Thread: PanHard Front End?

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The coupe I bought kinda "wonders" going down the highway. Feels loose when I hit little bumps. It is NOT pulling to anyone side like it's out of allignment. More like wobbling when I hit dips/bumps in the road.

What should be the items I check into? Front panhard bar?

Here is what I know about the car I just bought. Frame is American Rails boxed with Model A Cross Member. 4 bar front and rear. Pete and Jakes chrome front I beam axle. Coil overs out back. Vega steering box.

If you have a Vega cross steering setup, you need a Panhard rod. Without it, when you turn the wheel, it will put sideways pressure on the passenger side front spindle, and instead of the spindle pivotting in the bushings at the end of the axle, the whole car will move in the opposite direction to the force applied to the spindle, while the front axle doesn't move. this is because the shackles can rock enough to let it happen. a Panhard rod prevents that. Also note that the Panhard rod must be anchored to the frame on the same side of the car that the Vega box is mounted on, and anchored to the axle on the opposite side of the car.---Brian

Brian I am sure glad to hear from you! I agree you need a panhard bar. You may also need to chnge shocks but take it a step at a time and be careful until you get the feel of it.

Kitz

I've got a 4 link TCI chassis with a panhard bar. It was still a little squirlly(sp?) going over rough roads. I installed a SoCal steering dampner and it corrected the problem.

Brian-I got this front axle from Speedway. I figured it attaches to the leaf spring under the perch as shown and the other end seems to go to the lower link bolt. Will this work with my Vega cross steer??

http://www.speedwaymotors.com/pl/310...Front-End.html

Sean

Originally Posted by brianrupnow

this is because the shackles can rock enough to let it happen. a Panhard rod prevents that. ---Brian

Brian,

Perhaps you overlooked the fact that he has a tube axle with P&J 4-Bar, therefore, no shackles involved. Also, he apparently already has a Panhard bar.

bucs012,

I would check the following:

- Play in the steering. Sometimes Vega boxes get a bit loose.
- Toe-in and caster. Mis-adjustment in either of these can cause wander.
- Is your panhard approximately parallel with your tie-rod and drag link? If not, you may have bump steer.

Henry--I was answering the fellow in the very top post, who definately states that he has a beam axle. ---SGO70--That panhard will work--I prefer a Panhard that attaches to the drivers side frame rail, however a hotrod front suspension has such little vertical movement anyways that you will be okay.

Brian,

I must have been half asleep . . .

Guys, thanks for all the help. I am learning SO much with this being my first Ford AND anything older than 1963!

Since my front end is a Pete and Jakes front I beam, I assume using their panhard bar set up would be the best option?

I will check wheel allignment first before I do anything. I assume any place with a wheel allignment machine can do this. Right?

Sorry if my questions are stupid, but like I said, I am 100% new to hot rods but ENJOY learning!

Thanks again!

Yes, if you use a Pete and Jakes Panhard rod made to fit with your front axle set-up, it will save you some fabricating and welding. I think that their Panhard bolts to the passenger side batwing, I can't remember how it attaches to the frame. Front end alignment on these I-beam set-ups is very straightforeward, and can be easily done at home. Firstly, the kingpins should lean towards the rear of the car at the top, by an angle of 5 to 7 degrees from vertical. when the car is setting on a level surface (6 degrees is considered 'perfect")---just make sure it is the same on both sides of the car. You achieve this by adjusting the length of the upper and lower 4 bar links---and it is better to get half the adjustment on the top 4 bar and half the adjustment on the lower 4 bar to minimize spring bind. Set the toe in for approx 3/32" to 1/8" measured at the widest part of the front tires, by adjusting the length of the tie rod between the front spindles.. Thats basically it---If your steering wheel doesn't end up exactly where you want it when going straight down the road, then play with the length of the drag link that runs from your steering box arm (Pitman arm) to the passenger front spindle.

The P&J Panhard bar does attach to the LH batwing. It attaches to the bottom of the left frame rail with a drop-down bracket. This is their kit.

Originally Posted by brianrupnow

If you have a Vega cross steering setup, you need a Panhard rod. Without it, when you turn the wheel, it will put sideways pressure on the passenger side front spindle, and instead of the spindle pivotting in the bushings at the end of the axle, the whole car will move in the opposite direction to the force applied to the spindle, while the front axle doesn't move. this is because the shackles can rock enough to let it happen. a Panhard rod prevents that. Also note that the Panhard rod must be anchored to the frame on the same side of the car that the Vega box is mounted on, and anchored to the axle on the opposite side of the car.---Brian

How about if the car has wishbones? Can the bar connect to it using a rod end sandwiched between tabs that weld upto the bone?
My axle is a drilled I-beam.

Originally Posted by dongas30

How about if the car has wishbones? Can the bar connect to it using a rod end sandwiched between tabs that weld upto the bone?
My axle is a drilled I-beam.

Yes--the same geometry applies regardless of whether you are running 4-links, hairpins, or bones.

Originally Posted by brianrupnow

Yes--the same geometry applies regardless of whether you are running 4-links, hairpins, or bones.

Thanks Brian -- your support is greatly appreciated.

How much play is there in the steering box. If it has a lot, that may be part of the problem. I had a vega box for years, and the best thing I ever did for the roadster was put a Unitsteer rack on it. It made it controlable to drive. Edd