panhard rod

[milwmort]

I have a 1978 spider and I just bent this panhard rod by lowering it onto jack stands. So my question is this. Is it really necessary and what does it do? Can I just heat it up and bend it back straight?

[divace73]

the panhard rod keep the diff from moving side to side, very important piece of equipment. Depending on how badly it is bent you may notice that the diff may nolonger be central to the car (it may not have been originally central to start of with....) check the distacne of you right tyre to the guard and like wise the left and compare the two.
As long as it retains it's strength I so no problem with straightening it...