long travel watts link

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Busting the Myth of the Watts Link

Real-world testing puts theory into perspective.

Advocates of the Watts Link base their arguments of superiority on theory rather than testing. What happens in the real world reveals the true story about the Panhard Bar vs. Watts Link debate for the late-model Mustang.

Why do people claim a Watts Link is better than a Panhard Bar? The bell-crank and link system of a Watts Link keeps a car's chassis centered over the axle as the suspension moves the chassis up and down, whereas the arc of the Panhard Bar's movement shifts the chassis sideways during that process. While those are the facts, they're not the whole story.

What's wrong with sideways movement of the chassis? When the rear of the chassis moves sideways relative to the tire footprint, it causes the car to point in a different direction than where the driver is steering. To get the car pointed back in the direction the driver intends, he or she must correct course by steering the front tires. The "rear steer effect" can make the car feel unstable and unpredictable. While that is an undesirable situation, the Watts Link folks ignore key factors that make this slight sideways movement unimportant when considering the big picture for late-model Mustang handling. Read on for details!

How much sideways movement does the Panhard Bar cause? The arc of the MM Panhard Bar causes a maximum lateral movement of 0.17" on a Fox/SN95 Mustang. This maximum occurs only when the body rolls all the way to full bump or full droop. This much suspension travel very rarely occurs during hard cornering. More typically, suspension travel is less than 2". The arc of the MM Panhard Bar at 2" of travel causes only 0.050" of lateral movement of the chassis relative to the axle. Even when more extreme cornering loads cause 2.5" of travel, there is still just 0.079" of lateral movement. During normal street driving, when it's more typical for suspension travel to be 1", the resulting lateral movement is a minuscule 0.010". These dimensions are small enough to be irrelevant.

Why is the sideways movement caused by the Panhard Bar irrelevant? We know it's a little confusing, but here's a more complete explanation: It's not that the arc itself is irrelevant, or that the lateral movement it causes is irrelevant. The takeaway here is that the amount of movement is absurdly small. That's what makes it irrelevant.

I'm a perfectionist; why not eliminate even 0.050" of movement? Out in the real world, tire sidewall deflection has a much greater impact on your Mustang's handling during hard cornering. The sidewall flexes far more than you might think, and that affects handling much, much more than 0.050" does.

Here's what happens: while you're driving straight the tire tread is planted on the ground. As you steer into a corner the tread remains on the ground, but sideways loading forces the chassis, the axle assembly (because the Panhard Bar firmly connects the two), and the wheel toward the outside of the corner. The tire sidewall flexes uncontrollably when the wheel gets heavily loaded at that point, allowing significant sideways movement of the wheel/axle/chassis. That movement is enough to make meaningless the effect of the tiny 0.050" shift. A Mustang with a Watts Link suffers from the exact same sidewall deflection.

How much does the sidewall flex and distort the tire? During hard cornering, the tire sidewall deflection will cause the wheel/axle/chassis to move as much as 2" sideways relative to the tire footprint (and also depending on what equipment you have installed on your Mustang). That 2" is huge when compared to the 0.050" movement caused by the MM Panhard Bar arc.

How do you know the tire flexes that much? Because we've seen it happen! Now you can see it, too, in this undercar video .

Since the tiny amount of lateral movement is irrelevant, and now that I understand the impact of sidewall flex, are there other reasons to choose a Panhard Bar instead of a Watts Link for my Mustang? Yes! In the specific case of the late model Mustang, there are several reasons why we recommend a Panhard Bar instead of a Watts Link.

Roll Center Height Late-model Mustangs handle better when the rear roll center is lowered from the stock location, near the top of the differential cover. Why? Here's the really short explanation of a very technical subject: compared to a lower roll center, a higher roll center causes more jacking forces, which raises the center of gravity height, which increases lateral weight transfer, which transfers weight from the inside tire to the outside tire, which reduces overall cornering grip.

With a Panhard Bar the roll center is located at the height of the rod. The MM Panhard Bar for Fox/SN95 Mustangs lowers the rear roll center about 9" from the stock height to just below the rear differential cover. The roll center of a Mustang Watts Link isn't nearly that low because it's at the pivot of the bell-crank. The bell-crank pivot can never be placed as low as the MM Panhard rod because the lower part of a Watts Link assembly hangs far below the bell-crank pivot. To maintain adequate ground clearance for the Watts Link assembly the bell-crank pivot must be placed far above the MM Panhard Bar height, resulting in a much higher roll center--and less cornering grip.

Watts Link advocates often point to the many purpose-built tube frame race cars (IMSA and Trans Am, for example) that were equipped with a Watts Link. However, they ignore that since the 1980s those racecars have used Watts Links in what's called a "lay-down" design. The bell-crank pivot is mounted vertically to the bottom of the differential, with the bell-crank swiveling in the horizontal plane underneath it, placing the roll center very low. Those racers know that having a lower roll center is critical for best handling. However, this design is difficult to build for the Mustang 8.8" cast-iron center section, and extremely problematic for a street-driven Mustang because it would significantly reduce ground clearance.

Fitment The MM Panhard Bar offers much better clearance for tailpipe routing than a Watts Link. That affects most of our customers, as few Mustang owners will put up with dumps or the expense of custom-built tailpipes. The MM Panhard Bar is designed around the factory tailpipe routing, making it much easier and more practical to install.

Some Watts Links for Fox/SN95 Mustangs also require extensive (and expensive) modifications to the spare tire well in the floorpan, which is far beyond what most people with street-driven Mustangs would consider doing.

Price The MM Panhard Bar is much less expensive than any Watts Link on the market for the Fox/SN95 Mustang.

Winning racers agree! Maximum Motorsports is not the only proponent of a Panhard Bar over a Watts Link. SCCA autocross C/Prepared National Champion Mike Maier recently dominated the class and won by over one second in his Fox Mustang. What's his secret? Maier discovered that the handling problem he had been fighting for years, which he thought was caused by never getting the shock adjustment quite right, actually came from the high roll center of his Watts Link. He switched to a Panhard Bar and instantly solved his Mustang's handling problem, leading straight to his dominating win of the C/P National Championship.

Myth Busted! We hope it's clear to you now that the MM Panhard Bar provides obvious advantages over a Watts Link for your late-model Mustang. Here at MM, we're all about using engineering and real-world testing to inform our customers about the smartest choices they can make for their Mustangs.

• The lateral movement from the Panhard rod's arc is so small it's irrelevant.
• Tire sidewall flex far overshadows the effect of even that tiny movement.
• More rear cornering grip due to a lower roll center
• Better fitment with tailpipes

Thanks for reading. If you have any further questions on this topic, let us know . If not, pick up an MM Panhard Bar today !

For more information see our MM Mustang Panhard Bar Tech page .

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Roadkill Customs

Diy hot rod tech, tools, rides & lifestyle, watts-link geometry explained.

The watts-link is a commonly used lateral locating device on rear link-type suspensions.

The advantage of the design is that it can keep the axle centered throughout the entire travel range of the suspension.

Understanding the subtleties of this design, which are necessary for the system to work correctly, are actually quite simple…

This clear, concise short was put together by Pedantic Publishing .

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How Does a Watt’s Link Work? Exploring the Unique Axle Centering Concept.

The suspension system plays a crucial role in ensuring a smooth and stable ride for vehicles. One important component of this system is the Watt’s link, which provides a unique axle centering mechanism. In this article, we will delve into the workings of a Watt’s link and understand how it contributes to the overall performance of a vehicle’s suspension.

What is a Watts Link?

A Watt’s link, also known as a Watt’s linkage or a parallel motion linkage, is a type of suspension linkage that helps to control the lateral movement of the rear axle in a vehicle. It was invented by James Watt, a Scottish inventor, in the 18th century.

The primary function of a Watts link is to keep the rear axle centered and prevent it from moving side to side during suspension travel. This is achieved through a combination of linkages and pivot points that work together to maintain axle alignment.

How Does it Work?

A Watts link consists of several key components:

• Two parallel links: These are typically steel bars that are connected to the chassis of the vehicle at one end and to the rear axle at the other end.
• A central pivot: This is a pivot point located between the two parallel links. It allows the links to move independently while maintaining a fixed distance between them.

When the vehicle encounters uneven terrain or cornering forces, the suspension system compresses or extends, causing the rear axle to move vertically. As the axle moves up and down, the parallel links of the Watt’s link rotate around their respective pivot points, allowing the axle to articulate while remaining centered. Unlike a pan hard par found on most vehicles the Watt’s link has almost zero lateral movement and the axle travels in a relatively straight line instead of an ark.

The lateral locating mechanism, whether it’s a track bar or a panhard rod, plays a crucial role in maintaining the axle’s lateral position. It helps to resist the lateral forces exerted on the axle during cornering, ensuring that the axle stays centered and aligned with the chassis.

Benefits of a Watts Link

The Watts link offers several advantages over other types of suspension systems:

• Improved axle control: By keeping the rear axle centered, the Watts link provides better control over the movement of the axle. This results in improved stability and handling, especially during cornering.
• Reduced lateral movement: The lateral locating mechanism of the Watts link minimizes the side-to-side movement of the axle, reducing body roll and improving overall stability.
• Consistent tire contact: With the axle centered, the tires maintain better contact with the road surface, resulting in improved traction and grip.
• Adjustability: The Watts link can be designed with adjustable pivot points, allowing for fine-tuning of the suspension system to suit different driving conditions and preferences.

Disadvantages

There is one disadvantage to the Watt’s link. It can over rotate and flip the pivot point reversing the top and bottom link. Leaving you in a bind quite literally. Proper geometry and limiting travel to match the Watt’s link will keep this from happening.

The Watts link is a key component of a vehicle’s suspension system, providing an effective axle centering mechanism. By reducing the arc the rear axle travels you gain tire clearance to the frame, less suspension bind, and better on road control. The alternative to this is to do a triangulated 4-link eliminating the need for a Watt’s link or pan hard bar altogether. Like the Watt’s link there are packaging issues on modern off-road vehicles that we will look at in future articles.

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Improvements vs. Mustang OEM

It is an improvement over a panhard bar because the watts link more closely approximates vertical straight-line motion of the axle assembly allowing the vehicle to behave symmetrically in left and right hand corners.  A watts linkage is a mechanism consisting of two near horizontal links and a center pivot. The center pivot allows the mechanism to work because it compensates for the curved rotation of the horizontal links as they move through their arcs.

Adjustment & Handling Benefits

Moving it up or down relative to the center of gravity of the vehicle allows the roll stiffness of the suspension to be changed, enabling the balance of front-to-rear grip of the vehicle so that the desired handling can be achieved.

Our watts link can remove the nervous feeling you’re currently feeling at the rear suspension of your car. The OEM panhard bar allows some side to side motion of the rear-end during bumps and also behaves differently in left and right-hand corners.

CorteX Design  –  Xtreme Front to Rear Grip

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• Bronco Tech - Archives

Watts Link, Mumford Link? Because ANYone can buy a TrackBar

• Thread starter KennyB
• Start date Feb 3, 2011

Full Member

• Feb 3, 2011

Ok, my 4 link bars are 43"... and When I have the Calculator up, and hold My Protractor to the Screen (yes I do this) I'm a little under 40* total.... So, I know adding a Track Bar to the Rear is the Quick Fix... But, Anyone can do that... now, Very little info on Anyone using Watts Link, or a Mumford Link on an Offroader... I'm going to cut up some conduit... and work it... hey, No Images on these links with a 4X4, and 12+ inches of travel,... so, Use your Imagination... The Watts link does work beter (so I've read) if the link is Frame Mounted....  

Attachments

Another Watts Pic.... and Yes, with All the Pipe, Flat Stock, Bushings, Johnny Joints, Ballistic Joints, Heim Joints out there, Yes, If I can get this to work, I'll weld one up, and Give it a shot.....  

Bronco Guru

Watts links are an excellent answer to some, but I've never seen one on a long-travel suspension. I haven't done the math (and not likely ever to), but wouldn't it normally be the limiting factor? I suppose if you could build each link with it's length optimized for a certain amount of travel, it could be a possibility. Just not sure it's feasible. What does your protractor/screen interface say in that regard? Paul  

look at the back of a new dodge durango, they have them.  

The Endeavor Baja EB racer ran a Watts link up front for about 50 miles.....and now it has a normal track bar.  

I can get about 35" of Track Bar... and with 12" travel, it deflects about 3/4" on both sides if I have it sitting Level... This build will spend Most of it's life as a daily driver. Check my 4 Link... http://classicbroncos.com/forums/showthread.php?t=178215  

You are trying to make the wheel rounder.  

ken75ranger

• Feb 4, 2011

I looked at doing Watts linkage. There were 2 problems we couldn't easily get around. The lower link would be very low (my moderate wheeling would have trashed it) and the rear cross member on the frame was in the way.  

SwedenBronco

My guess is that the watt link wouldn't be the limiting factor in a long travel suspension, it's the size of it all that would, the center mount would have to be fairly long, probably making the lower link the lowest point on your suspension, makin it a not so good solution. I know that the watt links works very well, I have a couple of friends driving rallycross, they all use the watt linkage  

Broncobowsher

If you Watt's linked it then thre would be a strong possibility with it binding with the triangulated links in the back. That would require un-triangulating the rear and give sole control of the lateral movement to the watt's linkage, or other form of laterial axle control.  

...ok, Moving Away from Watts Link, for the Amount of Travel we need, and the way It's Connected High and low doesnt work for me..... But, This "Mumford Link" is amazing. Each of the 2 main Brackets need to rotate. and should be Double Sheared. So? Johnny Joint? DOM with Bearings? then the Linkage will use 3 R and 3 L Heim Joints. I'm wondering What size Rods and Heims 1/2" Heims with 3/4" Rods? The BIG reason to go Mumford is the Rods connecting the Linkage to the Axels, sets Your Roll Center Height. So, you can Raise your RCH by setting the Linkage width! and, The way this was designed, I dont see a problem with inhibiting long Travel Suspension. I have rotated a picture 180 Degrees to show What I wanna do.... Seriously, this is messing with me like Popcorn Stuck in my teeth.....  

• Feb 5, 2011

you're working against the k.i.s.s. principal but hell, give it a shot man. you might come up with something that works really well. if it doesn't work then you can always throw a trackbar on it. you could always move your lower link frame mounts further inboard to get more triangulation.  

have you thought about a wishbone style 3 link? that would keep your axle centered.  

There still going to be a packaging issue with a Mumford set up in an EB. The links or the center link bar need to be long to get decent travel. EB frames are narrow so the side links would be pretty short unless you go outside the frame. If the center link bar is long it going to be dragged on the rocks. If you are still game for it, I'd use 3/4 inch rod ends on the center links and urethane mounts at the frame for some isolation and to keep the heims straight. That's not a place I'd setup to do quick adjustment links with LH and RH threaded rod ends. Too much of a chance of it getting loose with all the movement.  

ken75ranger said: There still going to be a packaging issue with a Mumford set up in an EB. The links or the center link bar need to be long to get decent travel. EB frames are narrow so the side links would be pretty short unless you go outside the frame. If the center link bar is long it going to be dragged on the rocks. If you are still game for it, I'd use 3/4 inch rod ends on the center links and urethane mounts at the frame for some isolation and to keep the heims straight. That's not a place I'd setup to do quick adjustment links with LH and RH threaded rod ends. Too much of a chance of it getting loose with all the movement. Click to expand...

• Feb 7, 2011

.. OK Mumford Link Is a Big Fat NO... Nice on Straight Up n Down,... They Dont allow Articulation.... (And Thank you Dan Wheeler for the Model-it-up-first idea)  

Now, a Watts Link... *Remember, Your Roll Center Height, is the Center of the Watts link* Starting from Center - 0 - (Ride Height) then articulating up and down 6". Then, Center at 0, and other side up, then Down 6"... And Then, Up 6" on one side, and Down 6" on the other. Measuring the lateral movement. This is a Typical Frame Mount Design. Lateral Rod mounted above, and Below Axel. Of Coarse we can have this Mess Hanging Down,... But a Good Model to get the idea going... Center link 8", Axel links 4" Above, and Below Axel Center.  

Keep in mind while you're designing, the lower bar doesn't have to be parallel to the axle tube at ride height. It can go up toward the frame just make sure it clears the center link during articulation.  

ok, Now, I've put the Mounts Above the axel, nad have the "Propeller" equal to the distance between Risers (4") and, the Sideways articulation is much less.  

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How The Ford Ranger Raptor’s ‘Watts Link’ Rear Suspension Works And Why It’s Not On Every Truck

• By Huibert Mees
• May 15, 2023
• 27 Comments

Well, David Tracy has done it again! He’s written an awesome post about the new Ford Ranger Raptor but as usual, he used a lot of fancy words like Panhard Rod and Watts Linkage to describe the rear suspension. If your eyes glazed over because you had no idea what he was talking about, rest assured, your friendly Autopian Suspension Engineer is here to help. So, what did David really mean when he talked about the Watts linkage in the new Raptor, or his reference to a Panhard rod in the Bronco? Both these devices serve an important purpose and can be found on a few live axle rear suspensions. To understand what they really do, we need to take a step back and talk about some of the basic functions of a suspension.

The Function of a Suspension

There are various things a vehicle suspension must do. One is control the motion of the wheels so they move up and down in a very specific way over bumps and road irregularities so that the vehicle stays in control. Another is provide good steering feel and handling, and a third is to do it all in a manner that makes the ride comfortable for everyone inside the vehicle. so that’s control, steering feel/handling, and comfort.

That first part, the bit about keeping the wheels under control, is all about controlling the degrees of freedom of the knuckle which holds the wheel/tire assembly. All objects, including a suspension knuckle, have six degrees of freedom: up/down is one, left/right is two, forward/backward is three, and the rotations around each of those axes represent the other three. So basically, all things can move in three directions and rotate about those three axes. Since a suspension knuckle needs to just move up and down, what we need from the suspension is to remove all the other five degrees of freedom so that we are left with basically just the freedom to move up/down. The way to do this is to add links in the form of control arms and tie rods in such a way that the knuckle can only move up and down when all is said and done. This is why every independent suspension can be thought of as having five links. Five links take away five degrees of freedom, leaving just one left over. You can get a much more detailed look at this concept here .

For a live axle though, we don’t want it to be able to only move up and down. We also need it to rotate/articulate so that the body can roll in a turn and so that one wheel can move up over a single wheel bump while the other stays put. This means we need to keep  two degrees of freedom available and only take away the other four. Taking away four degrees of freedom means we need four links, which is why the most basic live axle suspension that does not use leaf springs is a four link and looks something like this Barnes 4wd four-link suspension kit :

During the 50’s, 60’s, and 70’s this was the most popular car rear suspension you could find. It was simple, cheap, and for the day, very effective. But the design had a problem. In order to make the cars more comfortable, suspension engineers had to use rubber bushings at the connections between the links, the axle, and the frame. While these bushings were very good at absorbing the energy coming up from the road, they meant that the axle was not as precisely controlled anymore. The axle was now able to move around as the rubber bushing deflected under load. This was especially bad in the side to side direction. Because of the angles of the links, even small deflections in the bushings meant large movements of the axle. Any side to side movement in the suspension translates directly into poor steering feel, poor handling, and an overall lack of confidence that the driver has in the vehicle. The vehicle might be quiet and comfortable, but you wouldn’t want to through it through the twisties.

But what if we could add something to the suspension that reduced the side to side motion without hurting ride? This is where the Panhard rod and Watts links come in. Both have the effect of significantly reducing the axle side-to-side movement, but they go about it in very different ways.  [ Editor’s Note : Huibert is going to compare a Watts link to a traditional coil-spring suspension design that uses a Panhard rod — this suspension can be found on the Ford Bronco, Jeep Wrangler, Ram 1500, Mercedes G-Wagen, and on and on. Most trucks use a leaf-spring rear suspension, and Huibert will discuss the advantages of coil springs over leafs in a later article. But for this one, he’ll look only at the advantages of a Watts link versus what you’d normally expect with a coil-sprung solid axle design. -DT] 

The Panhard Rod

A Panhard rod is a very simple rod which connects laterally between the vehicle body and the axle. Here it is on a Ford Bronco:

One end is attached to the axle while the other is attached to the vehicle body or (in this case) frame. When the axle tries to move side to side, the rod is either in compression or tension and will resist the movement. For those of you who have read this post about degrees of freedom, you may now be wondering why this even works, because adding a panhard rod to a four link suspension means we now have five links, and while that is fine for an independent suspension, it is most certainly not for a live axle. We still need the axle to move up and down as well as rotate so the body can roll in turns so we need two degrees of freedom. What gives? Well, what gives are the bushings. Without rubber bushings, this design would not work.

Let’s look at a theoretical four-link suspension with a Panhard rod:

You can see the four links, two in red and two in green, and the Panhard rod in yellow. In this case, the Panhard rod is connected to the vehicle at the right end and to the axle at the left end. That’s just a random choice I made; they can go in either direction.

The problem comes when we look from the rear:

Since the Panhard rod is connected to the body at the right end, as the axle moves up and down, the left end will move in an arc like this:

As the rod moves in an arc, it tries to force the axle to move in an arc as well. This is where the problem comes in. The four links want to keep the axle moving straight up and down but the Panhard rod wants to move it in an arc. Since they are now fighting each other, something has to give and that’s why we need bushings to make it all work. The deflections of the bushings in the four links allows the Panhard rod to pull the axle into an arc motion. If the panhard rod (also called a track bar) is nice and long, the arc will be fairly shallow and the axle motion won’t be much of a concern, but if the car is small and narrow, the rod will be short, and this issue could be a real problem.

The other problem you can run into with a Panhard rod is if the rod is not mounted horizontally. If, for instance, the end connected to the body was mounted higher up at ride-height, it might look something like this:

Or if you want a real-world example, here’s a Jeep ZJ Grand Cherokee’s rear suspension (which is for sale at b-parts.com , if for some reason one of you want an axle off a European diesel ZJ). Admittedly, it’s on a lift, here, but it’s still angled at ride-height, and especially after folks put lift-kits on:

Let’s see what happens as the vehicle turns into a corner. If it’s making a left turn, the cornering forces will try to push the axle to the left:

These forces will result in a force in the Panhard rod, but since it is at an angle, the rod will try to flatten out and in so doing, pull the body down.

The opposite happens when we are in a right turn. Now, the cornering forces are trying to push the axle to the right:

The resulting force in the Panhard will now try to make the rod stand up more and will push the body up. The closer the Panhard rod is to being horizontal, the less the body will be pushed up or down by the cornering forces.

Unfortunately, what this also shows is why a Panhard rod behaves differently in a left vs a right turn. Even if it is perfectly horizontal, suspension movement while driving through a turn will change its angle and change its behavior. Definitely not ideal.

For those of you wondering where the name Panhard rod comes from, it was invented by the Panhard et Levassor automobile company in the early 20th century.

The Watts Link

The Watts link like the one in the new Ford Ranger Raptor solves these problems but at the expense of being much more complex. Instead of using a single link, the Watts link uses three: an upper link, center link, and lower link.

The center link is mounted to the differential housing at its center pivot and the upper and lower links are both attached to the center link at one end and to the frame at the other. If the locations of the links are designed correctly, the center of the center pivot, where it is attached to the axle will travel straight up and down as the axle moves up and down. Under cornering forces, one of the horizontal links will always be in compression while the other one will be in tension and if located correctly, this means there will never be an upward or downward force on the body like there is with a Panhard rod. It also means that a Watts link behaves the same in a left and a right turn.

Here’s a look at a Wattsf link in motion:

When I say the links and their locations must be designed correctly, what I mean is that the upper and lower links must be designed to be horizontal and parallel at some point in the suspension travel. This will ensure the center link travels along a vertical path. If this is not the case, the center link will travel at an angle and will force the axle to move up and down at an angle, like this:

Designing the links to be parallel and horizontal at some point in the suspension travelw will ensure the center link moves vertically and there is no upward or downward force on the body during cornering:

By the way, the reason it is called a Watts link is because it was invented in 1789 by James Watt as a means of keeping parts of a steam engine moving in a straight line.

Choosing The Right One

So how would an OEM go about deciding which of these two designs to use? The Watts link is clearly the winner when it comes to performance, but it is much more complex. This is where the main difference comes in: cost. [ Editor’s Note : Ford already had a Watt’s link rear suspension design on the international Ford Everest SUV. -DT].  The Panhard rod is a cheap rod with fairly simple brackets at the axle and body ends. The Watts link has three parts with multiple pivots and attachments to the axle and body: much more expensive. In the end, it becomes a trade-off between cost and function and for each OEM and for each vehicle project, the answer will come down to which of those is more important.

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I’ve seen some aftermarket products featuring adjustable Panhard bars. Why would a person want to adjust the length of these bars?

If you change other suspension components, either lifting or lowering the vehicle’s chassis, an adjustable track bar will allow you to re-center the axle and get the panhard closer to OEM spec.

I did a double take. Is there any particular reason Ford went with a Banjo axle instead of the more common Salisbury axle? I saw David’s note about the Everest using it. Could this be a wholesale carryover of the axle housing with upgraded internals?

Interestingly this isn’t the first time Ford used a watts link on a Ranger! The late 90s EV ranger had Watts link and a De Dion tube

Ford Australia started using the Watts Link in the Falcon back in 1982 when they started to use rear coil springs for the live axle sedans instead of leaf springs, they and used it for the next 20 years before switching to IRS. It would have been their first choice when considering the need for another live axle with coil springs.

The Panhard rod on the S197 Mustang had an interesting feature. To improve NVH, it is filled with shot. Shaking it makes a fun sound.

Love these Ask an Engineer articles, every time!

I want to point out that the track bar doesn’t need to fight the four link and flex the bushings if it isn’t a triangulated four link, like the front suspension of any Jeep ever. No triangulation in the links, and heim joint links with a heim joint track bar will travel just fine with no bushing flex or binding.

I remember reading somewhere that the side to side travel of a regular track bar is quite negligible over normal suspension travel, like less than 1/8″ over 4″ or so of travel. I always assumed that’s why watts links were relatively rare in oem applications, even in sports cars.

Obviously the more travel you have, the more disadvantageous the track bar arc is. That makes sense why a watts link would be used on a Raptor. Of course, you could also just use an extremely long and level track bar, like the Bronco.

The pedant in me is obligated to point out the Watt’s Link isn’t a true straight-line mechanism either, so there is still *some* lateral movement in the suspension as it travels up and down. But it’s a much approximation than the Panhard Bar.

The Panther platform was another time Ford used the Watts linkage. They had a number of big handling updates over the years, with the Watts linkage being one. 2003 also saw a modern steering rack installed, which not only improved the Crown Vic handling but also became a common drop in replacement for many restomod trucks.

Isn’t the main reason it’s not on every truck is that most trucks have Hotchkiss suspension?

There’s no reason it couldn’t be used on a hotchkiss except that a Hotchkiss is meant to be cheap and cheerful. No point adding a bunch of cost.

You know what else had a Watt’s suspension? A PT Cruiser. They also advertised it as a selling point when it came out.

Yes, I’m old. And yes, I just read the PT story from a couple days ago! lol

The watts link does a far better job of locating the axle laterally, but I’ve been really unimpressed with their off-road performance. They seem to really limit articulation.

It has a pivot, it shouldn’t be able to affect articulation at all.

I’ve got both Ranger and Everest for work vehicles. You are correct with your comment about limited articulation with the watts link. The Ranger has far more suspension travel that the Everest does. I wonder if its a function of the relatively short upper and lower trailing links, or the watts set up itself?

It would appear that for the T6 platform the Watts set up is aimed more towards high speed dynamics (on road and Baja dune bashing) rather than slow speed capability – articulation.

That doesn’t have to be the case. Here’s an incredible custom suspension on a Nissan Frontier: https://www.instagram.com/p/CfUL07PFMLv/

Hardly a fair comparison.

Here’s a video of the then new first generation Everest showing the poor articulation of their Watts link setup: https://www.whichcar.com.au/reviews/new-ford-everest-articulation

Umm, while there were plenty of coil spring link rear suspension setups back in the day I think that the most common suspension for a rear live axle were leaf springs in the 50s, 60s, and 70s…

Watts link is great but it is a lot of extra money for little noticeable performance on most factory suspensions.

Depending on the vehicle, converting to a Watts link isn’t that expensive, though it is time consuming. Most conversion kits involve adding tabs to the back of the axle near both ends, and then having a brace mounted between those tabs. The center of this brace has a pivot for the Watts link. This allows you to run a stock diff cover. A lot of these kits are like $200-$500.

Just go to eBay and search for “custom watts link” or something like that and you’ll see loads of them. My only fear is that lots of them show almost no additional bracing on the frame for what becomes a mounting point for the outer end of the links, especially when some of these kits create huge moment arms on the lower link.

I am not talking about converting, I am talking about manufacturing.

Another informative piece. Thanks!

I’m assuming there’s a lot of engineering in the exact point of travel at which the Watts link is horizontal and parallel-and that the point would vary given use-case. Can you give us an in-general? Like, 4wd trucks have that point when suspension droops vs rwd sedan under compression. Or, is it more about vehicle weight? Or?

Anyway, always enjoy these articles-often come back to them several times

It really doesn’t matter at which point in the suspension travel the links are horizontal and parallel, as long as they are at SOME point. It could even be a point that the suspension never sees in its normal use. All that does is set the relationship between the mounting points. Once set, the center link will travel in a vertical line no matter where the link is in its travel.

Thanks. I was reading too much into the “…must be…at some point….”

Decades ago, as a preteen lad, I was introduced to the Watts link while assembling a model of a dragster. I couldn’t figure out what it was or what it did, so I did some research — the hard way, without Google. It took a little while to wrap my head around how the up and down, in and out, rotating movements kept the axle from moving side to side, but it finally clicked.

The ubiquitous Crown Victoria used a Watt’s Link rear. Very effective and efficient way of doing things. The answer is always Panther.

Only after 1998 if memory serves.

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Step up your game with a Scott’s Watt’s Link and eliminate lateral movement altogether.  A Watt’s Link utilizes a pedestal mount off the rear end housing directly in the center.  It uses 1 arm above and 1 arm below the center pivot point.  These arms attach to either side of the vehicle’s frame.  This keeps the rear end dead center as the vehicle suspension travels up and down, no matter if the vehicle is leaning in either direction.

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watts link off road

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Has anyone ran a watts link suspension in an off-road application? I have seen it used in street rods and some short travel vehicles but would it work in and longer travel suspension like our crawlers and other long travel vehicles? thanks for any help you may have. des  

probably not in your league of travel, but LR discovery 2 came stock with them and a company called Bolwer made the Bowler Wildcat for Dakar style racing based on some LR stuff.  

Search user name muttman. Look for his buggy build. He did it and it appears to work well  

Full Traction has a kit for a Jeep JK. I don't think it ever got popular though as I have heard nothing about it since I saw the debut at Offroad Expo several years ago. Here is a link to a YouTube video about it... CRC Link rockcrawl - YouTube  

Triple X Traction built a JK for B.A.D. Wheels that used a Full Traction's setup. It works great. The total movement of pivoting center link is only about 10-12 degrees through 12" of travel. B.A.D. Wheels Build - JKowners.com : Jeep Wrangler JK Forum The Rally Fighter desert car also employed a watts link. wattslink.jpg (image)  

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I remember some gimmicky company had a kit for it a while back. I thought it was Nth degree but it looks like they use a pan hard bar. If you can't fit a true dual triangulated 4 link and can make the bars LONG then I'm sure it will work. There could be some advantages to a panhard bar if built right. EDIT: That full traction video is amazingly unimpressive.... I'm sure it could work but that video shows nothing. It looks like he uses a whole 10" of travel at the wheels.  

ya your right some company did full traction did. Suspension Systems for Jeep, Ford, Dodge, Chevy, Lift Kits, Off-Road, 4x4 truck, SUV This is what i was thinking on doing but was hopping someone had done it or tried it in a long travel suspension. im wondering if i can get any good articulation out of it. this past day or two days have been really informative i really think this may solve my issue on my rig. ill put up pics when i get a prototype i can cycle and see if it may work.  

Something else to consider...more joints to buy and more shit to wear out. I think it has merit in corner carvers but not really high-lift, large vertical travel offroad vehicles.  

Alright, what did I miss? From what I understand of the Watt's Link and how it works added to the crappy video which shows I wasn't far off, the only additional joint is the single pivot point at the center of the link versus a triangulated upper 4 link.  

I did a watts link on a 39 chevy ratrod thingy. Control rod pivot and one end of the roll axis was on the backside of the diff. It was cool but that stuff would get mangled pretty quick on a rock crawler were a basic long, tall panhard is simpler and more durable. You tube has a good video in mekanimo showing how you can fuck it all up if you dont put the 'control rod' and sidelinks at proper angles and lengths(which a long travel suspension potentially further complicates). Also shows how it doesnt actually 'center' the axle thru long travel any better than LONG panhard. Its just not biased to one side as most panhards pull to axle to the frameside connection on big droop.  

I don’t get your point manly cause the link in the vid your talking Panhard rod vs Watt's linkage ???? ?????? ? ?????????????? ????? - YouRepeat isn’t even what we are talking about its on the cover side. we are talking about the link being on top like the one from full traction (link in last post). the vid you speak of (that is if i have the right one) isnt it getting fed up its how it runs under articulation if it where on the coverside. PLEASE LEARN HOW TO USE THE LINK BUTTUN and USE THE LINKS so we all can move in a positive direction.  

I have a Grand Cherokee (04) with a wishbone center. It got rid of the cherokee neck shift panhard bar, but also produces some pretty weird feelings back into the cab. Jason Schererer had the wishbone in his first IFS car and it was out fast for the triangulated 4 bar. I am just thinking that the watts may react similarly at that spot. The triangulated four link works pretty well at reducing rear axle steer on articulation. Choices, and room. (Google: Watts linkage off road)?? As mentioned, the Watts crank, placed horizontally on the top, will see a lot of off-axes torque wanting to twist it. One of the full size offroad kit cars has that vertically in the rear, I think. That is probably a good place to look. Someone on here will know more. I have seen a watts link for the outside wheels of a IRS. Applied front-to-back to keep them in line with the center and reduce plunge. I think most prefer the rear to regress some. Edit: I thought it was the Rally Fighter. I see they are double triangle (now?)  

This may be the video Booger Weldz was refering to: Experimenting with James Watt's Linkage - YouTube maybe not?  

Exactly. i had to layout/draw a couple setups before building one that didnt lockup/bind(because of whats shown in that video pickle kisser couldnt find).  

thanks for the links stover. i have been working on a comp rendering on my comp and seams to be working well a few more tweaks and i think ill be off to the real thing for the rig.  

For what it's worth, the Rally Fighter went to a traditional 4 link after issues with the Watts setup  

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• Russia, Ukraine and Belarus

How long does it take to travel from a South Moscow suburb to SVO?

By Jonathan Matthies December 9, 2009 in Russia, Ukraine and Belarus

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Share on other sites, oksana81   0.

Does she have a lot of luggage? I wonder if it would be faster to take a metro vs. driving especially given current road conditions.

SMR   368

I would second this. You can't take the metro all the way, but there is a train that runs from the airport to savelovskaya metro station. The train takes about 35 minutes to get from the metro to the airport. It's not as easy as a taxi, but it's a lot faster. Looking at your Google map, Google says it takes 24 minutes to get to Metro Annino from Vidnoe. Annino is conveniently on the same line as savelovskaya. It would be a long sit on the metro, but you could make it.

Well she decided to bite the bullet and delay her departure until the 11th. Poor Denis gets to celebrate his birthday by flying for 16 hours! It'sa safer this way, because who knows what might happen at DHL tomorrow morning. She may have to wait until the afternoon to get her VISAs in hand. I'm 'taking a chance' by buying the tickets before she actually holds them; but it's a calculated risk.

mox   298

My experience has been that taking the metro is going to be her best bet. Traffic in Moscow is unpredictable, and the major roads can be completely jammed up even at 2am.

My experience has been that taking the metro is going to be her best bet. Traffic in Moscow is unpredictable, and the major roads can be completely jammed up even at 2am. But look: this is your fiancee's country. Even though she's not from Moscow, she is uniquely qualified to travel within her country. Don't try to run her travel arrangements from 5,000 miles away. Of the two of you, she is the most qualified to figure this problem out. Put it squarely in her lap and let her do it. After all, if you were planning a trip through an airport in the US that you've never been to, you wouldn't ask her to plan it for you from Vladivostok, right?

The ball is squarely in her lap, and always has been. I'm apprehensive enough of about traveling to NY, I'm not about to offer her advise on Moscow traffic patterns. It was disheartening to see her hopes fade when she realized she'd have to spend another day 'of horror' in Moscow. But she said we'll simply suffer through it and meet up a day later. Not a huge deal in the grand scheme of things.

Kailey   3

http://www.aeroexpress.ru/schedule/belorussky_sheremetyevo/

Since some time aeroexpresses go from downtown Moscow to - if i'm not mistaken - every airport. Welcome to Moscow, it's not horrible at all. NY traffic is better though.

Service Center : Vermont Service Center

Consulate : Moscow, Russia

I-129F Sent : 2009-06-22

I-129F NOA1 : 2009-06-25

I-129F NOA2 : 2009-09-24

NVC received: 2009-10-02

Yellow Envelope received: 2009-10-26

Ted and Marina   0

How did it work out?

We decided to wait a couple of weeks after interview to be sure visa was in hand.

I also risked buying the tickets just after we learned of the interview date.

Marina returned to Krasnoyarsk to finish packing and telling goodbyes.

I drive to New York to pick her up this Friday

funny Marina studies english video

Days between events...

129F sent NOA1 = 17 days

NOA1 to NOA2 = 150 days...that is 5 MONTHS

NOA2 to NVC in = 11 days

NVC in to NVC out = 24 days

NVC out to being told date of interview = 18 days

NVC out to Interview = 77 days...WAY TOO LONG !

I-129F Sent : 2009-02-27

I-129F NOA1 : 2009-03-16

I-129F NOA2 : 2009-08-13

NVC Received : 2009-08-24

NVC Left : 2009-09-17

Consulate Received : approx : 2009-09-30

Medical exam, Dr Boris : 2009-12-01 Marina passed...with a few shots

Interview : 2009-12-02...Marina passed!!! Visa in hand

Where did the last year go?

Wait wait wait, now we rush to both be ready.

She flys out this Friday, and we both have so much to do!

The house looks as only a guy has lived here for many years.

Estimates/Stats : Your I-129f was approved in 150 days from your NOA1 date.

Your interview took 261 days from your I-129F NOA1 date.

Sounds like a plan!

Plans go to chaos!

Aeroflot was 1 hour late of flight from Krasnoyarsk to Moscow, and they sat on runway in Moscow another hour...

Aeroflot put her in motel, and a few meals...but all plans after arrival are in a mess.

A large snow blizzard is heading this way, and should be in New York about the same time she lands on December 19.

(I think she brings Siberia with her)

We may be stuck in New York a few days, as it is a long way home to Alabama by car, with snow blocking the path.

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26 Travel Products Reviewers Say Helped Them Survive A Long-Haul Flight

POV: You're trapped in a flying metal tube for 12 hours, but you've prepared accordingly. Phew .

BuzzFeed Staff

1. A pair of compression socks for anyone whose feet, ankles, or legs tend to swell up on long flights. These cozy socks can help prevent that, and double as another thermal layer (planes be cold).

Read more about compression socks and swelling on long flights at Cleveland Clinic . 

Promising reviews:  "Used for an 11-hour flight. Very comfortable in comparison to the MANY other brands I've had and zero leg/feet swelling for the first time on that same long-haul flight." — Sean  

" After wearing these socks for over 24 hours straight for travel on an overseas flight, I had absolutely no swelling at all in my feet or ankles. I was worried about the potential for blood clots being on an airplane for a long time. So, I am glad I invested in these socks. Very comfortable. I washed them out by hand and hung them to dry. They were ready to wear the next day. I will continue to wear these and recommend them." — islandgirl

Get it from Amazon for $17.95+ (available in unisex sizes S–XXL and 13 colors).

2. A cooling memory foam seat cushion  to make you and your aching back feel ~supported~ even on painfully long travel excursions. 

The velour cover zips off for easy cleaning in the washing machine.

Promising reviews:   " Got this to use on long-haul flights because I usually have back pains for a good couple of days after. This helped a ton on my recent flights. Made my economy seat way more comfortable!" — L  

"I bought this before a trip to Asia. I typically find airplane seats to lack padding and to become uncomfortable for long flights. This seat was very comfortable and kept my butt from being sore on the flights. I really like it and will probably use it on all flights moving forward." — Carter Cathey

Get it from Amazon for $44.99 (available in three colors). 

3. A pair of reusable  anti-nausea bands  that may help soothe churning stomachs caused by long flights, car rides, and cruises without copious amounts of Dramamine. 

For more info on how to use acupressure for nausea management, check out this guide from the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center . 

There's a kid's band , too! 

Promising review: " Wore these flying and while taking a ferry out to the Aran Islands. It was quite choppy, and these helped! Combine these with medications for very rough adventures, and you will be good. I got through with just these alone on a flight and felt good on my long-haul journey. " — Zahra Kiesler

Get a pair from Amazon for $8.53 .

4. A pair of affordable  wireless Bluetooth earbuds  because the idea of being tethered to the back of the seat in front of you for the entirety of your 12-hour flight is, in a word, unbearable. Break free from the wires without breaking the bank.

Great news! They're waterproof for when you hit the hotel hot tub later. 

Promising review: "I wanted a wireless noise-canceling set when traveling on the plane. This worked really well, and I managed to get through an audiobook during my long-haul flight without issues. " — Amelia  

Get it from Amazon for $24.99+ (available in five colors). 

5. Plus, an  AirFly Pro wireless transmitter  if you (and a buddy) actually want to use said Bluetooth earbuds to watch those free in-flight movies.

Promising review: " Bought this for several trans-Pacific long hauls — this is a game changer. Transmission is good quality, although the sound lags every once in a while. Paired easily with a major brand name set of Bluetooth noise canceling headphones. Battery lasted the entire trip through a number of movies, TV episodes, and audiobooks. I would highly recommend. Update: My ONLY issue as I continue to use this is the inability to determine the status of the battery. That would make a great addition to the device." — Shelly Lincoln

Get it from Amazon for $54.99 (available in black and white and two other styles).

6. A moisturizing  saline gel  so you can put an end to the frequent nosebleeds and restore some desperately needed moisture to your dry, irritated nasal biome. If you use a CPAP machine or get dried out on long-haul flights, I'd add this to cart STAT. 

Promising review: "This stuff works. Used it for the first time on a 13-hour flight to Asia this past summer. My only disappointment: I didn't find this product years ago. Talking about how wonderful this product works may not be the most socially acceptable topic, but when I happened to mention it when asked how I survived the longest legs of the flights between the southeast US and southwest China, the interest of those listening convinced me writing a review might be a favor to fellow long-haul flyers. I used both the gel and the nasal spray — so I'm not sure if one works better than the other or if the combination is what did it. But, on arrival, my sinuses were not aching, and no bloody nose. Not a pretty review — but a very positive one." — Critical Thinker

Get it from Amazon for $3.62 .

7. A Trtl neck pillow for actually supporting your neck while you try to catch some mid-flight Z's. It's way less bulky than traditional travel pillows and will keep you from head bobbing onto your neighbor's shoulder.

Promising review:  " I purchased my first Trtl about four years ago for a long-haul flight and have used it every flight since then. I have never been able to sleep on flights with traditional travel pillows; my neck would just keep bobbing and waking me up. I just purchased a second Trtl because my husband keeps stealing mine. They're very easy to pack and take up less space than a traditional travel pillow. Sleep is extremely important to me, especially while traveling, so this comes on every trip with me if there's a long or overnight flight involved ." — valerie  

Get it from Amazon for  $64.99  (available in four colors). 

8. Plus, a soft kid-size travel pillow  with double neck support to make sure the nap you scheduled your entire travel itinerary around actually happens. 

Promising review:  " This was invaluable for my long flights to and from the East Coast to Hawaii. I also bought the kids' version for my son, and he loved it.  It collapses easily into a bag that attaches to your hand luggage. My husband had a traditional neck pillow which was more supportive, but ended up being unwieldy to travel with. I think this pillow struck the right balance between support and flexibility." — A&J

Get it from Amazon for  $38.97 (available in four sizes and 11 colors). 

9. Or, a memory foam  travel pillow  because it can be bent any which way to get you in a suitable sleeping position no matter what kind of train, plane, and automobile situation your travel plans entail. 

Promising review: " I used this pillow on a long-haul flight to China, and it was perfect! Loved that I could twist it however I needed for different positions and easily attach it to my luggage for carrying. Would highly recommend for people who have had trouble finding the 'right' pillow for traveling." — Dave  

Get it from Amazon for $24.99+ (available in four colors).

10. A 2-in-1  travel blanket and pillow  if you're always shivering through airplane naps because traveling with a bulky blanket seems untenable. 

Promising review: "I purchased this for my international business trips. The flights, whether domestic or international, are always freezing for me. T his is perfect as a pillow for short flights and much appreciated for warmth on long hauls. It's very soft and easily fits over your luggage handle. It washes very nicely and packs easily into the cover." — SD

Get it from Amazon for $29.95 (available in six colors). 

11. A pack of reusable water-reveal activity pads  for when your tot has exhausted the pre-downloaded supply of Bluey and Super Why!  episodes. These pads come with a water "marker" that reveals colorful pictures without any stain risks. 

Recommend for ages 3 and up.

Promising review: "One of the items I got to entertain my 2.5-year-old on a nine-hour flight overseas. It's not only compact, mess-free, and a great price...but it kept him busy far longer than I had ever dreamed. Played with it long after we returned home, and so often he wore the thing out." — WifeMomRN

Get a pack of three from Amazon for $19.99+  (available in three themes).

12. An inflatable footrest  so you can really put your feet up and relax with a travel-friendly stool that inflates to three different heights to suit any situation. It's also a great option for kiddos when their wittle feet can't yet reach the ground. 

Promising review: " I loved using this for our long-haul flight to Australia . It made sleeping much more comfortable and provided relief for my legs during the flight. I always struggle to get comfortable when flying in economy, and this footrest helped a lot!" — Happy Kosel

Get it from Amazon for $24.99  (available in four colors and a two-pack). 

13. Or an in-flight foot hammock to make kicking back in the flight cabin a whole lot easier. It easily mounts onto the seat tray, and not only ups that economy seat comfort, but can also help reduce in-flight foot swelling.

Promising review: " This made all the difference for me on a long-haul flight to the UK. I have short legs and find it difficult to get comfortable in an airline seat. With my feet elevated in this device, my lower back was able to relax. I arrived much more rested than ever before. It will always be a travel accessory for me." — Gal from the mountain time zone

Get it from Amazon for $19.99 (available in four colors and multipacks).

14. An in-flight phone mount for a hands-free way to watch all those episodes of Ted Lasso you downloaded for the flight. It can also mount on your luggage for long (aka boring) layovers.

Perilogics  is a small business creating hyper-functional tool holsters and bags for carrying your stuff on the go.  

Promising review: " This was perfect for a recent long-haul flight. Worked as intended, and we didn't have to hold our phone or try and keep it propped up on the tray table. Highly recommend!" — Strazie

Get it from Amazon for $13.97 (available in five colors).

15. A freezable snack box  with built-in cooling technology that you can load up with snacks to fight off any mid-flight stomach rumblies knowing they'll stay cool and fresh for hours. 

Promising review: "This is a repeat purchase — I bought my first one for long international flights and liked it so much I bought this second one for my teenager for hiking. I pack crudites, cut fruit, chocolate, cheese, and other refrigerator-temperature snacks on flights from the US to Asia and they stay cold through at least half of those 20+ hours (+ layovers) on the plane. Best still is how the bag doesn't 'sweat' on the outside. It's compact enough to keep in a carry-on or hang outside a backpack with a carabiner. Highly recommended!" — LiEr

Get it from Amazon for $17.99  (available in 13 colors and prints).

16. A contoured sleep mask because the bright light of this random kid's iPad is making it *very* difficult to sleep through the flight. The concave shape effectively blocks out light, and the adjustable strap helps you get a comfy, customized fit.

Promising review: "These eye masks are so soft and fit my face so perfectly that I don't even feel that I have them on. Other eye masks (including the rather expensive silk ones) annoy my face after a little while and leave a mark on my nose. These masks are adjustable and have a nice notch to fit the nose perfectly. They are thick and plush and won't let any light through, which allowed me to sleep 8+ hours on a recent long-haul flight. " — Sara Rastegar

Get it from Amazon for $21.99+ (available in seven colors).

17. Or try this brilliant travel hoodie  with a built-in sleep mask (🤯) if you want to be the cutest, comfiest, and most well-rested human on your flight. 

Pond Los Angeles  is an Asian-American, woman-owned small biz based in California. They create super chic minimalist clothing and accessories that just so happen to be ULTRA functional. Plus, the brand creates its goods in partnership with a woman-led manufacturer!

Reviewers say it's oversized, so size down if you want a snugger fit. 

Promising review: " I purchased this specifically for a long-haul trip overseas. Wanted warmth, non-restrictive and comfortable, and the built-in eye mask is genius. My travel friend kept saying she was looking for a large, comfortable sweatshirt to travel with. I mentioned this item, and she didn't seem interested and bought something else, which she returned. Then she saw me wearing this and immediately loved it and ordered one as well. 😊" — EM

Get it from Pond Los Angeles for $102.40 (originally $128, available in women's sizes XS–XXL; also available in black ,  oak , cream , and blue tie dye ).

18. A beloved  Kindle Paperwhite  to bring your entire TBR list with you on the road without bogging you down. So when your flight is delayed, and you fly through your vacation book in one sitting, a backup is just a few taps away. 

Promising review: "I had one of the original Kindles. Life happened, and I stopped using it until recently, when I had a long flight and used it on a plane. It was a lifesaver!!" — Tammi

Get it from Amazon for $149.99+  (available in three colors).

19. Some citrusy  Liquid I.V. Hydration packets  loaded with 3x the electrolytes of a regular sports drink because sometimes you drop the ball on that whole drinking water thing. This helps you maximize the power of every glass to aid a speedy recovery from a hard workout or ages-long flight. 

Psst — it's also gluten-, soy-, and dairy-free! 

Promising review: "A+ from a flight attendant. I fly long flights to Asia. During the course of the flight it is easy to get dehydrated. My husband suggested that I take one of these packets to drink each way. It has really made a difference in my energy level. " — Amazon Customer

Get a pack of 16 from Amazon for $23.45  (available in 12 flavors). 

20. A pair of thick fleece-lined joggers for perpetually cold snuggle-bugs desperate for something comfy that'll finally keep you warm enough inside those frigid flight cabins. And you thought sweatpants couldn't get any cozier!   

Most reviewers recommend sizing up! AND you can snag a matching fleece-lined zip-up hoodie here .

Promising review: "These joggers are super comfortable. I wore it on a six-hour flight, and it was perfect. The fleece material inside gives you that warm comfort, especially during colder temperatures. I definitely recommend it." — Amazon Customer

Get it from Amazon for $38.99  (available in women's sizes XS–XXL and 17 colors).

21. An airplane seat back organizer  to slip over the tray table and really make this little slice of Airbus feel like home. The machine washable surface provides a clean space for working and eating while adding some much-needed pockets for easy access to the snacks, drinks, and activities you've prepared to make it through this long-haul flight. 

Airplane Pockets is a small business doing exactly what the name implies — creating an in-flight organizational unit with plenty of pockets. 

Promising review: " Just completed a long-haul trip, and this was invaluable! Easy, clean, convenient. And takes up practically no space. Well worth being a part of your travel kit." — Sue B 

Get it from Amazon for $29.99 .

Check out BuzzFeed writer Emma Lord ’s  Airplane Pockets review  for more deets!

22. Plus, a  window seat BevLedge  that frees up precious tray real estate by giving all your other travel essentials a safe perch to call their own. We're talking sleep masks, earbuds, glasses, and a decedent bevvy (or two!) that are now out of the way yet still instantly accessible. 

BevLedge is a small business that specializes in mind-blowing travel accessories. 

Promising review: "This is a very useful product, and I take it with me on all my flights. Almost every time, the person next to me asks about it. It's especially useful on long-haul flights and international flights when you want that space the tray table takes up. It's light and thin, so it takes up little room on my carry-on. Great accessory overall!" — Trung L.

Get it from Amazon for $19.99 .

23. A comfy Warner's wire-free bra  with 30,000+ 5-star ratings because there is a 0% chance you're going to endure this red-eye flight with an underwire stabbing you the entire time.

Promising review: "I am not large chested, typically a 36B. This is a magical bra! I have tried other wireless bras, and the bottom band always rolls. Not in this bra!! Wearing this bra for 12 hours or more is easy peasy. I plan on ordering more and replacing all my expensive bras with this brand and style. Great for travel, too. Worn on two long flights and was very comfortable. Try this bra, you won't be disappointed." — AshnOK

Get it from Amazon for $21.99+ (available in women's sizes XS–3XL and 18 colors).

And here are some more wireless bras  if you're looking for similar styles!

24. A set of  silicone "EarPlanes"  with a twist-on design so you can maybe avoid that painful popping sensation amid altitude changes for once without sucking your way through an entire bag of hard candy. 

Promising review: "I've been flying for 30 years, and I've never noticed anyone wearing these. I only came across them when I was searching for an earplug to reduce noise on a long-haul flight. Anyway, I'm so glad I found them; they are hands-down the best thing for anyone who suffers from ear pain while descending. Just pop them in when you feel the plane beginning to land and take them out once you're on the ground. You will have no pain. These little guys are magic. I will never travel without them again." — VMA74

Get a pack of four from Amazon for $24.08 . 

25. A rechargeable  3-in-1 handheld fan  to beat the heat no matter where it strikes. It's the perfect size to keep stashed in your bag *and* it doubles as a power bank for on-the-go charging. Did I mention the built-in flashlight? Just in case it wasn't already multifunctional enough for ya! 

This gadget has been such a lifesaver in hot temperatures. Four of my friends have already bought themselves one, too, and are also loving it. 

Promising review: "Perfect addition to my carry-on during a long overseas flight where temperatures in the plane fluctuated from extremely humid to freezing." — CLAUDETTE

Get it from Amazon for $17.99+ (available in four colors). 

26. A portable digital power bank  with four built-in charging cables that can juice up just about any device you throw at it, whether you're mid-flight or mid-museum tour. 

Promising review: "This portable charger was an essential item for my recent travels. I do not trust the charging ports in the airports, and this kept my phone, iPad, and headphones charged nicely for long intercontinental flights. I had others on the trip ask to borrow it because one of the attached cords fit their Android phone. It recharged nicely in the hotels, and I will not travel without it!" — AMFischer

Get it from Amazon for  $19.99+ (available in seven colors/styles). 

The reviews for this post have been edited for length and clarity.

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FAA lifts temporary ground stop of Alaska Airlines flights after technical issue is resolved

The Federal Aviation Administration lifted a ground stop for all Alaska Airlines flights Wednesday after grounding the planes earlier as a result of a computer problem at the carrier.

The Seattle-based airline said in a statement that an issue arose “while performing an upgrade to the system that calculates our weight and balance.”

The FAA initially approved a ground stop for all Alaska and Horizon flights starting at approximately 10:50 a.m. ET.

It was lifted just before 11:45 a.m. ET.

It wasn't immediately clear how many flights were affected. An Alaska spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Rob Wile is a breaking business news reporter for NBC News Digital.

Jay Blackman is an NBC News producer covering such areas as transportation, space, medical and consumer issues.

Watch CBS News

U.S. issues travel warning for Israel with Iran attack believed to be imminent and fear Gaza war could spread

By Debora Patta , Tucker Reals

Updated on: April 13, 2024 / 5:25 PM EDT / CBS News

Update: Iran launched drone attacks against Israel on Saturday. Read CBS News'  latest coverage here .

Tel Aviv  — Israel is bracing for a worst-case scenario that U.S. officials believe could materialize within just hours — the possibility of a direct attack on Israeli soil by Iran in retaliation for a strike almost two weeks ago that killed seven Iranian military officers. Iran has vowed to take revenge for Israel killing its commanders, who were hit by an April 1 strike on the Iranian embassy in Syria's capital.

Two U.S. officials told CBS News that a major Iranian attack against Israel was expected as soon as Friday, possibly to include more than 100 drones and dozens of missiles aimed at military targets inside the country. Sources have told CBS News the retaliation could include attacks carried out both by Iranian forces, and proxy groups around the region that it has been funneling additional arms to for weeks.  

The officials said it would be challenging for the Israelis to defend against an attack of that magnitude, and while they held out the possibility that the Iranians could opt for a smaller-scale attack to avoid a dramatic escalation, their retaliation was believed to be imminent. 

Asked Friday how imminent he believes an attack is, President Biden responded, "I don't want to get into secure information, but my expectation is sooner than later." The president urged Iran not to move forward, saying his message to Tehran was: "Don't."

Tehran has not indicated publicly how or when it will return fire, so it's unclear how far Iran's leaders will go. If they decide to carry out a direct attack on Israel, there's fear it could blow Israel's ongoing war against Iranian ally Hamas up into a much wider regional conflict.

With the Iranian retaliation expected at any time, the U.S. State Department on Thursday warned Americans in Israel not to travel outside major cities, which are better protected from incoming rocket fire by the country's Iron Dome missile defense system. The latest guidance noted that travel by U.S. government employees in Israel could be further restricted with little notice as things develop in the tinderbox region.

"Whoever harms us, we will harm them," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed Thursday as he visited troops at an Israel Defense Forces airbase. "We are prepared … both defensively and offensively."

On Saturday, all U.S. embassies in the Middle East were put on high alert and required to hold emergency action committee meetings. Diplomats in Lebanon and Israel were specifically told not to travel to certain areas within those countries.

Sima Shine, a security expert and former official with Israel's national intelligence agency Mossad, told CBS News it was a dangerous moment for the region, and the "most worried" she has been. She said anxiety over an all-out war was likely just as high "on both sides, in Israel and in Iran."

If Iran does choose to strike Israel directly, it could involve a complex missile and drone attack similar to the one Iranian forces launched against a Saudi oil facility in 2019 .

"They will try to do it on the military or some military asset," Shine predicted. "But the question will be the damage. If there would be many injured people, killed or injured … I think it has the potential for a huge escalation."

Shine stressed, however, that she still believes neither side actually wants a regional conflict.

U.S. "really trying to avoid war"

The U.S. sent a senior general to Israel this week to coordinate with the close American ally on any response it might make to an Iranian attack. Speaking Friday on "CBS Mornings," America's top military officer said, "we're really trying to avoid war."

"This is part of the dialogue that I have with my counterparts within the region, to include the Israeli chief of defense, who I talked to yesterday," said Joint Chiefs chairman Gen. Charles Q. Brown, Jr., adding that the U.S. military was "doing things not only to prevent a war, but at the same time, one of my primary things is to make sure all the forces in the region are protected."

"My role, as the chairman of the Joint Chiefs, is to plan and prepare," Brown said. "That's one thing we do very well."

Brown's Israeli counterpart, Chief of the General Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi, "completed a comprehensive situational assessment on the readiness of the IDF for all scenarios," Israel's military said Friday. 

"The IDF is very strongly prepared, both offensively and defensively, against any threat," Halevi was quoted as saying in the statement. "The IDF continues to monitor closely what is happening in Iran and different arenas, constantly preparing to deal with existing and potential threats in coordination with the United States Armed Forces." 

The IDF said the visiting U.S. general, Central Command chief Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla, was taking part in the IDF's situational assessment.

The dilemma for Iran, said Israeli expert Shine, is to figure out how to deliver its promised response to Israel's attack in Syria, but in a way that does not lead to further escalation. Likewise, Shine said Israel could choose to show restraint when it responds to whatever Iran eventually does.

If either side gets the balance wrong, the consequences for the region, and even the world, could be dire.

Weijia Jiang, David Martin, Margaret Brennan and Olivia Gazis contributed reporting.

• Middle East
• Benjamin Neta​nyahu

Debora Patta is a CBS News foreign correspondent based in Johannesburg. Since joining CBS News in 2013, she has reported on major stories across Africa, the Middle East and Europe. Edward R. Murrow and Scripps Howard awards are among the many accolades Patta has received for her work.

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Our live coverage of Israel's war on Hamas in Gaza has moved  here .

USAID worker killed in Israel, agency says

From CNN's Jennifer Hansler

A staff member with United States Agency for International Development (USAID) died Friday in the Israeli port city of Jaffa, the agency announced.

The male staffer was with USAID’s West Bank and Gaza mission, the agency said in a brief statement.

USAID did not provide details on the circumstances around his death or his identity or citizenship.

“He was a dedicated member of our team for more than two decades, and our thoughts are with his family, friends, and colleagues,” USAID said.

USAID is working with the US Embassy to work out details about the fatal incident and its follow-up investigation, it said.

US expects Iran to carry out direct strikes against targets inside Israel, sources say

From CNN's MJ Lee and Natasha Bertrand

The United States currently expects Iran will carry out strikes against multiple targets inside Israel and that Iranian proxies could also be involved in carrying out the attacks, according to a senior administration official and a source familiar with the intelligence.  

The targets would likely be both inside Israel and around the region.

The beginning of a state-on-state conflict between Iran and Israel would mark a serious escalation in the region that the US has hoped to avoid.

US sees Iran moving military assets including drones and cruise missiles, sources say

From Natasha Bertrand and Oren Liebermann

The US observed Iran moving military assets around internally, including drones and cruise missiles, signaling that it is possibly preparing to attack Israeli targets from inside its own territory, according to two people familiar with US intelligence. 

It is not clear whether Iran is preparing to strike from its soil as part of an initial attack, or if it is posturing to try to deter Israel or the US from conducting a possible counter strike on its territory. 

One of the people said the US had observed Iran readying as many as 100 cruise missiles.

Some context: The Iranians want their retaliatory strike on Israel — a response to the Israeli strike on an Iranian consulate last week in Damascus — to be "significant," one of the people familiar with the intelligence said. But they also want to avoid getting embroiled in a direct war with Israel and the US, CNN has reported, which is why US intelligence has assessed that Iran may use its proxy forces to launch the first attack.

Israeli settlers storm village in West Bank and kill at least 1 Palestinian. Here's what you should know

From CNN staff

Hundreds of armed Israeli settlers stormed a village in the occupied West Bank on Friday, setting fire to several homes and cars — and leaving at least one Palestinian dead — in one of the largest attacks by settlers this year, according to Palestinian officials. 

The settlers attacked Al-Mughayyir village, east of Ramallah, raided homes and fired gunshots at residents, according to Amin Abu-Alia, the head of the village council. Videos obtained by CNN show parts of the village burning, with smoke billowing over several buildings and settlers lobbing rocks. Houses and cars are seen completely burnt up, with sounds of gunfire and clashes heard in the background.

Here are other headlines you should know:

• More Israeli attacks: An Israeli airstrike early Friday killed at least 29 people and injured dozens more after troops targeted a house belonging to the well-known Al-Tabatibi family in eastern Gaza City, according to a local health official. Israeli forces also surrounded and attacked the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza, wounding several journalists and at least one other person. And in the occupied West Bank, troops killed two Hamas members in a raid on the city of Tubas, according to Israeli and Palestinian officials.
• Hezbollah-Israel clashes: Around 40 rockets were fired from Lebanon on Friday evening, according to the Israeli military. Some were intercepted and the rest fell in open areas, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said in a statement. Israeli warplanes also carried out several airstrikes on Friday, targeting "military buildings" used by Hezbollah fighters in parts of southern Lebanon, the IDF said.
• Iranian threats: US President Joe Biden told reporters Friday he expects an attack from Iran will happen “sooner than later," with the White House adding that there is a "very credible" threat of Iranian retaliatory strikes against Israel. Additionally, the US Defense Department is moving additional assets to the Middle East region, a defense official told CNN, as the US and Israel brace for the potential attack . Israel’s Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and US Central Command Commander Gen. Erik Kurilla on Friday discussed preparations for the  potential attack .
• Warnings amid Iranian threats: France , Germany, Canada and the United States are among countries that are warning their citizens not to travel to the region due to the threat of an Iranian attack against Israel.
• Humanitarian aid: The Israeli military does not understand how humanitarian operations work, a top United Nations official said Friday, maintaining there is a "degree of mistrust" that needs to be resolved between the IDF and nongovernmental organizations on the ground in Gaza.
• Sanctions: The European Council has  adopted sanctions  against three Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad entities , in light of "their responsibilities in the brutal and indiscriminate terrorist attacks" that occurred across Israel on October 7. The US is also sanctioning four leaders of Hamas’ cyber and drone operations based in Gaza and Lebanon, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller announced on Friday. 

US will attempt to intercept launches at Israel if feasible, US officials say

From CNN's Oren Liebermann and Natasha Bertrand

The US will attempt to intercept any weapons launched at Israel if it’s feasible to do so, two US officials told CNN, in an indication of the level of ongoing cooperation between the two militaries before an anticipated Iranian attack .

US Navy forces in the Red Sea have previously intercepted long-range missiles launched from the Houthis in Yemen toward Israel. US forces in Iraq and Syria could also potentially intercept drones and rockets targeting northern Israel, depending on the location from which they’re launched.

Gen. Erik Kurilla, the commander of US Central Command, has been in Israel meeting with the country’s security leadership. On Friday, the Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff, Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi, met with Kurilla.

There have been a number of conversations where US officials have urged Israel not to escalate the situation in retaliating against Iran, according to one of the US officials. 

Remember: An Iranian attack is expected in response to Israel’s deadly strike of Tehran's consulate in Damascus, Syria, last week.

The Damascus attack was the latest incident to stoke fears of a wider regional conflict breaking out in the Middle East during Israel's campaign in Gaza.

Diplomatic efforts: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has held a slew of calls to foreign counterparts aimed at pressuring Iran not to attack Israel.

The top US diplomat spoke with Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi on Friday, according to a readout from State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller.

Blinken also spoke with the Turkish, Chinese and Saudi foreign ministers in recent days, Miller said.

Israeli settlers kill at least 1 Palestinian while storming West Bank village

From CNN’s Kareem Khadder and Zeena Saifi in Jerusalem and CNN’s Benjamin Brown in London

Hundreds of armed Israeli settlers stormed a village in the occupied West Bank on Friday, setting fire to several homes and cars in one of the largest attacks by settlers this year, according to Palestinian officials. 

At least one Palestinian man was killed when shots were fired by Israeli settlers in the village of Al-Mughayyir, east of Ramallah, according to the head of the village council Amin Abu-Alia. He said he identified the killed Palestinian as his 26-year-old relative named Jihad Abu-Alia, who was meant to get married this summer.

At least 25 others were injured in the rampage, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Ramallah, the scale of which has not been seen since hundreds of settlers stormed through the villages of  Turmusayya  and  Huwara  in two separate incidents last year. 

Between 1,000 and 1,200 settlers surrounded the village, and around 500 stormed it just after midday local time on Friday, blocking all the roads in the area, Abu-Alia told CNN.

He added that Israeli security forces informed Palestinian officials that the settlers were looking for a 14-year-old Israeli boy who had gone missing earlier in the day.

They attacked the village, raided homes and fired gunshots at residents, Abu-Alia said. Videos obtained by CNN show parts of the village burning, with smoke billowing over several buildings and settlers lobbing rocks. Houses and cars are seen completely burnt up, with sounds of gunfire and clashes heard in the background.

According to Abu-Alia, the Israeli military arrived at the scene at around 3 p.m. and didn’t stop the settlers from attacking the village. Israeli soldiers allowed them to raid homes, prevented Palestinian residents from moving around and blocked ambulances from reaching the injured, he added.  

Abu-Alia told CNN settlers stole approximately 70 sheep from the Palestinian village.

In response to a question by CNN, the IDF said “violent riots were instigated in multiple locations in the area” following the search for the boy.

Israel says airstrikes targeted Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon

Israeli warplanes carried out several airstrikes on Friday, targeting "military buildings" used by Hezbollah fighters in parts of southern Lebanon, according to the Israel Defense Forces.

The areas include the Aita al-Shaab and the Taybeh in southern Lebanon, said Avichay Adraee, I DF spokesperson for Arab media,  in a post on X.

"During the day, several shells were fired from Lebanon towards the Upper Galilee region, without causing any casualties. IDF forces attacked the sources of fire," Adraee added. 

The Israeli airstrikes were before the 40 rockets that were launched from Lebanon toward northern Israel Friday evening and claimed by Hezbollah.

Biden expects an attack from Iran will happen "sooner than later"

From CNN's Samantha Waldenberg

US President Joe Biden expects an attack from Iran will happen “sooner than later," he told reporters at the White House Friday.

“I don’t want to get into secure information but my expectation is sooner than later,” Biden said when asked how imminent an attack on Israel was.

Asked what his message to Tehran is right now, the president said “Don’t.”

In response to more shouted questions from reporters asking if American troops were at risk, Biden returned to the podium and said that the United States is "devoted” to the defense of Israel. 

“We will support Israel. We will help defend Israel and Iran will not succeed,” Biden said.

Remember: The United States says it is on high alert for a significant Iranian retaliatory attack following Israel's deadly strike on Tehran's consulate in Damascus last week, raising fears of a wider regional war. There remains a “real,” “credible” and “viable” threat of Iran launching strikes, the White House said earlier Friday, following Israel’s attack on  a diplomatic compound in Syria that killed three Iranian generals.

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