With all the debate out there focusing on suspension setups, we figured it was about time to put some suspension myths to the test. For years, fabricators 'bagged trucks day in and day out using a standard notch and bridge, with the airbags mounted directly on top of the axle, and never really thought much about it. Well, times have changed, and air setups have certainly come a long way. Lately, we've been seeing systems designed with the 'bags mounted on link bars, giving the suspension a mechanical lever advantage for lift, along with a better ride.
In the hard-core suspension world, some will tell you that a reverse four-link is unsafe and by nature cannot function correctly. However, CanDo Specialties in Oroville, California, put this myth to rest. The CanDo reverse four-link was created about four years ago with the help of Brian Jendro. It is designed to provide enough lift so that you can remove the biggest rims you can stuff under your mini without any complication. The kit has 10-12 inches of lift with shocks properly installed and can be installed with the stock lowered suspension in place. According to CanDo's spokesperson, "As long as your setup is designed properly, keeping the pinion angle in check throughout the range of travel, and installed correctly to avoid axle wrap, then you're good to go." Brian Jendro pioneered this setup in the mid-'90s, and it has been put to the test time and again ever since.
You can now easily 'bag your truck and maintain ride quality. For this article, we focused on what it takes to build a rear suspension setup that rides as good as it lays. This weld-in kit is also currently being designed with bolt-in applications for most mini-trucks. Follow along as CanDo installed its weld-in reverse four-link, which has been tested to be "safe and reliable with more than 60,000 miles on a daily driven truck to prove it." For more information, contact the company listed in the source box.
This is a look at the full...
This is a look at the full reverse weld-in kit from CanDo.
Each kit is handbuilt in-house...
Each kit is handbuilt in-house to ensure the utmost quality. First, the link ends are measured out for the bushings.
The link bar ends are then...
The link bar ends are then notched.
Every kit is then fully TIG-welded...
Every kit is then fully TIG-welded for good looks and added strength.
Steve and his crew started...
Steve and his crew started by plasma-cutting away all the old suspension pieces welded to the frame.
The frame was then cleaned...
The frame was then cleaned up so it could be plated.
Plates were measured, cut,...
Plates were measured, cut, and then welded into place to restore strength to the stock frame.
A rear crossmember was measured...
A rear crossmember was measured out and then welded into place.
Next, the spare-tire-holder...
Next, the spare-tire-holder crossmember and remaining old suspension pieces were cut away and added to the scrap pile.
With all the old junk gone,...
With all the old junk gone, the top 'bag mount was measured, set up, then tacked to the frame.
All measurements were triple-checked,...
All measurements were triple-checked, and the lower link bar was tacked into place.
The lower 'bag mount was measured...
The lower 'bag mount was measured up and tacked to the lower link bar.
The top link bars were measured...
The top link bars were measured out and also tacked into place.
With everything tacked, the...
With everything tacked, the system was quadruple-checked for proper placement before being permanently welded.
A top bridge bar was bent...
A top bridge bar was bent and fit into place to measure out where the shocks would be placed. For this particular install, the truck would be body-dropped 3 inches, so the shocks were mounted to allow for a couple extra inches of lift.
Shock tabs and an air tank...
Shock tabs and an air tank mount were then TIG-welded to the bridge.
Once the shock tabs and tank...
Once the shock tabs and tank mount were in place, the bridge bar was completely welded to the notch.
A couple of gusset bars were...
A couple of gusset bars were bent and welded into place to support the bridge and clean up the lines.
To shorten the tank, the mounts...
To shorten the tank, the mounts were cut off and shortened.
Nuts were TIG-welded to the...
Nuts were TIG-welded to the bottom of the shortened mount, so the tank could be bolted in upside down.
Last but not least, Easy Street...
Last but not least, Easy Street 'bags were bolted up and plumbed with air line.
The end result is a smooth...
The end result is a smooth ride and no need to relocate the gas tank. It doesn't get much easier than that.