Torque Link?

Strange question, really more of a musing.

Ya know that brace that connects the rear caliper back to the frame. I think the official term is a "torque link?" Anyway, I've decided that I hate it and want it gone. I feel like I can understand its importance but have no idea how far i'm going to have to go to get rid of it. New caliper? New swingarm? New religion?

Afrosemite wrote:

Strange question, really more of a musing.

Ya know that brace that connects the rear caliper back to the frame. I think the official term is a "torque link?" Anyway, I've decided that I hate it and want it gone. I feel like I can understand its importance but have no idea how far i'm going to have to go to get rid of it. New caliper? New swingarm? New religion?

Man you need it... it holds the caliper in place. All bikes have'um (disk or drum brakes). Ignor it - nobody else notices it, but you.

To be honest, i didn't really think much of it until I got to looking here: www.wrenchmonkees.com/monkee11.html

Now I am confused because it totally makes sense why this bit is necessary, but I can also envision a world where the caliper is attached to the swingarm in such a way that the extra brace is unnecessary

I don't think the bike in the picture is actually a roadworthy machine, so they can make it appear that nothing is needed to keep the brake caliper in place when the brakes are applied. It might be possible to fabricate a bracket that secures the caliper to the swingarm near the rear axle, but think of the load placed on the one side of the swingarm and the leverage if applied at the rear of the swingarm instead of forward near the swingarm pivot. The picture makes it appear that the caliper pushes agaist the rear shock when brake is applied. Another little magic item in the picture is the front brake line arrangement. What keeps the front brake lines from rubbing on the tire when turning? Ed

I can see your point about the front brake lines, and I accept that this is obvious a bike meant more for looking than for operating, but.....

How is mounting the caliper one side of the swingarm so different from mounting it on one side of the front fork?
I'm starting to accept that this brace is just something I am going to get used to (honestly, it's break in symmetry that bothers me most of all.) I'm just trying to get a handle on the physics now

not all brakes use a tourque arm some have a solid mount that the caliper slides front and back on instead it is it is grooved then slides into place over a lug that is part of the swingarm allowing full axle adjustment but not allowing the caliper to swing up when the brake is used.

The shafty doesn't use one does it?

If i wanted it gone i would just fab a gracket near the back of the swingarm. Roy

I've seen quite a few production bikes with no visible torque link. Check out the HD's:

You could run a short link to the shock bolt...

Another shot with the caliper on the top side:

and another HD, softail version...

This is an aftermarket piece but it's the same shape as the OEM caliper bracket on Ducati Monsters. The long slot goes over a pin welded to the back side of the swingarm.

Later, Doug