This is topic Adjusting Panhard bar??? in forum Tech Talk at Northern California Ford Owners  .


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Posted by SydeWaySix (Member # 3596) on :
 
I have a griggs panhard bar and wanted to adjust it after I lowered the car more. I've read that the rear of the car must have load applied to it (ie: on ramps), so does that mean I need to keep the car on the ground when adjusting the bar? Will the axle even move/center itself if there is load applied to the rear axle?

Please let me know the best way to adjust the PHB...Thanks!
 
Posted by fasthatch (Member # 7277) on :
 
yes the car needs a load on the suspesion when making adjustements
 
Posted by SydeWaySix (Member # 3596) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by fasthatch:
yes the car needs a load on the suspesion when making adjustements

how does the axle move then? Is having the car on the ground while making the adjustments enough "load"?
 
Posted by fasthatch (Member # 7277) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by SydeWaySix:
quote:
Originally posted by fasthatch:
yes the car needs a load on the suspesion when making adjustements

how does the axle move then? Is having the car on the ground while making the adjustments enough "load"?
yes having on the ground will put weight on it to be adjusted. the axel moves when you turn the adjustment in or out you may not even see it move but it will
 
Posted by 7-Up Man (Member # 8345) on :
 
What happens is that while the axle is raised off the ground, the angle of the pitman arm changes and thus ever so slightly moves the axle to the side where the pitman arm is attached to the frame.

So when you put the car down and put a load on the springs with the weight of the car, the pitman arm will then move into the loaded position and very slightly move the axle in the direction opposite where the pitman arm is attached to the frame.

Now loaded also can be if you put the rear wheels on ramps. This still keeps the car in a loaded position and let you crawl under the car without kissing the gas tank. [Eek!]
 
Posted by whitelx91 (Member # 8317) on :
 
What they mean is it needs to be at ride height and the bar needs to be as parrallel with the rear end as possible. The only reason for adjustment is like you said if you lower or raise the car more or less and you had to remove the location of the bar to level it out. Its also to center the rear end with the car.

[ March 05, 2010, 11:47 AM: Message edited by: whitelx91 ]
 
Posted by SydeWaySix (Member # 3596) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by whitelx91:
What they mean is it needs to be at ride height and the bar needs to be as parrallel with the rear end as possible. The only reason for adjustment is like you said if you lower or raise the car more or less and you had to remove the location of the bar to level it out. Its also to center the rear end with the car.

Well, I did notice that my passenger side rear wheel is slightly more flush with the wheel well than my driver side, so hopefully I can adjust it and make it even. [patriot]
 
Posted by whitelx91 (Member # 8317) on :
 
Thatll do er!
 
Posted by SydeWaySix (Member # 3596) on :
 
Ok, so I got under the car today and didnt know what/how to adjust the panhard. Its a Griggs PHB and theres one nut on the passenger side that I can loosen, but I dont see what I'm supposed to adjust in order to move the axle left/right. Can someone explain? Thanks!
 
Posted by SydeWaySix (Member # 3596) on :
 
anyone?
 
Posted by SteveL (Member # 1241) on :
 
I don't have a panhard bar but the end of the bar should have a heim joint like this:

http://www.streetbeatcustoms.com/Air-Ride/Heim-Joints/Air-Suspension-Heim-Joint-Kevlar-Lined-Rod-End-_-ROD150/554648/

To adjust the length, you'll have to disconnect the joint from the either the frame side or the axle side. Before disconnecting the one side, loosen the jam nut. Remove the bolt holding the heim joint to the car and disconnect one side of the bar. Now adjust the length. Screwing in the heim joint will make the bar shorter. Reinstall the bar and check if it's the proper length. You can retighten the jam nut after you're done adjusting.

The bar may have heim joints on both ends. Depending on how much you need to change the length, you might be able to get away with adjusting only one end. If not, you'll have to adjust both ends.

It helps to have someone else around. After you shorten or lengthen the bar, you need to shift the back end of the car in order to realign the holes in the frame (or axle) and the heim joint to get the bolt back in.

[ March 08, 2010, 02:11 PM: Message edited by: SteveL ]
 
Posted by SteveL (Member # 1241) on :
 
Deleted - double post

[ March 08, 2010, 02:14 PM: Message edited by: SteveL ]
 
Posted by SydeWaySix (Member # 3596) on :
 
Thanks! Now I have to figure out how much to adjust it in order to center the axle...
 
Posted by SteveL (Member # 1241) on :
 
The axle may not be centered. When the bar is level, the axle will be most shifted towards the side that the bar attaches to the axle. The Maximum Motorsports bar attaches to the axle on the left side. I think Griggs is the opposite. Regardless, if the bar attaches to the axle on the right side, then the axle will be shifted to the right when the bar is level. When the suspension moves through its' travel, either up or down, the axle will shift slightly to the left.

Look at the animation here: http://www.miracerros.com/mustang/t_suspension.htm
 
Posted by 50Reasons (Member # 6452) on :
 
I think you also need the weight of the person in the car to get proper load
 




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