shelby-dodge  

Re: SD> weld up rear trailing arm beam or pan hard bars?

Chris Faulk
Sat, 15 Sep 2007 06:19:07 -0700

Good points all around, but not entirely accurate. There are (2) parts and they're called a trailing-arm style rear live axle, and the panhard bar. The axle is very sturdy and you can get by without boxing it in. I've tried with and without on the exact same setup and noticed *NO* difference. The panhard bar is definately the whimpiest piece of metal holding the rear end together. It's purpose is to keep the rear end centered. Most certainly box this one in and don't worry about making it adjustable even if you lower the car some. I've done this on multiple cars and multiple platforms and never needed the adjustable panhard. I bought a Spirit R/T from a guy that had cut his springs and slammed the car...the rear end was still not off-centered.

If you want better handling...best to focus your attention on a few more effective modifications. Such as better struts/shocks (Koni's), better springs(Eibach's), good set of poly bushings(Johnny @ polybushings.com), and my favorite an added in rear sway bar(also from Johnny). Also a strut tower bar is a great option(Chris Wright Turbos Unleashed). By the way that bar inside the rear axle is *NOT* a sway bar. Think about it logically...that bar is inside the axle only and has no attachment to the chassis. It's meant to strengthen the axle only. A real sway bar will attach the suspension to the chassis of the car preventing the chassis from flexing off of the suspension. Don't forget engine mounts as they can also effect your handling. Johnny again has what you need for engine mounts and a solid bobble strut.

Like I said I've done the above-mentioned upgrades on (5) Spirit R/T's, (2) GLHS', (1) Shelby Z, a T-I Caravan, and a host of other friends asking my advise. I've never had a negative comment in all my years about these few upgrades.

- -------------- Original message -------------- From: "Jarrod Walker" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>

I want to stiffin up my suspension a little, so I was going to weld up the rear, but some pages I've seen have the pan hard bars and some say the "axle" which I'm guessing is the trailing arm beam welded up. I've seen one page that showed pics of the pan hard bars welded up, and the other ones which reffer to the "axle" being welded up have no pics, so perhaps they are really reffering to the panhard bars. Does anyone know which is the right one before I just decide to box them both in? Any help is appreciated.-Jarrod 1988 CSX-T - Currently going through handling puberty.
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Date: Fri, 14 Sep 2007 01:36:12 +0000
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: Re: SD> weld up rear trailing arm beam or pan hard bars?

Do your plans include lowering the car?  If so build an adjustable tubular 
pan-hard bar and weld the axle.  If not; weld them both.

- --
Rex N. Elsner Corbett, Oregon '86 Shelby Charger ('Ole Blew) '87 Shelby GLHS#0122 ('Ole Shel) '84 Rampage 2.2 (5 speed, Shelby Charger nose) '82 Rampage (2.2/4sp) '82 Rampage Sport ('Ole Red, DD, 2.2/auto) '82 Rampage (2.2 / 4 speed) '01 PT Cruiser '07 Ram 3500 Cummins 6.7 4x4 Quad Cab Co-Founder PNW-SDAC http://www.pnw-sdac.org
Date: Thu, 13 Sep 2007 20:31:53 -0700 (PDT)
From: "Paul T. Standaert" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: SD> Re:  weld up rear trailing arm beam or pan hard bars?

The axle (well, it is technically not an axle) is the
perfectly horizontal thing.  That seems really quite
sturdy to me, and in need of no reinforcement.

The panhard bar is the flimsiest piece of metal you
find down there. It is U-shaped and goes diagonally. This needs reinforcement, and it should have received
that from the factory.  The bending of this piece is
what allows your tires to rub your shock absorbers
around really hard corders.

Also note, however, that there are two styles of these
axles.  They both have a round bar running through
them, and you can see it from the bottom.  Some have
solid bars in there, and some have hollow bars.  You
can tell by feeling the ends of the axles where the
bar meets the axle itself.  You'll feel either a round
thing that hss is hollow, or a round thing that is
solid.
I have not compared one to the other in the same car,
but supposedly the solid bar ones keep the car more
level on turns.

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