Using 0.120 tube for lower links???

[atomicjoe23]

Has anyone ever done this?

Did it end with bent lower links?

I ask because I'm gonna do a 4-link for a friend's '74 Chevy C10 shortbed, but it's not an offroad build. . .it's just a cruise around on airbags type of build (not my thing, but whatever). . .so I thought it might be acceptable to not go holy ape-sh** on the lower link tubing, aka 2 x 0.250 wouldn't be necessary because it wouldn't be seeing the loads an off-road truck would be seeing.

I know the 4-link suspension calculator does some analysis for you and S.F. bending (S.F. = shear force???) is one of them, but could someone point me in the right direction for a formula for figuring this at on my own also. . .sorry I'm not a mechanical engineer (although I'm trying to fix that by taking classes part time, but I haven't gotten to statics and dynamics yet) so I don't what formula to use or where to look for it.

Thanks for helping me with my stupid question.

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[Triaged]

S.F. stands for Safety Factor. I should have used FS but that was a long time ago and I haven't changed it.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Factor_of_safety
Did you read the *.txt file that is zipped in with the calculator?

The equations are all in the spreadsheet if you want to "pull" them out. Other than that you will have to calculate them on your own because a single equation isn't out there. Just toss in a smidge of dynamics, a large helping of 3D statics, and some strength of materials. Then mix in your mind till the answer falls out.

Do you plan on driving this C10 over rocks? Could someone put a floor jack under the middle of the link to jack up the truck?

[atomicjoe23]

S.F. stands for Safety Factor. I should have used FS but that was a long time ago and I haven't changed it.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Factor_of_safety

Thanks!

Did you read the *.txt file that is zipped in with the calculator?

No, I didn't see a .txt file. . .

The equations are all in the spreadsheet if you want to "pull" them out.

I wasn't able to get the Excel spreadsheet version to open. . .so I was using what I assume to be a slightly older web-based version, but I could be wrong.

Other than that you will have to calculate them on your own because a single equation isn't out there. Just toss in a smidge of dynamics, a large helping of 3D statics, and some strength of materials. Then mix in your mind till the answer falls out.

I wasn't able to get the Excel spreadsheet version to open. . .so I was using what I assume to be an older web-based version (V3.1???)

Do you plan on driving this C10 over rocks? Could someone put a floor jack under the middle of the link to jack up the truck?

Absolutely NO ROCKS!!! This thing is getting airbagged and dropped, the ride height is gonna be 4.5" and when it's parked he's gonna lay frame on the ground. . .it's not even gonna be a daily driver, just a cruiser for the weekends or a car show, but I'm don't want to work on a truck and give someone something that is unsafe. . .not to say that it's current condition is safe or that it would stay safe for very long after I turn it back over. . .you never know what people are gonna do.

. . .hey, never say never. . .I have absolutely no control over what someone does after the vehicle leaves my sight. . .

[Triaged]

The text file is in here. If you don't have excel I have heard it opens up fine with OpenOffice.

Are you going to put the air bags on the links or on the axle? Even if not on the links I would still go for a S.F. Bending of over 1 just in case someone got stupid with a floor jack.

[atomicjoe23]

Thanks for the link Triaged. . .I was going to mount the airbags (and shocks) on the axle. . .man I REALLY appreciate how helpful and patient you've been, a HUGE help so far!

[Kritter]

Most often the lower tube is thick for rock damage. You can get away with much thinner tube than the norm if you dont have to worry about rocks. Thin tube and a small angle iron type gusset down the length on the bottom would be light and still resist rock dings.