Watts Link

So im getting ready for a new project and i wanna run a watts link but i was just curious if anyone knows if there are any pinion angle problems similar to a two-link? I really wanna run on because of how much space they save. I just really wanna know if the pinion angle changes at all through out its travel

You cant just use a watts link by itself. You need to use it with either a 2 link which will give you pinion angle problems or a parallel 3 link or 4 link.

what elbine69 said is true, a watts link is ment to keep the axle centered and prevent side to side movement, not correct or cause pinion angle problems.

Jesus im not retarded. I know you need i two link in conjunction with a watts link but does a watts link cure the pinion angle problems of a two link/panhard bar set-up??

That kind of attitude is not going to get you anywhere. You asked "i wanna run a watts link but i was just curious if anyone knows if there are any pinion angle problems similar to a two-link?" which makes it sound like the Watts link was the only locating device you would use. In no way did you say you wanted to use it in conjunction with a 2-link. And if you think that a watts link will cure the pinion change issues caused by a 2-link, then yes sir, you are retarded. The watts link, and even the panhard bar, simply locate the axle laterally. The 2-link is what controls the axle longitudinally and secures it to the frame to transfer its power to the ground via the tires. If you run a 2-link, you WILL have excessive pinion angle change, period. A watts will not cure this.

sorry, guess I should have been a little clearer in what i was trying to get across....

a pan-hard bar, watts link, or a pan-hard bar watts link combo's sole purpose is to keep the axle from moving side to side inbetween the frame rails, and is used on a link or latter bar setup. the movement of any of the aforementioned is ment to correct, is perpendicular (opposite) in relationship to the movement of the pinion & driveshaft angle. if the link bars are fixed & none adjustable, they should be welded in so that the proper pinion angle is maintained at regular ride height, and doesn't bind at full extension of the suspension in either extreme (fully lifted or laid out). now if the bars are adjustable, you can set this up in the same fashion, but have some adjustability to move the pinion angle up or down to get better traction or less binding at a given height in the suspensions travel.

to sum it up, a watts link will not cure a pinion angle problem, it will however make the vehicle handle better around turns.

woah. My bad everyone, somethings else was pissing me off at school. Didn't mean to take it out on you guys.
So back to the subject at hand. I was looking at 2 link/ watts link set-up and I figured that it wouldnt solve the pinion angle problems like seth said. So i guess the only way to keep a good pinion angle through out the length of travel is a forward facing triangulated 4 link or a wishbone style 3 link.
Seth, are there any big differences that you can feel with the wishbone style that you run. I know yours is a 5-link but the two rear link just serve as a way to air it up right.
Please correct me if im wrong
Once again. sorry for the attitude. good job seth keeping me in check. hahaha

It works fine. I have about 1/32" between my rear tires and fender lip. Which means my bed has to be centered perfectly for the tires not to rub. Now if my rear end moved side to side, I would know it, because my tires would touch any time I took a turn or sweeping turn. They never do. So it is a very solid setup. You can achieve the same thing with a triangulated 4-link. But if you do not have enough triangulation there will be a little bit of side to side movement, and in my case, tire rubbing.

And yes, my two rear bars are simply their to lift the truck up. They are on shackles, so they don't do anything to locate the axle, in any direction. They just lift it up. I did this simply because I did not want a bag over axle setup.

OK. so i figured it out. I want to run my tank in stock location so i guess its gonna come down to a parallel 3 link with a watts. or a wishbone style 3 link like yours seth. My gas tank is in the same location as yours. Plans are just to raise it up. but I really am against a reverse or 50-50 set up.

Good call on being against a 50-50 link or a reverse link. Id like to see you do a watts link myself. Im a fan of those for some reason.