What's it called?

deriley · Post by **deriley** » Sat Sep 23, 2006 9:57 pm

Driving home this afternoon, a bar broke that connects the back wheels together. I pulled over and got under the car, it looks like a easy fix but I don't know what the part is called to order a new one. I got the car home by driving 10 mph to advoid fishtailing. Thanks for your help.

ventura ace · Post by **ventura ace** » Sat Sep 23, 2006 10:40 pm

Denise,
I believe you are talking about the Back-Wheel-Connect-Together Bar. Just kidding. I'll bet it is the Panhard Rod, a long rod that connectis from one side of the rear suspension to the other. There was an earlier design straight Panhard Rod, and a later design that had a bend in the middle to go around the differential. Make sure that you replace it with the correct one.

Your are right in that it should be very easy to fix.

alvon

So Cal Mark · Post by **So Cal Mark** » Sat Sep 23, 2006 11:40 pm

it actually connects from the chassis on one side to the suspension on the other side. Odd that it would just break on its' own

deriley · Post by **deriley** » Sun Sep 24, 2006 12:21 am

Ahh Ventura, you made me laugh! That's what I thought it was but wasn't sure. Yes Mark, it is odd, but it looks flimsy, like it was made of alumium, I would of thought it would be steel. Strange

spidernut · Post by **spidernut** » Sun Sep 24, 2006 1:03 am

An aluminum panhard rod? Can you post a picture? Sounds really odd.

deriley · Post by **deriley** » Sun Sep 24, 2006 12:54 pm

Alas, this easy fix is going to go to the shop. . . I can get the nuts off!

spiderrey · Post by **spiderrey** » Sun Sep 24, 2006 4:20 pm

been thinking about making a custom bar with heim joints to line up the rear once its lowered

mbouse · Post by **mbouse** » Mon Sep 25, 2006 1:07 pm

sounds like a PO (previous owner) had replaced your rod with something he/she had laying around, and not the correct part.

we'd a loved to have seen the mishap before it went to the shop.

not surprised that steel nuts and bolts welded themselves to aluminum.

ventura ace · Post by **ventura ace** » Wed Sep 27, 2006 12:17 am

deriley wrote: . . . but it looks flimsy, like it was made of alumium, I would of thought it would be steel. Strange

Sorry if this a repeat, but I tried to reply yesterday, and I don't know where my reply ended up.

Anyway, the reply went something like this: You can do a magnet test to check if the broken Panhard Rod is steel. If a magnet attracts to it, it's steel. If not, then aluminum is a possibility. The Panhard Rod and the lower trailing arms are all hollow parts and may feel like aluminum, but they are really steel. Many people have bent and broken them by trying to use them as lift points for jacking up the car. This won't work. They are good sturdy parts for what they were intended, but they aren't meant to be lift points.

You may be able to loosen the nuts and bolts after soaking them with a rust penetrant such as PB Blaster. Or maybe you could borrow a bigger wrench from a friend . . . or use a cheater bar on the end of a rachet (good way to break a rachet, but maybe worth a try). Whatever you do, please make sure that the car is secure if you are under it, so it won't topple on top of you. Good luck!!

alvon

perthling · Post by **perthling** » Fri Sep 29, 2006 1:50 am

Shouldn't be too hard to find a replacement panhard rod off another car; alternatively vendors can supply adjustable panhard rods (used for cars where the rear suspension has been lowered in order to line the body and track up again). I think I've got about three lying around.

So Cal Mark · Post by **So Cal Mark** » Sat Sep 30, 2006 11:47 am

two words necessary for doing suspension work-IMPACT WRENCH. If you're serious about wrenching on these cars, tools are a necessity! If you don't have an air compressor, get an electric impact. They're not very expensive any more, and make life so much easier, and the work goes much more quickly!

deriley · Post by **deriley** » Sun Oct 01, 2006 10:22 am

Thanks to everyone for your words of wisdom. I have a panhard rod on backorder from IAP

So Cal Mark · Post by **So Cal Mark** » Sun Oct 01, 2006 12:27 pm

how long is the wait expected to be for the backorder?

deriley · Post by **deriley** » Mon Oct 02, 2006 10:23 am

I ordered last wed and it was 2 weeks late, tied up in customs I guess. So who know.

Mark_vaughn · Post by **Mark_vaughn** » Mon Oct 02, 2006 10:32 am

FYI

I had some items backordered from IAP that were 2 weeks out. Held up in customs. A month later when they were still 2 weeks out and held up in customs, I canceled my order and got it all from VAS in 3 days.