panhard

[camarostripes96]

i have a 96 trans am lt1 , can anyone tell me what a panhard is , and what it does?

[5.0THIS]

It is a beam that runs parallel to the rear axle just behind it, and attaches from the chassis to the axle, locating it from side to side in the car (centering the axle in the car)

[SloLt1Camaro]

Note that the stock panhard bar is very flimsy and can cause your rearend to sit off side-side under the car, or cause the body to sit un-even over the rear axle...The stock lower control arms aren't much better...

[camarostripes96]

ok thanks well my car sits a little uneven on the back but its not the suspension , so its must be that. do u know how much they run?

[SloLt1Camaro]

I'd recommend going with an adjustable one, so that you can get a "custom" fit...Jegs has them for around 100 dollars, I've got a Lakewood adjustable panhard bar and lower control arms...They make a very noticeable difference

PS: If you're really tight on money you may be able to find one at a near by junkyard for 40-50 bucks.. but you'll eventually run into the same problem.

[Red Baron]

Are the lower control arms bolt in or welded?

[SloLt1Camaro]

Bolt in... Took me about 20/30 minutes to install them, and it was well worth it... Out of all the F-Bodies around where I live, I've got the best handling by far, with little effort (3pt. strut tower brace, lower control arms, adjustable panhard bar, subframe connectors) stock springs/shocks ect

[camarostripes96]

if u get an adjustable one how do u know where to adjust it at?

[SloLt1Camaro]

The bar itself only goes 2 ways, longer or shorter... To adjust it once installed, use measurements... from points on the rear axle to points on the frame/body...

[5.0THIS]

ok thanks well my car sits a little uneven on the back but its not the suspension , so its must be that. do u know how much they run?


I highly doubt that your axle is off-center, unless the car has been wrecked, or suspension components got damaged some other way. Might be slightly off if you just lowered your car a good amount, but still not likely to be visible to the naked eye. It can be an optical illusion. You need to find some common points on the frame and axle and take some measurements, as was mentioned above.

[SloLt1Camaro]

The panhard bar I removed from my 94 Z was noticably bent, but 5.0 has a point I've never seen one just bend out of nowhere... my 94 had been rearended pretty hard and reconstructed that part was just never replaced... the one off my 93 wasn't bent, I just replaced it because I already had the adjustable 1 from my 94... If you got your car used, run a carfax on it (it never hurts)