4 Link - Four Link - Design and Implementation

[jonbobshinigin@gmail.com]

Another crazy wandering into the world of four link to create the smoothest ride possible for a utility cart for decent off-road handling while also being cable of handling four passengers and pulling a small trailer.

Here is the plan:

2004 Club Car Precedent
All-Sports 6" Long Travel (long wait I know)
4-Link Rear

Considerations:

- This older Precedent has the axles with differential more towards center, which creates some issues for Navitas 5k Motor. Apparently lifting will alleviate this, but, it seems like there are some clearance issues that can be mitigated by adding the 1.5" and centering the axle.

- The geometry of the 4-Link setup for most 4x4s are designed around having to maintain alignment with input shaft through range of motion. There seems to be an acceptable range that gives up a bit to achieve this...but with the motor being on the axle in the case of golf carts, I wonder how much of this does not matter and can be simplified? Please weigh in on this!

- I will be looking at perhaps manufacturing a kit for this setup and deliberating the best way of going about this...straight up open-sourcing this design. The goals are a simple and adjustable system that simple drops in more or less with minimal welding.

[slonomo]

I had considered doing this very mod in the past, ended up selling the cart. I do have all the pieces, heims, bungs, bushings, etc and thought of doing this on my G16. The 4 link is a pretty good setup for a golf cart if it can be done. The challenge is the frame it attaches to. Some carts are not built heavy at all and not sure a 4 link would be well suited in those carts.

With that said, I think it's a great idea. I did start a thread years ago related to this, basically a "thought provoking" type thread. Might be useful.

https://www.buggiesgonewild.com/showthread.php?t=153805

[scottyb]

Lots of good info there, slonomo
I did build a 4 link for a workhorse years ago. It came out pretty good. LOTS of work and wound up too soft for work, good for cruising though. PS I added a panhard bar to my 4 link