Nigelw Posted December 27, 2014 Share Posted December 27, 2014 D2s have rear radius arms and a "Watts linkage", is it possible to get rid of the watts for a panhard rod or go back to an "A" frame and ball joint on a D2 rear axle? Has anyone got rid of the pesky watts for something that lasts? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave88sw Posted December 28, 2014 Share Posted December 28, 2014 Something that lasts? I did my first watts linkage 2 years ago (on a 14 year old car) and have done few since, despite d2's being our most common vehicle to work on. I've lost count of the a frame ball joints i've replaced. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Escape Posted December 28, 2014 Share Posted December 28, 2014 Watts linkage is in my opinion better than a panhard rod, because it keeps the axle centered. Due to the shorter arms, travel can be limited, as on the D2. An A-frame would be my first choice, centered and lots of travel, but takes a lot of space. Space that is used for the fuel tank in the D2 and P38a. So for a D2, I'd stay with the Watts on a D2. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigelw Posted December 28, 2014 Author Share Posted December 28, 2014 Thing is Jan has had 3 sets of watts bushes, he is hard on that thing mind!!! Lots of off road action and front lift springs and adjusted height sensors at the back, he plans to swap out to coils as he wants a bigger lift but said that the watts bushes get eaten now, what happens when it's lifted further? This truck will spend 50/50 on/off road not like the rest of us where they spend 90% on road and as little as 10% off Hence looking for an alternative with less bushes, ie, panhard rod, that will last as long as the bushes in the front panhard which are still original, or back to the older "A" frame and ball joint for proven rear end tech that works. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elbekko Posted December 28, 2014 Share Posted December 28, 2014 I'd think a Watts linkage would be wearing less than a panhard, not more... The only issue I've seen with them is that articulation is limited by the axle bracket, it always struck to me that just rotating it a bit could stop it hitting the linkage. What bushes are you using? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigelw Posted December 28, 2014 Author Share Posted December 28, 2014 G spec ####part bushes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miketomcat Posted December 28, 2014 Share Posted December 28, 2014 G spec ####part bushes Problem found!.........Try gen parts. G spec is twaddle it's just an excuse to charge more. Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
landroversforever Posted December 28, 2014 Share Posted December 28, 2014 There's your problem! Go genuine and see what happens!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigelw Posted August 14, 2015 Author Share Posted August 14, 2015 Just an up date on these, genuine LR bushes fitted and still as good as new over 8 months and 35,000kms further. Seems genuine or nothing at all lasts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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