A few years ago, if you had a set of airbags under your ride, that was cool. Today, it takes a whole lot more to achieve the kind of performance and wow-factor that most custom compact truck enthusiasts are looking for.
In keeping with this ever-rising challenge, the guys at Devious Customs are always looking to make their products better and make life simpler for their customers. Recently, we had the opportunity to visit them and see a link-style suspension set performed in only a couple of hours.
If you're 'bagged on leaf...
If you're 'bagged on leaf springs, this is pretty much what you have on your hands. Eventually, those single stock leaves are going to snap, and we don't want to think about the consequences.
Next, the single leaf springs...
Next, the single leaf springs that held the rearend in place were removed -- for good.
Included in the kit are bolts...
Included in the kit are bolts that will secure a secondary forward link to the rear housing. These are each given a few drops of Loctite before installation.
Using the bolts we just mentioned,...
Using the bolts we just mentioned, a mount is bolted to the top of the differential housing.
Directly in front of the housing...
Directly in front of the housing is a factory crossmember. Another mount was welded into place below the crossmember. Simply use the link for the forward connection to determine the location of the mount. The link itself is adjustable to make pinion angle corrections.
Replacing the stock leaf springs...
Replacing the stock leaf springs is just as easy as removing them. The new lower links simply bolt into place at each leaf spring eyelet using the factory leaf spring bolts.
With the new lower links in...
With the new lower links in place, each is rotated rearward and the axle housing mounts are attached. The mounts are tack-welded into place on the axle tube and welded in completely after everything has been made to line up perfectly.
A mount was then made to allow...
A mount was then made to allow the new Panhard bar to be installed from one side of the suspension to a point on the truck's chassis in order to limit side-to-side movement of the rearend.
To make the Panhard mount...
To make the Panhard mount to the new part, a pair of tabs was welded onto the new mount. This is the chassis-mount for the new suspension's Panhard bar.
Another mount, on the other...
Another mount, on the other side, was welded to the rear axle housing to complete the Panhard bar setup. This is the suspension mount for the new suspension's Panhard bar.
Completely assembled, the...
Completely assembled, the Devious four-link suspension will deliver vastly improved handling and performance compared with the way it started out -- with flimsy, sagging leaf springs.