What is the long arm above my rear end called? It runs from drivers side to passengers side. What does it do? Thanks

 

If you are talking about the long arm running from the rearend to the bottom of the car, you are looking at the panhard rod. It serves to prevent lateral movement of the rearend during cornering (as far as I understand).

 

Thanks. They sell adjustable ones. How do you decide how to adjust it if you go that way?

 

I've heard that you only really need to adjust it if you change the ride height of your car. I have stock ride height and an adjustable panhard rod, I just laid the two rods next to each other, adjusted it to match the stock rod (inserting bolts through both to match em) and installed it.

 

I plan on putting in new rear springs. If this changes the hieght how do you adjust it then?

 

Well if you raise the back of the car, and the panhard rod (Gm called it a track bar) length doesn't change, the axle "hinges" on the track bar, so the axle would move to the right. If you lower the back, the distance between the track bar and axle gets smaller, so the axle hinges on the track bar and moves to the left.

Think of a closed door. Stand 5 feet away and look at the door. See how it meets the door frame? Now, open the door. See how the distance (in a 2-dimensional picture) between the edge of the door and the door frame increased, so there's a gap you can walk through? That's how we could simulate the "raising" of the car... increasing the angle between the door and the door frame.

And if that made no sense at all, don't worry about it. Even I'm not sure what I was trying to say!

 

An adjustable panhard just helps center the rearend. After changing the ride height if you are confused about the centering of the rearend then just measure. I would try between the tires and inner fender wells. Adjust until you get the same measurements.

 

OK , I got it this makes sense to me. Thanks guys.

 

If you are going to just repalace the Springs, I would go with the
standard Panhard bar. You will have less problems then using the adjustable one by your questions. The Spohn Perf Panhard bar is the one I am using. Just my opinion.

 

will changeing my stock panhard bar with a say spohn make a difference? liek would traction be better?

 

It will tighten the rear end in cornering.