Panhard Rod Straight or Curved?

flyboytroy99 · 02-09-2007

Did the GT trackrod (aka. panhard) have any bend in it when new? Mine has a little bend to it, I figure from years of wear and strain.

Paul · 02-09-2007

It is supposed to be straight. When bent it effectively becomes shorter. If bent too much it will cause the alignment of the rear end to be off from the centerline of the car..

opelwasp · 02-09-2007

If it is curved up then you may have a Manta rod instead of the GT one.

2 Fast 4 U · 02-09-2007

Originally Posted by opelwasp

If it is curved up then you may have a Manta rod instead of the GT one.

If the Manta and the Ascona [1900] have the same one, and I think they do, then it should be straight!!

Paul · 02-09-2007

Sounds like there may some confusion between the descriptions...

The "trailing links" (2 of them) attach to the car body forward of the axle and angle downward and attach to the axle at the spring bucket. On a Manta the rod has a curve at the end that mounts to the axle. I guess the ones for the GT are straight?

The Panhard bar locates the axle side to side. It is behind the centerline of the axle to the rear of the car. One side is mounted to the chassis and the other end mounts to the axle. On both the Manta and GT these should both be straight. However they do differ in lengths between the GT and Manta. Also, the chassis/axle ends are reversed.

opelwasp · 02-09-2007

If we are talking about the one that goes from the axle to the body, ya that should be straight. The ones that connect to the body to the spring buckets are curved in a Manta/Ascona, and straight on the GT/Kadett.

2 Fast 4 U · 02-09-2007

That's right, there are two of them, and they are bent a little, but the other one is straight

jmbinjax · 02-09-2007

I have a '73 GT that I purchased about a year and a half ago and noticed it has a slight bend to it also. It has no signs of impact though and is tracking straight. I also have a '72 GT that I'm parting out & it's is straight. I figured I would swap them out when I replace all the bushings.

GTJIM · 02-09-2007

Two basic ways the Panhard Rod gets bent:

1) The rear wheel gets slammed into a curb during an "exciting" bit of driving
2) "someone" attaches a tow rope to the middle of it.

So, If the one on yours is bent it is worthwhile looking for any other damage to the Panhard Bar and its mountings plus the rear wheels, brakes and diff ends for other bent stuff.

Wolfman3002 · 02-09-2007

I was wondering if any of you have straightened a panhard rod that has been bent, or does this just make it too weak. I haven't done much metal bending, but I know that bending a piece of metal back and forth can cause fatigue.
Randy

CDN OpelNut · 02-09-2007

Wolfman - It's really not worth it. I paid $10 for a nice straight one from a member of this site. I'm sure if you put out the word, you can get a used one.

Corey

BQS4 · 02-09-2007

Originally Posted by CDN OpelNut

Wolfman - It's really not worth it. I paid $10 for a nice straight one from a member of this site. I'm sure if you put out the word, you can get a used one.

Corey

Let me check my stash, I may be able to help you out. If so, you can have it for just the shipping.

opelwasp · 02-10-2007

Originally Posted by Wolfman3002

I was wondering if any of you have straightened a panhard rod that has been bent, or does this just make it too weak. I haven't done much metal bending, but I know that bending a piece of metal back and forth can cause fatigue.
Randy

I would strongly recommend against this. This is a critical suspension component. If it is bent then it's structural integrity has already been compromised. Bending it back will just compound the damage already done and weaken it further. Those components are easy to locate, so take BGS4 up on the offer.

hallgeir · 02-10-2007

Originally Posted by GTJIM

Two basic ways the Panhard Rod gets bent:

1) The rear wheel gets slammed into a curb during an "exciting" bit of driving
2) "someone" attaches a tow rope to the middle of it.

3) Floor jack.

The guy at the tire shop placed the floor jack under it and lifted my Ascona some years ago. I got a new one, of course.

Wolfman3002 · 02-10-2007

Thanks guys for your replies and offers. Actually, I don't think my Panhard rod is bent, although I'm going to check it a little closer soon. I was mainlly wanting to know what to do if mine was bent. It's good to know all of you are out there when those of us are in need. Makes me feel a little better about the state of the world we live in.

Randy

flyboytroy99 · 02-10-2007

Well mine is bent for sure then. Sounds like a good excuse to go ahead and build Bob's adjustable panhard. Thanks for all the info gentlemen.

02-09-2007	#1 (permalink)
flyboytroy99 Opeler Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Ohio Posts: 45	Unanswered: Panhard Rod Straight or Curved? Did the GT trackrod (aka. panhard) have any bend in it when new? Mine has a little bend to it, I figure from years of wear and strain. __________________ 70GT2NV

02-09-2007	#2 (permalink)
Paul Member 1000 Post Club Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Ft Smith, Arkansas Posts: 1,481 Provided Answers: 1	It is supposed to be straight. When bent it effectively becomes shorter. If bent too much it will cause the alignment of the rear end to be off from the centerline of the car.. __________________ Paul

02-09-2007	#3 (permalink)
opelwasp Non Civilian Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Between Chico and Sac, CA Posts: 1,596 Provided Answers: 1	If it is curved up then you may have a Manta rod instead of the GT one. __________________ Arguing online is the same as racing in the Special Olympics; no matter who wins, you're both still retarded.

02-09-2007	#5 (permalink)
Paul Member 1000 Post Club Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Ft Smith, Arkansas Posts: 1,481 Provided Answers: 1	Sounds like there may some confusion between the descriptions... The "trailing links" (2 of them) attach to the car body forward of the axle and angle downward and attach to the axle at the spring bucket. On a Manta the rod has a curve at the end that mounts to the axle. I guess the ones for the GT are straight? The Panhard bar locates the axle side to side. It is behind the centerline of the axle to the rear of the car. One side is mounted to the chassis and the other end mounts to the axle. On both the Manta and GT these should both be straight. However they do differ in lengths between the GT and Manta. Also, the chassis/axle ends are reversed. __________________ Paul

02-09-2007	#6 (permalink)
opelwasp Non Civilian Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Between Chico and Sac, CA Posts: 1,596 Provided Answers: 1	If we are talking about the one that goes from the axle to the body, ya that should be straight. The ones that connect to the body to the spring buckets are curved in a Manta/Ascona, and straight on the GT/Kadett. __________________ Arguing online is the same as racing in the Special Olympics; no matter who wins, you're both still retarded.

02-09-2007	#7 (permalink)
2 Fast 4 U Detroit,where my home was Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Maria - Hoop, The Netherlands Posts: 2,216 Real Name: Erick Provided Answers: 5	That's right, there are two of them, and they are bent a little, but the other one is straight __________________ Opel Ascona; driving one is like living on the edge. Only built from 1970 - 1975

02-09-2007	#8 (permalink)
jmbinjax Opeler Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Jacksonville, FL Posts: 154 Real Name: John	I have a '73 GT that I purchased about a year and a half ago and noticed it has a slight bend to it also. It has no signs of impact though and is tracking straight. I also have a '72 GT that I'm parting out & it's is straight. I figured I would swap them out when I replace all the bushings.

02-09-2007	#9 (permalink)
GTJIM Old Opeler Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: New Zealand Posts: 5,686 Provided Answers: 12	Bending ... Two basic ways the Panhard Rod gets bent: 1) The rear wheel gets slammed into a curb during an "exciting" bit of driving 2) "someone" attaches a tow rope to the middle of it. So, If the one on yours is bent it is worthwhile looking for any other damage to the Panhard Bar and its mountings plus the rear wheels, brakes and diff ends for other bent stuff. __________________ GTJim Opel Owner since last Century! Copyright © 2000-2009 J D Henry All Rights Reserved Last edited by tekenaar; 02-10-2007 at 04:42 PM. Reason: Sorry, Hallgeir (#14), GTJim

02-09-2007	#10 (permalink)
Wolfman3002 Opel Obsessed Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Hillsboro, Oregon Posts: 171	Can a Panhard Rod be straightened? I was wondering if any of you have straightened a panhard rod that has been bent, or does this just make it too weak. I haven't done much metal bending, but I know that bending a piece of metal back and forth can cause fatigue. Randy __________________ Wolfman (aka: Randy) 1969 Opel GT (in the 70s) 1973 Opel GT (in the 80s) 1973 Opel GT (now) 1973 Opel GT (parts car)

02-09-2007	#11 (permalink)
CDN OpelNut 1971 GT Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Trail, British Columbia Posts: 533 Provided Answers: 4	Wolfman - It's really not worth it. I paid $10 for a nice straight one from a member of this site. I'm sure if you put out the word, you can get a used one. Corey __________________ 2.4 "Legere" Stroker - Weber DCOE45 - Getrag - Compufire - S10 Clutch

02-10-2007	#15 (permalink)
Wolfman3002 Opel Obsessed Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Hillsboro, Oregon Posts: 171	Thanks Thanks guys for your replies and offers. Actually, I don't think my Panhard rod is bent, although I'm going to check it a little closer soon. I was mainlly wanting to know what to do if mine was bent. It's good to know all of you are out there when those of us are in need. Makes me feel a little better about the state of the world we live in. Randy __________________ Wolfman (aka: Randy) 1969 Opel GT (in the 70s) 1973 Opel GT (in the 80s) 1973 Opel GT (now) 1973 Opel GT (parts car)

02-10-2007	#16 (permalink)
flyboytroy99 Opeler Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Ohio Posts: 45	Well mine is bent for sure then. Sounds like a good excuse to go ahead and build Bob's adjustable panhard. Thanks for all the info gentlemen. __________________ 70GT2NV

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