3 Link Retrofit Questions

[svassh]

I purchased the 3 link retrofit kit today for my MK 2. Currently I have the 4 link with Coil Overs.

1. I assume with the 3 link the upper control arms are not used?

2. It says if the battery is mounted beneath the trunk as mine is it will need to be moved. Mine is in the center of the trunk and it looks like the upper link for the 3 link is on the passenger side of frame. Any thoughts on if it will still need to be moved?

Thanks all

[nucjd19]

When I installed my drop trunk mod it had to be offset to the left. I think it was because the differential would impact it but it has been a while since I was at that phase. Here is a picture if it helps..https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=142383&d=1612924670

[CraigS]

I can't really predict whether it will need to be moved or not. Too many possible slight variations and one may fit as is while the next won't clear the brace. I see you are in Tx so you may still have driving weather there. I did this twice on 2 different cars and it was summer so I didn't want the car to be undriveable too long. So one weekend I got the axle brackets installed and re-attached the coilovers and drove it. Next weekend I got the panhard rod frame installed and the banana onto the axle and drove it. Then I started working out how to install the frame end bracket for the 3rd link. Mine was an old kit and did not have the nicer current type bracket so I had to do a bit of fabricating. The final weekend I cut the frame bracket for the four link away and got the 3 link bracket installed. Finally I removed the last 4 link arm and installed the 3 link arm. BTW if you have an angle measure tool, measure the diff angle before you remove anything. When you get all the new parts in, adjust the 3 link so the diff is at the same angle as you had w/ the 4 link. This may not be perfect but it will be close enough that you can drive it.

[svassh]

1. I assume with the 3 link the upper control arms are not used?

Can anyone confirm this?

[frankeeski]

1. I assume with the 3 link the upper control arms are not used?

Can anyone confirm this?

If you're referring to the existing 4 link upper control arms, they have to be removed. Wouldn't be a 3 link if they remained in place.

[CraigS]

Yes, the upper links of the 4 link setup are gone. On the current frames I believe they have designed the frame link mounting ears so that either a 3 or a 4 link can be installed on the same frame. On the older cars like your and my MkIIs, you need to cut away some of the passenger side 4 link frame ears to have room to install the 3 link frame mounts.

[GoDadGo]

You're going to Love Your 3-Link Conversion because it will greatly improve the handling, but it also plants the crap out of the tires.
If you had been dealing with the common Mustang 4-Link shimmy and shake, those issues will soon be gone.

[AC Bill]

I used one of the four link ears on the top of the differential, to attach an additional 3-link brace. This is a modification, not a stock part of the build. It can help prevent the banana bracket from twisting under hard acceleration. This was especially important if you don't weld the bracket to the axle tube.
Vintage Performance Motors,( http://www.vintageperformancemotorcars.com), used to used to sell the brace, but many fellows built there own.

Couple examples. The lower picture also shows the additional brace that some used with the 3-link retro kits. The mount that is bolted to the frame, ahead of the axle that the third link is attached to, some felt was weak, and this extra brace was used to strengthen it. The factory ordered 3 link had that mount welded in place and was quite heavy duty compared to the bolt in one.

158489

[svassh]

If you're referring to the existing 4 link upper control arms, they have to be removed. Wouldn't be a 3 link if they remained in place.

That was my assumption :) just want to validate as I have new aftermarket upper control arms. I needed to cut a hole in the sheetmetal behind the seats to remove the bolts. Have not done that yet so now I can just cut them out instead.