BMR Adjustable Panhard Observations

**Nowhereman** · 09-20-2011, 10:13 PM

Pulled the factory bar out due to my rear end being almost .5 inches off of center.
Installed the BMR unit that has a heim joint at one end and the standard poly bushing at the other.
After about three turns the body came in real nice.
Loctited the threaded portions and then took a hard look at the finished unit.
That Heim joint had some serious pitch to it to accommodate the offset between the body and the rear axle.
I can only imagine the torque on it before.
Driving was totally different.
Car functioned much smoother over normal bumps.
Turns were neutral but, the straight line tracking was better than I have ever experienced in this car for eleven years.
Gonna put 100 miles of freeway time on her tomorrow to see how she handles the high speed stuff.

**Spikito** · 09-21-2011, 05:36 AM

very good to know, I just did adjustable LCAs, I was thinking about the panhard next, just dont know if i want solid or adjustable

**Nowhereman** · 09-21-2011, 05:50 AM

Based on what I have seen so far, stay with a solid if you have no plans for height adjustment in the future.
I went to Strano springs a few months ago as the car is dropped about an inch.
I like the feel of the car now, it's just different than before.
My only concern and it's just because I'm an engineer, is how long will that Heim joint last before it needs rebuilding?

**INMY01TA** · 09-23-2011, 06:21 PM

Hmm. I have a double rod ended Spohn panhard rod and didn't notice any difference after install.

I'd definaetely go adj on the panhard.

**Nowhereman** · 09-23-2011, 07:21 PM

Just completed a 120 mile round trip that had in town and freeway driving.
The car responds to bumps in the road quicker and without much car twitching than before.
During high speed turns, it feels like the car wants to break away but it doesn't and the steering input is dead on.
You point the nose at something and it goes there.
No feeling of oversteer or understeer at any speed entering or exiting a corner.
That, is something I never had in this car before.
It's nice and I can get used to it real quick like.
I am going to lube the Heim joint this weekend with a spray of Triflow lubricant.
It can't hurt and should give me a little bit more life time with the plastic inserts in the joint.
Triflow has liquid Teflon in it; I use it on my guns for maintenance and it performs very well.
I'll check the torque on the bolts this weekend just to see how things are holding up.

**Nowhereman** · 10-01-2011, 08:24 PM

So far everything is nice an tight with no visual bending on the adjustable portions.
I ran it hard to Monterey and back today.
Even the OL noticed it road "smoother and turned nicer" sitting from the passenger seat.
Next up will be the sway bar mount bushings as I want to up grade em after 110k miles.

**Spikito** · 10-01-2011, 11:11 PM

just get a new sway bar, lol

**Nowhereman** · 10-02-2011, 07:09 AM

Nah, don't need it.. just the bushings and mount to be changed out.

**Nowhereman** · 10-18-2011, 05:07 AM

Sway bar mounts replaced with Prothane units.
Man, the old mounts were worn out.
Front end tracks real nice with little sway at all.
No Harshness felt in vertical translation of suspension too.
I'm happy with the work done so far as the car is performing better than it did originally.
Cost has been minimal which has made the wife happy.. LOL
Next up, weld in square tubing SFCs with rear sway bar.

**UMI Sales** · 10-21-2011, 04:52 AM

Sounds like a nice build nowhereman. I like your descriptions, especially the part where your wife isn't getting mad at you!

Do you have a rear sway bar already? If not, adding one will help your car rotate (as will increasing the size). Make sure you upgrade the front accordingly if you add a rear bar to a car without one to start with...

Oh, I see in your signature WS6 so I'd imagine you're increasing rear bar size?

Have a good weekend.

ramey