4link or ladder bar's??

[tobs440]

ok here is the delima,
i am looking at getting a ford 9" for my 93 dakota to handle the high compression 408 stroker i have built for it....
i am debating between 4 linking the rear and doing coil overs, or should i ladder bar it and do coil overs?? i am not sure what i should do for a set up..
what is the pro's and con's to 4link and ladder bars??
thanks for the help guys

[dwc43]

The 4 link is more adjustable, but has a reduced ground clearance,cost more, and is harder to install. LAdder bars are cheaper, simpler and quicker to adjust, provides good traction, more ground clearence, and much cheaper and quicker to install or remove. I'd use the ladder bars for sure. Want a floater axle, new? THey take more abuse, you wont loose a wheel if you brake an axle too.

[tobs440]

on summitracing.com
the 4 link from comp is 160.00 for the kit and the ladder bar is 260.00 then you still have to buy the coil over shock assy, which is 210.00 for the set... so like i said earlier, as far as welding everything, i work with a guy that has his own machine shop, and his neighbor makes custom t-tops for boats for a living, so i think i have the welding everything in place under control...
i just want to know the pros and cons to both setups, ok so i have one so far... ground clearance, seeing that this is going to be basically a track driven vehicle i dont think that is a big deal

[dwc43]

If it's just going on the race track then the 4 link would be the way to go since you have most everything you need covered already. The 4 links more adjustable, but it will take you longer to dial it in. Pretty much the lower bars are your major adjustments and the upper bars give you the fine tunning adjustments. Coil overs cost you the same either way. Have not looked at Summit on pricing lately, but the ladders are usually the lower priced pieces.

[Kevin Garceau]

I would go 4 link route in this case fore sure.

Pick up trucks need to get the IC further out to better help with weight distribution. With the ladder bars your kinda stuck.

Yes infinatly adjustable compared to the three holes to adjust the ladder bar. Setting them up is less and less a hassle these days with the computer programs out there and a very large group of people on the net that can get you spot on, very close from the get go.

[dwc43]

I was looking for an ignition box and Summits book shows the 4 link as 279.95 and the ladders at 258.88. What's up with that?? Of course this is C.E.'s cheap junk too. I'd look for a better set up than what C.E. offers though.

[70AARCuda]

Went you are looking at price, usually the ladder bars come with joints and the 4 links do not.

[dwc43]

You got a point there and those chrome molly heim joints aint cheap.

[kamstra]

I went with Ladder bars. They work with minimal adjustment. I do not beleive I will take the time to tune the four link to get the value out of them.

Here is a good article that may help
http://www.competitionengineering.co...es/chassis.asp