Rear Suspension Overview: Part 1 - Rear End Alignment

Part 1 in our series of tutorial videos that explain how to set up your rear suspension. Today we cover Rear End Alignment.
In the coming weeks, look for:
Part 2 - Setting Pinion Angle
Part 3 - Adjusting Pre-Load
Part 4 - Anti-Roll Bar
Part 5 - Ride Height
Part 6 - Basic 4-Link Settings
Learn more at www.timmcamis.com
The information contained in this video is based on the opinion of Tim McAmis and his 30+ years in the motorsport and manufacturing industries. Any action you take based upon the content provided shall be done at your own risk. TMRC and its affiliates are not liable for any losses and/or damages in connection with the use of this information.

[@chevii9981]

I've said it before and I'll say it again, thank you. Good to know there are people out there that give the correct advice on how to do shit right.

[@thebeagles2025]

I learned more about tape measures in this video than I did in the entire 61 years that I've been alive.

[@bdog3869]

Greatly appreciate your time in explaining where to start to setting up the rear ended correctly. Thanks so very much.

[@Trialnerror]

That chassis is a work of art. Truly amazing. I'm building a drag chassis on my channel right now and this video really helped. Thanks man.

[@idoskidsattheawesomeauzzie9255]

Once again, I really appreciate ALL of your awesome knowledge that you share 👍

[@beentheredonethat7572]

"The ability to use a tape measure" was where I lost it, omg that was about the funniest shit I've heard in a while

[@racinford1]

24 and 3 little lines

[@steves759]

There is your common core results. So sad whats happening to our country.

[@autoxinvr]

"...jumbo max motherfuckers..." hahahahah I love it. You got a like just from that.

[@SidewinderNetwork]

"all these little marks between these numbers mean something" is where i lost it! lol

[@beentheredonethat7572]

"The ability to use a tape measure" was where I lost it, omg that was about the funniest shit I've heard in a while

[@guccistang]

You are the fucking Chuck Norris of race car builders Tim Mc. You're awesome bro

[@paulmcdonald3570]

Very informative for basic setup of four link. Great explanations!

[@vwdarrin]

great cars and videos , thank you

[@wellingtonmurikitiko8789]

Please help me understand more about rear suspension of a vehicle.

[@Leon-Servant-of-Christ]

Excellent video, Tim!! Very informative no bullshit explano!! Keep up the great work sir!

[@calvynvandenberg6943]

Great video. Thank you!

[@jamesbarrett7908]

Great instruction

[@Wormser_mcfrazzleweiner]

Great videos! Thanks for sharing the information!!!

[@gpherbert]

Outstanding thanks so much Tim

[@TheDaltonmichaels]

i think you meant shortest number. if you sweep the tape and get a longer number its because you have your tape at an angle. you can always get a longer number , there is only one shortest number , you may have caught this idk , surly its not worth going back and editing a video for. Anyone going through the lengths of building a suspension from scratch will likely figure this out as well. Also i have watched many of your videos on building drag cars, Do you have an engineering degree , did you go to a trade school for automotive fabrication and chassis building or are you self taught?

[@buddyhirshfield5970]

Dalton Michaels No he’s right it is longest. number

[@promodracer2191]

Great video guys

[@Barnbuiltracing2]

Awesome this is naturally what I would square my rearend off of.. but I don't have that bar 😕

[@jimc6481]

Awesome....tell it like it is!....appreciate that .

[@anthonytaylor6932]

Yeah. The tape measure thing made me laugh too!

[@LegacyGarage]

Can you check alignment and preload hanging with a track bar

[@kerwinscott177]

is there an advantage/disadvantage to having 4link bars long or short? or should I say is there an optimal bar length for a 4link system in a drag racing application?

[@1320pass]

Great stuff, subscribed👍

[@handmethatchingadera]

Would this type of 4 link be streetable at all? I'm working on a 68 ford fairlane and I was going to ditch the rear leaf spring set up for something else. I also wanted to make room for larger tires. What would you recommend for street/strip set up? Wouldn't the solid hiems make the car sound like a Sherman tank on the street? Planning on running about 1000-1200hp with Lenco st1200. Motor and trans are ready to go. I have a car and a Chassi works front end I picked up for a song so I have a decent front set up. I'm just not sure what to do on the rear and I didn't want to gut my car completely for the rest of a full chassis kit and "super jumbo max mother fucker" shark bite cage kits lol.

[@Leon-Servant-of-Christ]

James Moretich yes actually!! KZbin hotrod garage, they have about 7 or 8 different vehicles they installed 4 link suspensions on.. Excellent handing characteristics when set up and installed properly.

[@cooperbrosracing]

Thanks for the video :-)

[@imnotchildish2384]

How do you keep the wishbone from causing a bind with the 4 link?

[@racinford1]

"Can You Read a Tape Measure?" LOL Truth

[@joevald3]

I really like this I find it helpful

[@Jusstanginroun]

They make a neat little device called a laser! Wow

[@Just1morefishinthepond]

You mean to tell me, that every little black line has a corresponding number broken down, like a fraction!

[@Onhaey]

Hearing you explain this really blew my mind that guys with this much money can’t read a tape measure.

[@BossAutomotriz]

This non parallel bars apply only for dragsters.

[@albertraczynski4249]

If you use those aluminum bars to help center your rear end, thats good if your bars are equal, but if you put rear steer in the 4 link I believe that method won't work.

[@Timmcamis]

Correct, but this is all part of initial set-up, starting at zero. This gives you a baseline to reference. When you do apply rear steer, you know how much because you can measure how far it has moved from a zero starting point.

[@albertraczynski4249]

Reason I mentioned, is that I have rear steer in my car now, but wanted to re center the rear, so I came back to reference this video, and I was like wait, thats not gonna work for me. What would you recommend doing for a car that already has rear steer in it?@@Timmcamis

[@Timmcamis]

@@albertraczynski4249 If you don't currently have any documentation from a starting point of zero. Take measurements of everything as it stands now so you can get back to that point if it is working for you. If you recenter, then you have a point of comparison to what you have now vs a zero starting point. Basically, work backwards if you don't already have a reference point.

[@ashwanthvh6812]

how to derive the camber angle? not measuring but deriving...

[@jeffm118]

great video very well explained .

[@Leon-Servant-of-Christ]

Ahhh, camber on a solid rear axle isn't going to happen, that's only with independent suspensions.

[@goblet6295]

Thanks for the video! The tape measure....lol

[@metallideth503]

Level tape will give you the shortest number not longest!!

[@ddd228]

WHY center the rear for drag racing? I'll say no.

[@JCMakerspace]

I'd like to see Tim do a lesson on reading a tape measure. lol

[@roadtoad7704]

Oh yeah. But I think it would turn into a rightful rant something like "Lemmee get this straight. You're gonna spend 200K on a turn key car, 500K on a decent toter and trailer and tell me you need help reading a GDMFing tape measure?"

[@wellingtonmurikitiko8789]

Am a student in motor mechanics

[@georgeshotrodbarn2113]

Most racers do not understand just how important the rear diff is and the way the link systems work they can talk about an engine all day but the rear suspension is voodoo. the engine makes the power the trans supply's the power to the diff by way of various gear ratios but the diff applies all of it to the tires and the ground to make the car move the engine is just a power plant. it all happens at the rear of the car the sooner racers learn this the better they will be.

[@badad0166]

3:54 Oh my!

[@eb972]

. Frame measuring machines/software is in millimeters. No fractions to fart with. Just sayin.

[@mikeeagle2653]

Good thing you’re not trying to teach people how to use a level. Because after a century guys still think if the bubble is between the lines it’s level. Lmao 😂

[@joetakens6274]

Know how to read a tap !!! omg lmao !!!

[@landonlogsdon490]

Good thing i just drive a custom chassis around every day or this video wouldve been useless.

[@wertty1988ify]

Awesome video!! Thank you

[@BossAutomotriz]

This non parallel bars apply only for dragsters.