I just recently welded my front end and now my axle wants to push from side to side when I turn . Ive been reading about how to make a panhard bar it says to make it the same length as my draglink and the same plane . My draglink is 37" center to center on the tierods I can only get around 30" s for a panhard bar from outside the frame to the top of the spring pad. Will this be ok?

No.

Failure to match the length and angle will result in bumpsteer. Not something you want to have.

Trust me, you can fit it in there. Mark off a sample of something that length (broom stick?) and shove it around in there and see what you can figure out.

I just slapped one on my buddies FJ40 and it was pretty easy. I same off the spring plate (SPOA) and made a bracket off the frame. It reduced his death wobble and stopped the axle from wlaking when steering.

-Wayne

Ive got a spare piece of tube I'll cut it to length and see what I can come up with tomorrow. Thanks for the info Wayne.

trail only rig?
try to make the panhard bar horizontal, that will minimize side to side shift as it rotates.

trail only rig?
try to make the panhard bar horizontal, that will minimize side to side shift as it rotates.


Please ignore the above quote as it is not correct. Match the angle to the drag link.

Side to side shift is very small on most panhard based vehicles. You ever notice the rear axle of a Nissan Pathfinder or newer 4 Runner moving? They both use panhards.

I have panhards front and rear on my buggy, and love 'em.

If you are building non drag link steering setup, then yes, horizontal at ride height is a great goal to shoot for.

-Wayne

Please ignore the above quote as it is not correct. Match the angle to the drag link.

Side to side shift is very small on most panhard based vehicles. You ever notice the rear axle of a Nissan Pathfinder or newer 4 Runner moving? They both use panhards.

I have panhards front and rear on my buggy, and love 'em.

If you are building non drag link steering setup, then yes, horizontal at ride height is a great goal to shoot for.

-Wayne

Wayne's right. In my first set-up my panhard didn't quite match the angle of my drag link and you could feel it. In my current set-up it matches the angle, but the panhard is a little shorter than the draglink (maybe 1.5" or so) and I can't really feel much bumpsteer, but with all the other rattles and noises I'd never know anyway... :flipoff2:

So, definately get the angles matching and get the length as close as possible, but IMHO if it's a tad short it won't be the end of the world.

I use a drag link on my yj sprung missing link set up for street driving only. It really affects traval on a leave spring set up. With it conected it will not flex as well. Not even close. I love it on the street but always take it off for the trail. Also since I installed the ram assist I haven't put it back on at all.

Leave spring is not a panhard based vihicle. Pathfinders and Runners are coil sprung.

I haven't had much time to work on this been working too much overtime but there is no way I can get the same length as the drag link under there . Does anybody have any pics of there panhard bar.

Spidertrax used to sell a kit. They might have some pics.

Panhards (track bars) on Jeeps do seem to effect travel, but are not bad at all on other vehicles that have high steer in place. This allows a far more level panhard angle.

Jeep always does something stupid with their suspension layouts.

-Wayne

Does anybody have any pics of there panhard bar.

my dads, not perfect but there isnt any bumpsteer noticable.

http://www.glfwda.org/forums/uploads/post-209-1152018760.jpg

The pan hard bar used on a leave spring vehicle will severely limit travel on the passenger side . With mine installed my right front tire will only drop out half as much. And the poor shackles and bushings are screaming and will only flex to the side so much.. Most of what these guys are talking about are coil or air shock front suspension that have to have a track bar to function.

I just recently welded my front end and now my axle wants to push from side to side when I turn.As ye sow, so shall ye reap.

As ye sow, so shall ye reap.


I love the welded front wish I'd done it sooner the steering issue is minor . I think I'll wait till this winter and 3 link it with a panhard and air shocks that should take care of it .

As ye sow, so shall ye reap.


Actually, the welded front has almost nothing to do with the front axle moving around when steering. You all might want to do a little test on your leaf spring vehicle.

Have a friend jump in it and turn left and right while parked. You might be amazed at how much your axle moves from side to side. (actually how much your vehicle moves as the axle is staying in one place on the ground.) That is all suspension slop, and that is what the panhard helps to remove. You will be rewarded with much better handling on the pavement and dirt roads, but yes, it will probably cost you some flex. Each vehicle will be a bit different depending on the build. Some will loose a lot, some will not notice a change.

A panhard is not needed on all vehicles. But some owners LOVE their panhards. I never bothered with one on my Samurai, but my buddy had one and loved it. His Samurai was a lot of fun to drive around in town, and mine was a messy ramp queen.

-Wayne

I have this exact same problem with my front as well, but I think 99% of mine is the fact my spring bushings are shot. I REALLY need to get new ones. I'm going to try this first and see if it helps, if it dosen't, then I might look into a panhard as well.

That is exactly the issue I had as well,the axle would just sit there and the whole truck would push from side to side.It actually reduced my turning ability to the point where I couldnt manuever sometimes..offroad and on.Plus,at speeds Id pickup a horrible death wobble when only one tire would hit a bump or pothole.
The panhard is one of the best investments Ive made. The bump induced death wobble is completely gone and my steering is precise and solid.I can go from lock to lock now and turn comletely around in my steet in one point.If it reduced my offroad flex some,I havent noticed....partly because it helped my steering so much,which I did notice.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v286/rentalguy/IMG_1326.jpg

As long as the pan hard and drag link are in the same effective plane they do not nesc. have to be the same length.