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So I have a new to me 91 firebird that I’m trying to get back on the road. The previous owner had the fuel pump go bad and removed all sorts of stuff and lost most of it in the process. I have rounded everything up except an upper Panhard brace and mount. Would this BMR Panhard brace work? http://m.bmrsuspension.com/?page=products&productid=371 I read that it’s not the greatest design. I don’t really care about relocating the Panhard but summit stocks it and I want this car on the road.
So I have a new to me 91 firebird that I’m trying to get back on the road. The previous owner had the fuel pump go bad and removed all sorts of stuff and lost most of it in the process. I have rounded everything up except an upper Panhard brace and mount. Would this BMR Panhard brace work? http://m.bmrsuspension.com/?page=products&productid=371 I read that it’s not the greatest design. I don’t really care about relocating the Panhard but summit stocks it and I want this car on the road.
Why not get a factory one from a third gen recycling yard, like for instance Hawks ?
For the OP, I'd hunt down a stock track bar brace from somebody that's parting out a car or from a junkyard. It has a crook in it to clear exhaust pipe, and there is a mounting point for the fuel tank heat shield. A lot of these aftermarket pieces don't fit well and need trimming / cutting / drilling / shimming and need better parts substituted (that you gotta find on your own). Some will hit the fuel tank. And lowering that passenger side mounting point actually changes how the car corners, it's part of the suspension tuning. I'd stay with stock components unless you decide you want the different characteristics that the aftermarket pieces give.
They might tell you if you ask. I didn't ask. It's an observation after working with the panhard relocation kit. Each manufacturer has their pro's and con's, none of them get it totally right when it comes to panhard relocation. I ended up using pieces from 4 different manufactures (including Founders) and sourced some parts on my own too.
Founders lower control arm relocation brackets and front strut towers are made from harder and stronger steel (I have those too). It's good stuff, I have nothing bad to say about it.
They both use 1.250 DOM tubing with only Founders stating their wall thickness but I will go out on a limb and say UMI uses the same wall. Most commonly DOM tubing is 1020 and I highly doubt either vendor uses 1026 in this application. So unless your a metallurgist with proof you have no leg to stand on, as I said theyre the same upper panhard bar
The Founders bar seemed fine and it had very good fitment and clearance to fuel tank (fitment was one of its pro's). There are bars out there that are beasts by comparison. The metal used for brackets, choice of rod ends, and other hardware is where Founders skimp big time.
Originally Posted by 84 z28
So unless your a metallurgist with proof you have no leg to stand on, as I said they're the same upper panhard bar
MSME. That's where I learned you don't need credentials to feel when something is bendy and soft. You're not actually interested in any of this subject matter, you just want to argue for sport because you have malfunction of the mouth. When you have zero respect for the input of somebody that's owned a bunch of these products, then the forum will eventually end up ignoring you.
A. dosen't know the metal thats used in a product but claims they are different because he said so
B. is proven wrong then cant accept it then by saying the bar is now nice but the brackets and rod ends are junk
Like you said, you have no credentials you're just banging on a keyboard saying you said so there for Founders uses a lesser metal. I only chimed in because I know they use the same DOM tubing as UMI (You know the subject matter), I'm not too worried about a forum ignoring me because I proved you wrong and supplied actual proof to back up my claims.
Originally Posted by QwkTrip
The Founders bar seemed fine and it had very good fitment and clearance to fuel tank (fitment was one of its pro's). There are bars out there that are beasts by comparison. The metal used for brackets, choice of rod ends, and other hardware is where Founders skimp big time.
MSME. That's where I learned you don't need credentials to feel when something is bendy and soft.
You're not actually interested in any of this subject matter, you just want to argue for sport because you have malfunction of the mouth. When you have zero respect for the input of somebody that's owned a bunch of these products, then the forum will just end up ignoring you.
84 Z28, thanks for the link to founders. I had already ordered the BMR from summit as it was only $119 and I’ll have it tomorrow.
Qwiktrip, thanks for the info. I probably should have just found a stock one but I got impatient and ordered it before I read your posts. How big of an issue will it be?
Qwiktrip, thanks for the info. I probably should have just found a stock one but I got impatient and ordered it before I read your posts. How big of an issue will it be?
Most people won't notice any difference other than maybe a little more body roll in corners if they even notice that.
You will notice a difference if you're the type that pushes the car hard in corners. It will lower the rear roll center of the vehicle and change the operating angle of panhard bar, both of which have an effect on how the tires are loaded in corners and handling of the vehicle. It's a tuning aid to fiddle with how tight or loose the chassis feels and how the car handles mid-corner and traction with throttle out of the corners. Somebody interested in all that stuff will usually get a "height adjustable" version which is basically different brackets + an adjustable length panhard bar.
BMR's main customer is people that want to make room for larger exhaust pipe. They don't know it does all that other stuff. BMR doesn't sell height adjustable brackets but some other companies do and those things are mostly interchangeable so you can keep your BMR brace bar if you decide you want to modify things in the future.
DOM stands for drawn over mandrel and can be 1020 or 1026 and heat treated in different ways. Just because both say DOM does not mean they are the same. If they are both the same type of steel even that does not mean they are the same. Heat treat is everything.
You're not actually interested in any of this subject matter, you just want to argue for sport because you have malfunction of the mouth. When you have zero respect for the input of somebody that's owned a bunch of these products, then the forum will eventually end up ignoring you. 
They don't know it does all that other stuff. BMR doesn't sell height adjustable brackets but some other companies do and those things are mostly interchangeable so you can keep your BMR brace bar if you decide you want to modify things in the future. 
