lowering without adj panhard bar = off center axle

 

That's my understanding of it. I have no problem doing it "right" but these guys saying springs only threw me off.

 

some people dont do it right.

back in the fox body, sn-95 days with the quad shock, factory 4-link-ish days you could drop the car via srpings only since the axle was located by the control arms.

Now that a panhard bar does the job, if you drop the car the distance between the mounting points of the Panhard bar gets smaller so the bar has to get smaller too. If you dont it will move the axle to one side and bind the heck outta the LCA's and thier bushings.

In some cases the axle will be so far to one side you can actually hit the quarter panel with the tire when you hit a bump.

Some people dont do it cause they dont think its needed or because of cost.

But instead they wear out LCA bushing at a rate about 10x faster then normal, it puts stress on the drive shaft carrier bearing as well and puts extra stress on all the mounting locations of rear suspension.

but yo know how it goes: "joe told me I dont need it and he has been doing this forever".

I am just trying to look out for people and hell the part is cheap! ($159 from Steeda for example)

 

Yeah we needed the adjustable pan head bar. When we first put it in they put it at the same size as the stock bar. And the back rear tires where shifted about an inch to the left. It is definately necessary.

 

Can anyone chime in on the difference between the Steeda offset lowering springs to balence the car out vs. the Roush or FRPP springs that are one height all around? Steeda claims the weight shift is better balanced with the offset lowering, making the car flat (obviously). Just wondering how effective this is.

Maybe this is only on the earlier S197's. I will ask there too.

 

Guess i'll have to look into this Panhard thing since mine is lowered as well. Shaun, i checked Steeda for the Panhard bar by itself without the endlinks, which one are you referring to ? Thx

 

I had my 1.5" UPR springs and panhard bar installed today. The car sits SO much better and the ride is somehow a lot better. Bumps are slightly more harsh, but they also end immediately; the car doesn't continue to bounce as it did with the stock springs. Now, in the curves, I swear the car is trying to pull down the gas pedal itself so it can go faster!

My favorite part is that the car doesn't lunge nearly as badly when taking off from a stop; it just plants and goes. The lunge was throwing off my quick shifts, with the car nose diving between gears. It's a whole lot easier to control, now.

 

Where did you get your panhard bar and springs at?

Found em...

How does this set-up look for a 5.0 with the brembo package..

GT500 Extreme Bumpsteer Kit Blue
UPR Pro Series Lowering Springs
Pro Street Double Adjustable Pan Hard Bar

Still looking for a caster camber kit that will work for the 10+

 

After I installed my FRPP 1.5" drop progressive springs, my rear axle shifted to the left about a 1/2 inch.

I have the Steeda adjustable panhard bar ordered. I will be doing Tokico adjustable shocks next, as well as camber plates and the Steeda bump steer kit. Then taking it in for an alignment.
Then lower control arms and relocation brackets.

I may just have the springs in right now, but I am going to do it right.
No sense in lowering the car if your not going to fix the geometry to make it right.

 

I'm already working on my wife for some BMR LCAs and brackets.

Buying this car thinking I wouldn't modify it was dumb.

 

How are you guys liking your dropped ride quality? The UPR springs are VERY hard to me and I'm kinda disappointed with them.

 

I'm very happy with my FRPP 1" drop even though my axle is probably off center right now. But the fix is on the way in the name of a Steeda adjustable Panhard bar which will be installed this week. I didn't really noticed an issue with ride being harder with mine. But handling is better no doubt about it. How much did you lower yours ?

 

I went 1.5"... and to be honest, I'd prefer the LOOK of a 2" drop, but the 1.5" is a little farther than I'm comfortable going with all the construction around here. We'll see. Maybe I'm just being too particular.

 

Just to clarify- I had NOT cut my bumpstops with the new springs. Cutting the bumpstops has given me a near factory ride quality.

 

Not me....actually shifted so little to the left that it's almost dead on centered. These things don't exactly come centered from Ford and is hardly noticeable with stock rims and tires.

 

So much conflicting info! lol Dave how much did you drop?

 

Just to ad when I lowered mine 2011 tein s-tech springs so 1" drop in front 2" drop in the rear the axle was over an inch to the left offset from center. I used a massive adj phb w/spherical endlinks and relocation centering kit. Also agree on cutting your bump stops after lowering improves ride quality vastly

 

have you used a plumb and actually measured. That tells the true tale.

The axles are very tight to center from AAI, but even if that wasnt the case it makes a bigger case for the adj bar as you would need to account for in consitant attaching points.

Steeda part #555-2551
Price $159.95
Comes complete with everything you need.


Maximum Motorsports 05+ kit. I have them on my car

 

About an inch in the front and an inch and a half in the rear.