Thread: Dropped Axle

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Ok I know i posted awhile back on this and never got any pics up. Mainly because my camera is messed up. I think I found my problem! and also the
mono leaf seems to be a rough rider. I attached some pics, but its hard to
see the problem. When I first build the chassis I forgot to put a panhard bar so I bought one off ebay a couple of months ago and installed it. It helped a lot but now there is a loud bang when you hit a big bump and I believe its the panhard bar mount on the batwing. It uses the 2 holes the hairpin bolts to and than comes forward leaving a gap between the batwing and the braket. Im hoping you guys know what im talking about Since im 95% sure thats my big bang what do you guys think would be a good solution? Weld the braket to the bat wing? The batwing is cast stainless, but I could still weld it, just dont think it would be very strong.

The panhard bar mount hits the batwing on the bump making the bang sound... I wasnt very clear

I've been sitting, staring at the two pictures, trying to figure out what is what. You say the panhard bar mount is hitting the batwing. Is the mount not bolted to the batwing on that side?

Just can't get a clear picture of the arrangement under there to see if that is what is going on. Maybe a picture from the side, or underneath, showing the bar and how it runs?


Don

I can't see how it works either. Different photo angle?

Why do you need a panhard bar on a front suspension with a drop axle?

I have run several front suspensions like this and never had one. The shank on the bolt head that goes through the center point on your spring goes in the center point hole on your front crossmember, and the 4 spring perch bolts holds it in place. I have never had any lateral movement on my front ends.

it can move on the shackles...

Ill try and get a pic from underneath tonight

maybe I am in the minority here, of all the street rods you have seen with dropped axles, roughly what percentage of those have a front panhard bar?

Just about all the cross-steer axle setups I've seen have a panhard bar.

Never seen a panhard on a side-steer (fore & aft draglink) setup.

A panhard on a cross-steer setup makes for a solid steering car since it doesn't allow the drag link to push the chassis sideways on the shackles.
All steering inputs go toward moving the steering arm.

More consistent steering on corners as well since centrifugal force on the chassis doesn't create steering inputs.
The panhard resists the chassis centrifugal forces.

Nutbush, I think you and I are definitely in the minority as I don't have a panhard rod on my 32. Never seemed to need one.

However, I had a 32 pickup that we built for drag racing and it wanted to make a left turn on the 1st to 2nd shift, and the addition of the panhard rod straightened it out.

Mick