What is the bar that goes across the rear end? Is it the panhard rod or sway bar? I was rear ended and it was damaged the insurance company called it a stabalizer bar. Thanks

 

Well theres a few "bars" in the rear... if your car is stock.. then the panhard rod will be square in a "U" shape... stamped steal. You sway bar will be on the lower part of the rear end and is round in shape and have some curves in it <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="gr_stretch.gif" />

 

Panhardbar (PHB) connects the lower left of the car's axle to the upper right of the car's frame.

It basically "stabilizes" the differential under the car.

As the rear suspension moves up and down, like when car goes over bumps or squats as it goes through the air, the rear diff will change locations under the car. How?

As the PHB pivots on the right side frame, the bar draws an arc at the diff mounting point, thus moving the diff a small amount towards the left side.

In NASCAR, when they put that wrench in the rear glass and change then "track bar", they are changing the frame side pivot point height, in relation to the diff mounting point, either increasing the slope angle of the bar or decreasing it. This changes the "tracking" of the rear tires in relation to the front tires and the handling.

An Adjustable PHB allows the owner to preset the rear diff location, not so much to center the diff under the car, but to keep the tires from rubbing in corners as well. Dead center might not be optimum.

Class dismissed ... <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="gr_images/icons/wink.gif" />

 

Very good Mitch! <img border="0" alt="[hail]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_hail.gif" />

 

Thanks guys. I'm going to go with a BMR panhard rod.
Rob

 

another newbie question here... so do i need to get an adjustable panhard rod or just a regular non adjustable one... im not exactly sure which one i need...
i have an 02 WS6 lowered with eibach prokit and was told lower control arms and phr would help cure the wheel hop? everything is stock but the springs

THANKS