks.

Mecanismo de Watts

Explain with commentary n show inner posion

I don't think it's all that important to keep the geometry the way to show in the video. There's at least 8 of different methods to mount a watts link off the top of my head and they all work fine. Equal length links with frame or axle mounted wishbone/pivot point, one short one long link with frame or axle mounted pivot. Top or bottom mounted links and pivot. As long as you don't cause bind in the suspension travel I think it will work fine keeping a rear end centered more accurately than a panhard bar at least. In fact a little "less than ideal" symmetry probably has its advantages in certain types of racing where you want to favor grip to one particular wheel.

Esta todo inventado! XD

Hü

Всем жигулистам на заметку

Кчему эта непонятная херня.

Basic animation... Amateur thoughts... Silly Cartoon music... Information entry level... Clearly useless to most... And yet, visual effect has been accomplished. Just not by you. Comprehension is all associated to THEE viewers ability ! YOU DO NOT NEED TO WAIT... VIEWERSHIP UNDERSTANDS NOW !

maybe simply use your big boy words

Dodge stupid idea

Just for future ref... You can check into the name "Watts" and then look into vintage "steam engines".... at which point, you will discover, the relationship of where and when not only the name but the design and geometry came from... Beings, you intend on a future commentary of the subject matter... Good luck

Your video moves so fast you don't have time to read it. Have to re watch and re watch. Give ppl time to read.