I am going to be installing the lc springs in the rear in the next couple of months and I was planning on fabbing an s-type panhard bar with heim or jj ends. I was wondering what the degree of the bends should be on the bar. I originally thought 45, but then I got to thing that a less steep bend, say 30, would streech the metal less and may work better ( think of two 90s vs two 45s, so maybe 30s better than 45s? Also with the design of the panhard bar does it necessarily need to be leveled or could it just be lengthened? It seems the reason the axle ends up being off-center is because the increase in angle effectively makes it shorter. So could I just make a longer straight one?

P.S.- Also and one have ideas on where to find a rear taco axle with locker and how much it would cost?

 

The S has no functionality for a panhard. The only reasons a panhard would absolutely need an S are for clearance or so that the rod ends are angled correctly and are free to rotate within the range of motion of the suspension.

The effective length of a S panhard is the straight line distance from eye to eye. If you make a straight panhard bar the same length, eye to eye, there will be no difference in the two.

Since a panhard bar is designed to be in pure compression or tension, putting a bend in it makes it weaker than a straight bar of same diameter and wall thickness. What was once in tension or compression is now stressed in bending also. For example, try to compress or pull apart a toothpick. Now try to bend it in half. Which is easier to break?

So, you will want to lengthen your panhard enough so that the drive shaft clears the gas tank, but also centers your axle. Remember high school geometry? Well that's going to come in handy now.

 

Lucky for me being young! HS was only a few years ago I'll keep everyone updated. Anyone know if heims or jjs would be better?

 

If you go Heims, don't buy the cheap ones, get them with the teflon lining.

For a panhard bar, the heims will work just fine and should last a long time.

 

Any recommendations on places to buy them from?

 

http://www.kartek.com/