things about suspensions I don't understand:
 

Panhard rod: what is it? what does it do?
Torque arm: same questions
Torsion bars: ditto

any help on the above terms would really help my understanding

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yellow 86 Camaro
LG4 700R4
Pioneer head unit
Kenwood speakers
Infinity Beta Digital 300 amp
2 Infinity Perfect 12s

We have the first two, but not the torsion bars. They were on the older dodges, and the mid '80s nissans and toyotas.

The panhard rod is the bar that is parallel and mounted behind the rear end. It keeps the rear square.

The torque arm is the long rod that mounts your transmission to your rear end. It keeps your rear end from flipping around when you take off.

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'82 Firebird, dead stock, 9 bolt disc rear, over 200,000 miles and still going strong, more to come...
http://www.spinfrenzy.com/stingerssx...easures.html#4

To add a visual to what stinger says,,,

http://www.angelcities.com/members/g...ers/taaxl2.jpg

Track bar is just another name for a panhard rod.
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My Firebird

Part Diagrams

[This message has been edited by deadbird (edited January 29, 2001).]

I believe GM also likes to refer to the sway bars as "stabilizer bars" too.

GM still uses Torsion bars on all of there 4X4's. Think of it as a "sway bar" mounted from front to rear with the front end mounted to the lower control arm, and the back end bolted to the frame. It takes the place of the front coil springs, since an axle prevents a coil spring from being there.

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