Sorry for the title, wanted to throw it in after reading tiny's thread from earlier

On a more serious note, I was doing some research on future lift kits for my jeep. I was looking at alot of different setups and components and noticed a couple long arm kits that were "tri link" and "four link." I looked at a few pictures and saw the difference but was curious what the affect of these kind of kits was and the advantage?

dang no one?

Just go 4 link. tri-link is good but the women always want more so 4 is better then 3 right?

Really the difference is this---

As I remember but don't qoute me on a 4 link front you can get ride of the track bar. Then the same for the rear with a 4 link. On a 3 link you must still keep the track bar since that is what is holding the axle centered.

i thought i read the exact opposite. the 3 link allows u to lose the track bar at least i think thats what the kit said that i was lookin at

just as a reference

Rubicon Express RE7515 - Rubicon Expr...TJ - Quadratec

this sounds like a newer design that actually eliminates the track bar. maybe before with tri links a track bar was required

Let me go find my notes lol. BRB

Yep. Pretty much what he said. You won't have the problem of an un-centered axle if you change your height also. That is one of the main reasons 4-links are so much more popular with air bag suspensions. The cost generally is more for the 4-link, but it is more stable.

Sorry reversed it- tri link(3 link) you weld in the diff brace that you also bolt too. The 4 link still uses the track bar

4 links do not NEED a track bar depending on the design. Stock jeeps rear ends are 4 linked, but it is not design to hold itself that tight, if it did, you would have no flex. You don't want a 4 link like that in a Jeep tho.

And if you want to get technical, 4-link plus track bar, is not a true 4-link anyway.

In the long run they work the same. You will have to check your measurements every once in a while on both. I think the argument will end up 50-50 in a pole to which is better.

thats what i figured, so the 4 link would be a better route tho?

Turns into a 5 link

A 4 link still uses a trac bar unless it's triangulated. The triangulation is what keeps the axle from shifting from side to side.


Most of what you see for rear suspensions are:

4 link with a trac bar. This is basically the same suspension that is installed from the factory. None of the control arms are triangulated - they run parallel to the frame rails (so to speak).

Triangulated. This is generally where the upper control arms (links) are mounted to the frame and meet together at the axle. The lower arms (links) still run parallel to the frame. The triangulation eliminated the trac bar.

Double triangulated. Same as above but the lower links mount to the outside position on the axle and meet together underneath the vehicle. This also eliminates the trac bar.


Front end:

4 link. This is the same suspension as was installed by the factory. It requires a trac bar.

3 link. The two lower control arms (links) mount the same way as factory. Parallel to the frame rails but one of the upper links is removed. A trac bar (panhard bar) is still required. There no triangulation to keep the axle under the vehicle and this is why a trac bar is still needed.

I'm sure there are other link configurations out there but these are the most common

Just to clarify, triangulation of the links is what allows no trackbar to be used. The triangulation centers the axle instead of the trackbar
(edit: Scout beat be to it)

This is my 4 link setup, triangulated uppers and lowers, no trackbar.

Out of these configurations is there any that are more beneficial than others?

I should have mentioned the triangulation thing. I figured it was a given but I am no teacher! You cannot have a true 4-link that isn't triangulated. They become 5-link due to the track bar.

Nice pic that would have been useful had you also lit up that big shadow area with a flash.

Yeah, a photographer I am not.

Well that's debatable.

The main reason most people change their suspension geometry is to get more wheel travel or flex. In my opinion, the best configuration would be a 3-link front and a dual triangulated rear.

True. However, they're commonly referred to as a 4 link.

What we have stock (5-link)



Common true 4-link


And I won't post a 3 link because there is no real common layout for them, pretty much all custom.

Here's my rearend.



Front 3 link:

The top one would be a 4 link with trac bar and the bottom would be a dual triangulated 4 link.