reverse four link

ok so i read the tech article in the mag and i always hear some say it is not safe and some say that it is safe but dont really ever hear why it is or it isnt so i want everyones opions and reasons one way or another    
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come on guys i know yall have opions and facts  
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wow are you fo real lol no one?  
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i think it is unsafe no matter which way you do it forward or reverse. depends on your welding skills. a bad weld is were you will find your problems.the reason it is considered unsafe is any time you alter a vehicle it changes the frame integrity. if you do not do it right. even static drops can be dangerous because of wheel alignments and a tire blow out on the free way. but we still do it any ways.  

Dangerous??? No a 4 link is not dangerous or unsafe. I will try to answer the question the best I can with out writing a book.

Why people say a reverse 4 link is bad:
A reverse 4 link is going to be obviously mounted "reverse" with the bars going to the rear but it also works in "reverse" meaning instead of having a proper suspension geometry you will have a suspension setup that works against it self and put upward lift on the axle instead of downward force..etc. etc. yada yada yada....

Why people say a reverse is Ok:
its just a Mini Truck with little hp its not a race car. Some Mini Trucks have big gas tanks that get in the way in front of the axle. so its easier to run a reverse. There is nothing wrong with it

Truth about reverse 4link:
Who Cares!!! haha both are right!! Yes reverse 4 links are not the ideal way to 4-link a truck but they are a big time saver on some Minis and for the geometry side of things. Well the Pro-Reverse people don’t take offense to some Pro-Forward guy telling him it isn’t proper when the dude drives a truck with a forward setup 4:1 ratio, 28” lift no shocks and a pinion angle that moves 45 degrees through out the travel.  I have seen people with a reverse and they ride and drive just fine (normal driving) and I have seen trucks come in my shop for redos or as I like to call them "un-hacks" with forward 4 links that are not even close to being correct. All in all, it comes down to your knowledge, skill level and personal preferences as to which you choose. Forward? or Reverse?  As with any project you do if you are unsure ask questions and learn or that it to the pros…Just make sure it is done correct

Thank you and goodnight
Tuckn22 has left the building  
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World Wide Air Suspension Store
TheCustomConnectionOnline.com
270-860-1103

sadistic-customs:
i think it is unsafe no matter which way you do it forward or reverse. depends on your welding skills. a bad weld is were you will find your problems.the reason it is considered unsafe is any time you alter a vehicle it changes the frame integrity. if you do not do it right. even static drops can be dangerous because of wheel alignments and a tire blow out on the free way. but we still do it any ways.

This is a good point...even beyond welding skills, I'd suggest keepin' an eye on your 4-link/6-link setups to make sure nothing's loose or about to break. I won't go into details, but this has been the biggest problem on my truck...3 times and 3 different problems.    

thanks guys i do have the welding and fabing skills just trying to gain the knowledge end of the supension geometry world lol but thanks and if there is anymore out there i would like to hear them  
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Yeah like 5569 said you can be the best welder in the world but if you have a 4 link that isnt up to par to begin with it will still break...not that she has junky parts on her truck or anything..I am not saying that at all. I am just using what she said as an example. You just have to be careful as to which link/brand you buy is all that I am saying

Sorry if someone took me the wrong way
Send all hate mail to Jacob@TheCustomConnectionOnline.com  
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World Wide Air Suspension Store
TheCustomConnectionOnline.com
270-860-1103

ok tuckn what can get me on a super lift tri bags on lower bars  
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so now i have to tell my teenager to keep his foot out of the carburator.. after he has work the last year lowering and dropping a v8 in his s-10 lol wish me luck...is it really that unsafe.. tuckn is that four link gonna last...or break..  
BACK YARD BUILT!

Conan68: No I am not saying that it is unsafe to 4-link a truck...if it was unsafe I wouldn’t do it but that is not the case a 4link suspension is a very common and reliable way to bag a truck. Even the 1500 hp drag racers use them. I am not sure as to what you mean by "that" 4 link we are just talking about 4 links in general But in order for me to clear things up a bit (hopefully) there are 2 things that will cause the 4 link setup to fail:

1: under engineered products- 4 link and/or brackets made from to light of steel, bad welds, or if you use threaded end links it is possible to over drill the 4 link bars and thus causing the threads not to be able to hold the end links in and ripping the threads out

2: Human error -as in bad welds to the 4 link tabs and essential parts that connect the 4 link to the truck

That is why I say be sure to have good quality parts and if you are unsure how to do the install  whether it be a 4 link or any other mod for that matter have a pro shop do it for you I used the example in the previous post about the forward 4 link having a million inches of lift because you see it more and more but the fact of the matter is an adjustable suspension set up for a good ride quality should never exceed 9-10 of travel anything over 10" will result in a bouncy ride and if you put that beside a reverse 4 link that is setup correctly the reverse 4 link with actually ride better. Some people like to have crazy lift in the rear but your ride quality will suffer from it so it is up to you as to what your tring to achive with the suspension. Lift? or ride quality? so the point I was trying to make is it is all down to the installer as to how the end result ends up in terms of quality. There are pros and cons to both foward and reverse 4 links

4-link suspension is tried and true I use them on all of my trucks!!! But it all depends on if it is installed the right way  
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World Wide Air Suspension Store
TheCustomConnectionOnline.com
270-860-1103

i think if done right it is safe but if done improperly they can be very dangerous.so if you weld looks like pop corn think be fore you start driven. sorry for the quick reply. kinda busy right now.  

sadistic-customs:
i think it is unsafe no matter which way you do it forward or reverse. depends on your welding skills. a bad weld is were you will find your problems.the reason it is considered unsafe is any time you alter a vehicle it changes the frame integrity. if you do not do it right. even static drops can be dangerous because of wheel alignments and a tire blow out on the free way. but we still do it any ways.

5569:
This is a good point...even beyond welding skills, I'd suggest keepin' an eye on your 4-link/6-link setups to make sure nothing's loose or about to break. I won't go into details, but this has been the biggest problem on my truck...3 times and 3 different problems.  

thanks and to add there is a reason it can be unsafe if you know body work you know about crumple zones this is what makes a tank a tank you hit some one with out crumple zone you your car will take all the force from the impact. crumple zone are meant to fold under strain  on trucks i do not worry about it as much . but on a sedan made from a uni-body or a uni body type truck be very care full  what you cut out. plus some frame rails have crumple zone too.so if this give a hint.