k5 Front panhard bar question

[xragex3191]

I'm finally on the home stretch of getting my k5 back on the road. It has a 4 inch shackle flip out back, udsr 6 inch shackles and a 14 bolt with 4.56 gears. Out front it has 52" springs with 6 leaves, Stock front mounts moved forward, shackle mounts moved forward with 7.25" shackles, f-250 shock towers, sky crossover steering, and a dana 60 with 4.56's. My problem is when i turn the wheels the front axle is moving side to side so i figure ok put a panhard bar in or trackbar whatever you want to call it, so i start searching and i find that some people are putting the mount on top of the passenger side spring plate and other's are saying you shouldn't do that yet they aren't showing another way to mount it and i'm not seeing another way to mount it and still be able to run bump stops, which i would like to. So i finally have to ask my first question on here what's everybody's opinion on this? Thanks

[K5runner@hotmail.com]

Go read my Dodge build thread. I run a panhard bar with crossover steering, with leaves. Check it out. BTW the key is to have the panhard bar and drag link at the same length and angle.

[Grumpy_old_fart]

when i did mine with 57" springs, i put it on top of the spring perch, and the other end was parallel with the pitman arm at the frame, so close to the same geometry at ride height with the hi-steer arm that i had almost no bump steer..

longer is always better. ask your wife.

[NorCal_Chris]

I would try and make the shackles shorter and cross tie them. You shouldnt have much deflection with it then. Mine doenst move at all with 6.75in shackles, but i also have hydro assist.

[xragex3191]

I figured the hydro assist would help, my box is already drilled and tapped for it i just need to buy a ram and hoses yet. Thanks for the replys!

[xragex3191]

Thanks grumpy that's the answer i was looking for. I already understand the basic geometry behind it, make the bar as close to the same length as the draglink as possible and make the angle on the panhard bar and the draglink match. I just wanted to make sure that mounting it to the spring plate wasn't dangerous or incorrect so i figured i better ask somebody that knew or atleast had done it before. Thanks again for replys, best information i've got anywhere!!!

[xragex3191]

Just figured I would show everybody what i came up with for my Panhard bar. I finally got test it out a little bit with in the last couple weeks and i'm extremely happy with it. I can't feel any bump steer, the steering is considerably more responsive, and nothing contacts the bar or mounts at full travel.

[xragex3191]

Here you can see the angle a little better compared to the drag link.

[sjracer]

Originally Posted by xragex3191

Thanks grumpy that's the answer i was looking for. I already understand the basic geometry behind it, make the bar as close to the same length as the draglink as possible and make the angle on the panhard bar and the draglink match. I just wanted to make sure that mounting it to the spring plate wasn't dangerous or incorrect so i figured i better ask somebody that knew or atleast had done it before. Thanks again for replys, best information i've got anywhere!!!

i wouldn't tie it to the spring plate. those studs in the 60 housing have a hard enough time holding without the extra push from a drag link. FWIW, like norcal chris, i run shorter 4" shackles and have no problems with my steering.

oh and on a side note: get rid of that overload on the front springs, you will regret it when it gets hung up on rocks and shears your center pin. it's totally unnecessary. your load on the front end isn't variable like in the rear, e.g. it doesnt change, so an overload isn't going to help. get some good quality bump stops to keep your springs from over arching and it should be good.

[mj]

from the pics the panhard looks shorter then the drag link, so a mount between the knuckle and spring perch would add length you need
the angle looks different as well so a little lower on the axle side would help too

[xragex3191]

I'm gonna let it like this for a while and see what happens, it's not a real hardcore rig anyway so i doubt my location on the axle side will really hurt anything. The overloads are what keeps the springs from over arching and once again it probably won't see very many rocks anyway (i'm from Pa). Also the bar is a little bit shorter than the drag link but not by much and the angle of it is almost spot on, the picture is just throwing it off. If anything the bar should be just a tiny bit higher on the axle side by maybe 1/8" at the heim joint. Over all i must have got it plenty close enough because it doesnt have absolutely any amount of bump steer. Thanks for the input guys and i probably will move that mount closer to the knuckle but that wont be until after summer is over because i'm going to pick up a mild 472 big block cadillac engine for it this week after that i'm just gonna have fun with it for a little while.

[xragex3191]

By the way this is what the rig looks like at this point since i haven't actually posted any pictures of the whole rig anywhere yet. It was bone stock at this time last year. Yes the one is sort of a poser shot but thats all i can do for now. I dont have a front shaft yet because i had planned to swap the drive line out which i'm starting in the next couple weeks.