ok guys so im going to lower my car with the eibach pro-kit, and im pretty sure im going to go with bilstein hds all around. I need to know if I need anyhting else in order to lower the car safely! I am not racing the car, its a street car so I don't need a full out racing setup. I just want the necessary parts to do the job. I've been reading about LCAs, control arm relocating brackets and panhard bars but im not sure if I will need these right away. I am also going to rebuild the front end when the shocks and springs go in. thanks!

 

Panhard bar is necessary for you to center the rear end after lowering it. The relocation brackets will put your LCA's back into the right position after lowering it. As for the LCA it is up to you. If you are going to do it right, do it right the first time.

 

changing the ride height changes the suspension geometry. the panhard bar adjusts the 3/8 of an inch or so that it'll shift to the left while lowering(unless your springs are sagging then its already off center anyway)
For traction purposes i would definitely recommend LCA relocation brackets. LCA's i would suggest if you drive the car hard but if it's casually driven i wouldn't

 

NEED? No. For a pure driver car, you don't NEED any of them.

Panhard Bar on recommended though, to center the rear axle & prevent rubbing on 1 side.

My car was off by almost a full inch, at stock side, non-worn/sagging springs & with good bushings.

LCARBs are purely beneficial from a traction standpoint. For just a plain driver, you'll never notice any difference with or without them.

 

yea i drive the car fairly normal with some spirited driving...mostly fast cornering but im not autocrossing or anything, just like to have some fun..

 

if you lower the car withought adding a panhard adjustment, or relocation bracket your left hand turns will suffer due to the fact that the right rear will be resisting the body roll due to the panhard being lower on the chasis side than the axle, beacause of the length of the panhard and the arc it moves in the rear will only shift 1/16" to 1/8" with a 1" drop, but both are neccesary if you want to drive the car hard at all

 

I'm sorry.....I don't mean to laugh BUT.....

You've GOT TO BE KIDDING!

Do you SERIOUSLY think that "1/16" to 1/8" with a 1" drop,but both are neccesary" is gonna be noticed by anyone short of professional race driver?

You really think that little bit will cause an axle push? No...It ain't gonna happen with such a minute amount.

 

i can feel it like day and night, so when you adjust your panhard relocation bracket you don't feel any difference???? or maybe you never even adjsuted such a thing and have no idea what your talking about

stephen you have bee arguing with alot of people and facts lately whats up????

 

if you have the money, then do it. no question. a 1" drop wont screw your ride up. you MIGHT notice a difference, but if anybody else was to get in the car they wouldnt even realize it.

 

No arguing.....Just tired of seeing wrong "facts" being spread around..

 

my 02 (same rear suspension as the 82-92) is stock but actually sits a bit higher due to the s-60 being a little different than the 10 bolt. It sits far off to the left side (about 1/2 inch I'm guessing from where they welded the PHB bracket) and I can't tell the difference from before I replaced the axle. All I know is I don't have to worry about breaking the damn thing now. I put in a panhard bar with a spherical bearing on one side and poly on the other. It made a night and day difference on how the car felt since it wasn't binding up like the stock rubber one was.

 

Here is what I've found.

On my car, the axle was centered better after I lowered it. Before you spend unnecessary money on a panhard bar (if you are not planning on racing it etc.), just see how it works first. Obviously better bushings will locate the axle better, but if you are more daily driving it than anything, you may never care.

As for the LCA relocation brackets, you will likely be able to get by without them as well. Most handling issues are from when they point down at the front from excessive lowering. Of course they can help traction on drag race type setups, but it depends what you are after.

I once thought I needed all this stuff as well & was talked out of it.

Sam Stano gave me some good advice & in summary it was to add 1 part at a time to see if it helps or hurts & if you do not have an issue with the cars performance, why spend money on things you do not need. Quite honest advice from someone that sells everything I was trying to buy.

 

Dude, that's just how he is.

Crazy enough though, this time I agree with him. You don't "need" any of that other crap to lower it. I would think about picking them up later on down the line just to make sure the rear geometry is straight. Really just the panhard and LCAs to correct for tire wear/rubbing and making sure your driveline angle is okay. Don't buy parts just to have parts.

Your results may vary.

 

how do you adjust a pan hard bar.

 

I did all the stuff your talking about. Turned out awesome! Best money I ever spent on my car.