Hey guys, Over that last year or so I've noticed that my rear end has been getting lower. I've got a yakima rack on top that i carry stuff in every once in a while. I've also got my sub box and amp rack that aren't light by any means. I've had a set of 2" cornfeds for a while that I just haven't had the time to put them in, I thought I'd wait for the cash to buy one of Steve's bent bars. Now right now the axle offset is barely noticeable, but with the sagging and the fact I've also got trimpackers back there and the original bump stops as well to equal about an inch, when i take out those and put in the 2" spacer, do i really need to wait for the new panhard rod? Or will I be ok, but better when i get the bar?

thanks-

 

I'm not an expert but just recently read up on this. From what I've read, you need this to center your axle (which you know) but I was thinking what is the implication of not doing it. The only thing that I can gather is that the geometry of the rear lift w/o the modified bar or drop bracket will cause wear to your rear shocks as they are twisted. I can't remember who posted the following but someone said that a buddy w/o this mod has messed up two pairs of rear OMEs.

From others on this board, the people that have not done this w/ their lifts have not had issues but most have only had their lifts for about a year, nothing too prolonged.

I personally started researching this as I was riding behind a fellow Yotatecher on the freeway and noticed how far off his rear axle was. It was pushing way right towards the passenger side. He has not had any issues w/ not having the modified bar or drop bracket, BTW. Another tip is to pick up the bracket from a junkyard as they go for about $15, much cheaper than Steve's core charge. This way, you can either have an extra bar or send this junkyard bar to Steve for the ends. Hope this helped.

 

Except for the BL, I've had my setup for over 3 years, and my rear shocks are just fine, and like I said before, the offset on my axle isn't that noticeable. I'm broke right now, or else I'd buy Steve's bar and I wouldn't worry about it.

 

True about the premature shock wear, but for the 2nd gens, we lose articulation and risk damage to the gas tank. If my rear end drops significantly to the right going over an obstacle the drive train shifts directly into the gas tank. *bump**thunk* I don't know if 3rd gens have this same problem, or not, but it's the main reason I'm getting the drop bar.

I have been running mine with 2" of extra lift (in addition to the 1.5" from the Downey HD springs) since May and haven't had any other noticable problems with it, but then again, I haven't put many miles on it since that time, either.

Ed

 

anyone with any other thoughts on this?