Technical Little help with wishbones

I’m putting a little Rod together with my 16 yr old. I’ve read conflicting statements about the bolts at the batwings. Some say tighten them, others say they need to pivot so the front can work. If I tighten them, the suspension will pivot from the rear only, and may push the spring as it works thru it’s range of travel. If I leave them loose, and depend on the nylock nuts, the ends do not appear to be designed that way. No bushings, no inside washers, etc. And that just doesn’t seem right.

 

Most certainly tight. There is no pivot at the batwings.

 

If it was a four bar set up, they would need to pivot, but that’s not what you have. They need to be tight and only pivot at the rear.

 

Trust your intuition! Tight!

Actually, I've never heard or read anyone saying anything other than tight. Strange!

Chris

 

That makes sense.

While we are on this front end, how much caster do you guys run? I tacked everything and set it up on an alignment machine. I set it up at 7 degrees positive at ride height. The wishbones are adjustable, but I would think if you try to get too much out of it either way, you will bind the spring. I’m just trying to make it drive nice

 

Just to correct your nomenclature, you have hairpin radius rods not wishbones.

 

They are not four bar that move at the axle.

 

I've never seen an axle configuration like this before (I'm new to solid axles). What is this configuration referred to as? Is it done for safety? Sort of like...uh...suicide prevention?

Wouldn't the frame hit the top of the spring, or is it farther away than it looks in that photo?

 

I have never seen an axle/spring mounted like that either ... basically the reverse of a t-bucket/suicide front end. Just curious, what vehicle is this chassis for?

 

@cantspel Are you sure this is set up right? Im no pro (a LONG way frm that) but not sure if I've seen a setup like this before? Reverse suicide?