Do I need a diff panhard rod?

[T-Mill]

I have this panhard rod...
http://www.neweraperformanceparts.com/default.asp?S=503&A=E&PKV=PHR004K|0

If I get the Eibach, or B&G lowering springs, will I need a new panhard rod?? I'm contemplating lowering as my next endeavor, but not if I need a new panhard.

Also I've noticed sites that list front shocks for our cars, now if this is a stupid question feel free to tell me so ;) but I know our cars have front struts so how do shocks work???

[V6Bob]

Re: Do I need a diff panhard rod?

Also I've noticed sites that list front shocks for our cars, now if this is a stupid question feel free to tell me so ;) but I know our cars have front struts so how do shocks work???

Not stupid, this one is widely misunderstood.

3rd gens have struts, aka "McPherson struts". 4th gens have shocks.

Here's the easy way to tell them apart. The lower end of a strut is mounted to the top end of the steering knuckle, because they do double duty as shocks and as upper control arms. The lower end of a shock is mounted to the lower control arm, and there is a separate upper control arm.

The confusion arises because the 4th gen cars shocks look kinda like struts, and are just as hard to replace. So some people call them "struts", but they're not.

In either case the purpose of a shock (or one part of a strut) is to dampen the motion of the spring which would otherwise bounce up and down after you go over a bump.

[FirebirdGT]

Re: Do I need a diff panhard rod?

Not stupid, this one is widely misunderstood.

97-back have struts, aka "McPherson struts". 98-forward have shocks.

WHAT?? :omg: Did you mis-type that!!

There is NO difference in the type of suspension between 93-97 and 98+. BOTH use coil over SHOCKS in the front. 4th Gen F-bodys DO NOT have struts.

http://forum.camarov6.com/showthread.php?t=13239

[T-Mill]

Re: Do I need a diff panhard rod?

I just checked... definitely a coil-over SHOCK. It's very weird though how every auto parts supplier lists and SELLS front struts for our cars, are they just simply mis-naming them? When I worked at Sears I remember looking up fronts and it listed struts. I took the fronts off since my car is already lifted while the engine sits on it's stand, and I can definitely see why someone with little knowledge of what a strut IS could mistake it for one, I did and I used to install them. What bothers me is that every supplier that I've ever checked with... as well as on the thread that is linked above lists them as struts. It's sad that one must ask total strangers on a forum to get good information. (but good for the forum ;) )

[V6Bob]

Re: Do I need a diff panhard rod?

WHAT?? :omg: Did you mis-type that!!

Yep. Fixed.

"It's very weird though how every auto parts supplier lists and SELLS front struts for our cars, are they just simply mis-naming them?"

Yep.

[T-Mill]

Re: Do I need a diff panhard rod?

but, I'm still wondering, if I lower my car, will it screw up the geometry of my suspension if I keep the above panhard rod?

[V6Bob]

Re: Do I need a diff panhard rod?

but, I'm still wondering, if I lower my car, will it screw up the geometry of my suspension if I keep the above panhard rod?

Panhard rod is not the big issue. You may or may not need one. It depends on how the manufacturing tolerances of your car are. If it's off a little one way and the lowering moves it the other, maybe not. If it's off a little the other way and lowering makes it worse, maybe.

But you would definitely need relocation brackets on your lcas. Their angle gets really screwed up when you lower the car. And you'd need to figure out exactly what you need to do, ie how much relocation.

Lowering is basically a cosmetic mod. It requires effort to do it and keep your suspension geometry correct.

[zlexiss]

Re: Do I need a diff panhard rod?

The build tolerances on the car are much wider than the shift from lowering the car.

[T-Mill]

Re: Do I need a diff panhard rod?

appreciate all the info

[this is america bytch]

Re: Do I need a diff panhard rod?

I had my car lowered and the damn thing snapped right around the left tire, I recommend getting a performance rod something stronger depending on how you drive, one you lose that things you'll lose control of your car

[mwh27]

Re: Do I need a diff panhard rod?

I would get an adjustable pan hard. Get a plub bob and see how much room you have from tire/rim edge to fender center on each side. For me, stock, it was not balanced, it was off by up to 3/8" - 1/2", I know that this changes when the suspension is compressed, so have some people jump in the back and try to lower it, see how much it shifts then. If not by an equal amount then I sugest getting an adjustable.

My $.02, I like knowing my rear is centered.