2nd Gen 3-link rear suspension

So I'm really wanting to pursue a 3 link w/panhard bar setup for my 05 Access cab.
Looking for any information/pics/specification/calculations/etc. that anybody has.
Any past/current build links I can refer to, I would appreciate it.

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/dirt-designs-05-taco-4wd-race-kit.284268/

Dirt Designs makes a kit. You might have to dig a little but the thread linked above has some good info.

 

Have no association or knowledge of there work but you could also check out https://www.otwellweldingandfabrication.com/ Just down the road from both of you. They are in Lucerne Valley. I would avoid a 3-link with panhard rod. Ok for minimal travel vehicles but keep in mind as the axle moves thru it's travel the axle also moves laterally. Go 4-link or just do a long travel leaf spring set-up.

 

Here are a couple of links with articles/calculators.

https://www.crawlpedia.com/4_link_suspension.htm

https://www.patooyee.com/calculators/calculators.htm

Also, check out the SAS subforum. Most that SAS their trucks do a 3-link in the front, so they will have some good info/in sight. Linking the rear will be the same general concept as the front.

 

Not true. The panhard 3 link setup we built has very low amount of side travel (~1.5" side to side). On paper maybe you can debate that sounds like a lot but we have put these on 6 trucks now and no one has ever even felt the side movement. No one feels it because 1" of movement is in the last 2-3" of bump and droop which you are either fulling bumping out (hard load so you feel the G's) or you are airborne. Our kit works with stock gas tank, stock axle, and stock driveline. Buy the kit, shocks, install, and build your own bedcage.....done. Leaf springs are terrible ride compared to a linked truck. Hopefully someday soon trucks will stop coming with them from the factory.

 

The current Rangers have a watts linkage I was reading. It said a watts link is better for reducing off-center swaying over a panhard bar. Would a watts link be ineffective / impractical in this application? Maybe get in the way of the gas tank?

 

I had no idea what watts linkage so I watched a video on it, and this has started me down a rabbit hole of different links systems. It's interesting for sure.

 

Watts link is definitely for lower travel suspensions. I did try to design with a watts link originally but I had to make the pivot arms in the middle very tall (~14" arms) to accommodate the amount of suspension travel. With the arms that long, they would have hung below the axle ~6" or more which is not going to work offroad since they would get ripped off first trip. After figuring out how big the pivot had to be, there was really no where to fit it. Either it would drag on the ground or it would end up in the middle of the bed

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/gone-surfing.551113/

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/long-travel-taco.176526/

two related build threads I've seen.

 

@3pooches

 

The second one is @dirt designs

 

I’ve been running mine 3 linked for a few years and absolutely love it. Anyone talking about the side to side movement or limited travel is regurgitating old wives tales and not speaking from personal experience. Mine was a “driveway fab” first time build and it pulls 20” with just 12” CO’s, if I would have given up some bed space and gone for 16’s you could add a foot to that travel #.

Steve’s kit is incredibly well designed and fab’d I would highly suggest that you look at the @dirt designs kit.