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Recently ordered and installed a founders performance adj phb. Installed and greased and took it for a spin. Noticed a nasty almost clunking coming from the rear. Got under and investigated while having someone push down repeatedly on the trunk of the car. Seems the brace is hitting the bar when it comes down, just barely squeezing the bar into the groove. Emailed founders to see what they say, not sure what to do other than possibly massage the brace with a hammer or something. WD40 quieted it down some but obviously doesn't stop the rubbing. Anyone else had this problem, or have any ideas? Are there any aftermarket braces?
Can you get a picture further away and at different angles? I don't remember the stock upper brace being bent swooping downward like that. Looks like to me that whoever installed your exhaust decided to "massage" the brace some for clearance.
Heres a pic from google images:
It's a definite possibility, the exhaust was installed by the previous owner. Space is limited under there but I'll see what I can get. These are with the car on the ground, it's lowered ~1.5" or so. I could maybe use something as a pry bar to try and open the brace up enough to accept the phb if need be, just trying to see if anyone else has had a similar scenario, I'm still new to these. Thanks
Yeah there's no doubt about it, some previous owner had that panhard bar brace bent for exhaust clearance. A stock one should not have that big bough in that brace like your pictures are telling us...
I bent an upper PHB (brace) on an old 3rd gen. I never figured out how I did it. That one is certainly bent (as already stated). I'd replace it and adjust the exhaust if needed. If you straighten it, it will likely just bend back over time. I'd find one in a junkyard or consider an aftermarket solution (the stock one works fine 99% of the time).
08-13-2016, 02:20 PM
Adj Panhard bar hitting brace 
