first off, let me introduce myself, new member to the community here @ 3rdgen. I own an 87 GTA with 5.0L M/T,(what a fun car!)

unfortunatly, a little tipsy, slick road, and a beefy muscle car don't mix too well! so long story short, as my car was going sideways it went over a curb, messed up the rim and bent the stock panhard bar. and prob. the lca's

In the process of fixing my car, i bought an adjustable panhard bar from EDELBROCK, the problem is that, it comes adjusted to o.e. specifics, and when i tried to install it it was about maybe 1" longer than the Mounting holes.(prob. from the sideways impact).

so my question is, can i just shorten the adjustable bar to make it fit, and then expand it once it is on? or do i have a different problem on my hands?
thanks!

 

i dont think there would be a problem the adjustability is more so for a lowerd car so if you didint get the geometry right your rearend would be all out of wack

 

you can adjust it to make it fit and that wont hurt anything. the panhard bar is designed to center the rear in the car a keep it from moving sideways. install it at the length it needs to be, lower the car and see if the axle is centered in the car. if it is, you are set, if not adjust it. just check out the body mount for the panhard and make sure you didnt break/bend it.

 

A simple shove of the rear end will line it up, without a panhard bar installed the rear end is free to move side to side. My bet is that it has simply moved once you unbolted the stock bar.

 

I'd just look carefully at the mounting areas. If it were me, i'd be inspecting everything under there for stress cracks or bending. Just to make sure I didn't tweak the car.
But yea, that's pretty normal, if you've got a plumb bob that can help you too. But measure the tire to wheel well area and get it centered on both ends and you're done.

 

thanks Errbody, gettin to it rite now!, one more Q. The stock LCAs', they seem like they have been compromised, what is the best replacement for 'em? any suggestions? reccomendations from personal use? i am looking for lcas' that are: reasonably priced, quality and ones that decrease the transfer of noise inside, or ones that have the least increase, i guess this has to do with bushings, thanks

 

Spohn makes them, along with UMI and BMR. From what I have been instructed, all of them are great companies and offer a reputable product.


cheers!!

 

Make your own LCAs. I did.