Ive always thought a watts link was a great idea but am seeing mixed emotions on a question I posted. So let's see, watts link yes or no?
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It is a great idea ..... for cars designed for it. All the new tube frame SCCA TA2 cars have a watts. Plus all the Trans Am cars and GT-1 cars have had watts since the 80's. They don't have to. They could use a panhard or triangulated links or whatever. But they have all converged on the watts.Ive always thought a watts link was a great idea but.....
Your car doesn't count..This again. (sigh) Let me get my soapbox out....
The question isn't' as much about the method of attachment as it is about where the roll center IS.
Both methods have been proven to work well when properly set up. Again, its about where the roll center is located that has the most profound effect on handling, and much less about the bar that locates it.
I could absolutely guarantee that I could provide 2 identical cars, one with a panhard bar and one with a watts link with the roll center set in the same location (this is the whole point here) and no one but the very most discerning professional drivers would be able to tell you which was which.
Then why do we change from one to the other? Besides the obvious monkey see monkey do and placebo affects so common on the internet, the stock panhard bar is in a semi fixed position. The roll center is where Ford put it with the exception of very small changes made when ride height is changed. The watts link typically has a wider and more easily adjustable range so if you like the roll center very high you just use the top hole. If you like it very low like I do, you use the bottom hole or somewhere in between. You have choices. If you don't know where you want the roll center and are too afraid to make changes and experiment with different setups then you are probably not going to benefit from changing the method of attachment. If you LIKE where the stock roll center is and have actively tested other roll centers and linkages like the Phonix crew has done then a simple light weight stock height bar is perfectly fine. But wait....can't you adjust the RC Height with a panhard bar? yes and no. The stock arrangement has no adjustment for RC height. However, there are ways to make it adjustable for RC height but those usually include the use of heavy fabrication or the purchase of a kit, most of which will alter the roll center but have very limited adjustment. So stop asking is a watts better or a panhard bar better....that is not the question. The question is: "Do I want to change my RC height and how easy do I want it to be adjustable". But then you say: "My buddy put a watts link on his car and he loves it". That is almost certainly because when the linkage was installed the roll center was changed at the same time. Almost always lower. Lower roll centers make the car hook up while higher roll centers help the car rotate. Chassis setup is a soup that we season to taste and if you are like me, I never stop adding a little of this or that to sweeten the pot until I find the perfect recipe so gimme all the variables in the kitchen and I'll decide what belongs and what doesn't. But not everybody wants that. How about an easy button for enthusiasts that don't have the skill or will to fool with chassis setup? Find yourself a reputable after market provider and buy what they sell, do what they say and you will have a car with parts that are engineered to work together. If you cherry pick parts based on price or folklore you have embarked upon your own research and development program. I hope you are ready for that. It can be very rewarding and educational....and it can also be a total nightmare. Choose wisely.
Actually ANYTHING that improves that triangulated 3 link is going to be better than what you have.i dont think i count either cause i have a sn95...
BUT
i have a phb currently, but will be switching to a watts for basically what Sal mentioned. We are doing some major changes to my car in the near future and having the adjustability to change things between sessions will be beneficial especially heading into higher competitive fields. Who knows, i may be using the lowest setting on the watts or one of the additional other 3 spots, but i tune my car and make adjustments when i can and have learned a lot from @Fabman whether it is in person at the shop, over the phone, or at the track