b'TECH TIP PAGETech Tip 38: Lets compare decoupled torque arms to decoupled 3-link rear suspensions.Torque arms are simple & easy to set up, because they are basically non-adjustable. Height changes at the front make very little difference. Shorter torque arms provide higher Anti-Squat, more loading of the rear tires on initial & early accelerationless on later acceleration near corner exit. A longer Torque Arm simply reverses these characteristics. Unfortunately, once you have picked your torque arm length, this is not tunable. You have what you have. 3-links seem more complicated, but once you understand you run the lower links level (same with a torque arm) and adjust the top link angle (at the chassis) so the intersection of the lines form an Instant Center where you want, its easy as pie. The distance from the rear axle center (RACL) to the Instant Center is considered the Swing Arm length. Same as a torque arm. If we have a 57 torque arm & a 3-link with Instant Center 57 ahead of RACL, the load point is the same. With a torque arm, were stuck at 57. The 3-link can be adjusted almost any length. All rear suspensions, except decoupled versions, experience opposite effects of Anti-Squat on corner entry versus corner exit. A car with 60-70% Anti-Squat will have good rear tire loading & grip on acceleration, but experience significant rear tire unloading & lack of grip on corner entry, under braking. Lowering the Anti-Squat reverses this. It is always a compromise.But decoupling either a torque arm or 3-link throws that out the window. No compromises. The torque arm, or 3rd link, is ONLY loaded on acceleration. Under braking the torque arm or 3rd link becomes decoupled & is not loadedbecause the additional decel link is now loaded. Under braking the decel link & the lower links form a completely different Instant Center BEHIND the RACL. Yes, behind it. This creates Pro-Squat that loads the rear tires MORE under braking, INSTEAD of unloading them like regular suspensions.We can adjust the Accel Link for 100% Anti-Squat. Then mount the decel link uphill going forward for 100% Pro-Squat, the opposite of Anti-Squat. Now, on track, we can drive the car harder IN & OUT of each corner. The difference in the two is simply the decoupled torque arm is NOT adjustable for rear grip under acceleration & the decoupled 3-link is completely adjustable to fine tune the rear grip under acceleration. 534'