Tech Question of the Month: Why does your Watts Link attach to the axle instead of the chassis like other manufacturers do? Wouldn’t it be simpler and less expensive to make it the other way?

Answer: Very good question. The difference in performance between the two mounting methods has to do with roll center migration. Variations in roll centers as the ride height varies up and down with acceleration braking, turning and road surface irregularities causes variations in the vehicles attitude as this occurs which. This translates into what is at a minimum a confidence killing “unsettled feel” in a corner; and at worst, difficulty in maintaining control while driving at the limit. Spring and damping rates that compromise ride quality and tire are usually employed when roll centers are variable. We went to great lengths in the design of the front SLA system to reduce vertical roll center migration to an absolute minimum. So, at the back end of the car we do the same.

The greatest advantage of a Watts link over a Panhard bar is the ability to fix the roll center at the center of the Watts link bell crank. With a Panhard bar, as the vehicle rises or squats, the roll center rises and falls as well. With a Watts link, if attached to the rear axle housing the roll center does not move at all relative to ground, (except for minor amounts due to compression of the tires). When attached to the chassis it rises and falls like the Panhard bar, negating most of the advantage of using a Watts link in the first place

Like many Griggs Racing products, there are emulators in the market. Griggs Racing does not compromise performance for expedience of production or cost. So, as in all things, you get what you pay for.