The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Driveline 4 link rear suspension with torque tube

Will a 4 link/coil over rear suspension work with the torque tube original driveline?

The truck is a 51 chevy half ton with original transmission and 235 engine.

Why would you switch to that type of suspension with a torque tube and original driveline? I'm not trying to be rude, it's just that you will see no benefits of the 4-link and coil-overs, you might as well stick to leafs and save your money.

You could probably get the 4-link to work, but you're wasting your money...

I was hoping it may work because:
1. The existing leaf springs are broken
2. The original spring perches are broken
3. I have a brand new 4 link with coil overs that I could use
4. I would like to keep the original transmission, and already have the patricks rear end gear kit

Thanks, Neil

Only thing that I would worry about is the difference in range of motion of the four link. With an open drive shaft, there is a slip yoke at the transmission end of the drive shaft that moves in and out to compensate for the motion of the 4 link suspension. I don't believe that the torque tube allows for and aft movement.

you can not use a closed driveline and a 4-link.

you can use a 4-link with an open driveline

so you are either going to fix your springs and use the closed driveline, or replace your driveline and use your coil over.

If you're keeping the driveline original otherwise, it would make more sense to me to fix the springs.

Thanks everyone for the advice. I'm glad I asked before going any further.

A 4-link system would have to exactly duplicate the geometry of the torque tube spring system to work at all. The lower link pivots would have to be placed exactly where the front spring pivots are on the frame, and the upper link would have to create a parallelogram so the rear end would travel exactly straight up and down. It would also have to have the same pivot points as the original rubber-bushed rear axle pivots. The only function the coilovers would serve would be to support the weight of the rear frame and the cargo box, and the shocks would probably have to be mounted exactly vertical to duplicate the operation of leaf springs. Bottom line- - - - -a successful 4 link/coilover setup would have to be engineered to do exactly the same thing the leaf spring system does. Why bother?
Jerry

Interesting sidebar, the newer Corvette's use a torque tube. If anyone is interested take a look at the link. Some technology does come full circle....


http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-...eline-work-specifically-torque-tube.html

Not saying that its the same but the concept and operation of it are similar.

Corvettes have independent rear suspension so it's a completely different situation. The C5's and C6's do use a torque tube, you're right, but it's a completely different animal.

From another website..

Won't work because the torquetube w/leafspring allow the rearend to travel virtually straight up and down, the distance from the tranny is fixed; the 4 link system w/coilover make the rearend to travel in an arc and the distance from the tranny is variable on the slipyoke.
In brief, the 4 link will bind up.
The torquetube is fixed, it cannot get longer or shorter so any rear suspension that travels in an arc will not work.

Torque tube idea works fine on Corvettes and such as the rears are IRS not straight axles. Same deal on Miatas and RX-7s (after first gens). The whole drivetrain is locked together and nothing moves but the CV jointed drive axles.