DUAL PANHARD/TRACE BRACE BAR ???
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Car: 91 R/S , 89 dodge p/u
Engine: L31 GM crate re-cammed , 318
Transmission: T-5 , 4 speed auto
Axle/Gears: 3.42 , ?
DUAL PANHARD/TRACE BRACE BAR ???
sorry about the description but it's the best that came to mind . a week ago i was helping a friend with an 02-04 dodge durango . we had it on the lift , when i saw the rear suspension i was fascinated . dual coils , dual LCA's , dual trace brace bars running from each side toward the differential . thats what was really different . diff. cover was 1/4-5/16 thick cast , with a pivot bolt in the center of the diff. cover . cover had a pivoting vertical bar going up & down from pivot bolt connecting each end to trace bars . i am by no means a suspension expert but it was unlike any other set-up i was familiar with . wondering how our cars would handle with the same set-up . it would sure help with over axle exhaust clearence . BTW it was a HEMI , any comments welcome . thanks !!!
Last edited by UNCLE TOM; 11-15-2011 at 07:20 PM.
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Car: 91 Z28
Engine: LS1
Transmission: t-56
Axle/Gears: 3.73 4th gen 10 bolt
Re: DUAL PANHARD/TRACE BRACE BAR ???
It's called a watts link. Strano makes one for our cars. Basically it keeps the rear end centered as it goes through it's travel up and down. With the panhard, the rear will actually shift left and right as the axle moves up and down.
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Car: 91 R/S , 89 dodge p/u
Engine: L31 GM crate re-cammed , 318
Transmission: T-5 , 4 speed auto
Axle/Gears: 3.42 , ?
Re: DUAL PANHARD/TRACE BRACE BAR ???
thanks for the info. , i also thought it would eliminate side to side shift . any one here have one ? feelings/comments about it ? would really like to see pics. installed on a 3rd gen . thanks again for info .
Last edited by UNCLE TOM; 11-15-2011 at 10:36 PM.
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Car: 88 IROC Z/28-under re-construction
Engine: 5.7 Tuned Port
Transmission: It's in there....
Axle/Gears: 9 bolt Borg-Warner
Re: DUAL PANHARD/TRACE BRACE BAR ???
Wow,My ***** just quivered
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Car: 91 R/S , 89 dodge p/u
Engine: L31 GM crate re-cammed , 318
Transmission: T-5 , 4 speed auto
Axle/Gears: 3.42 , ?
Re: DUAL PANHARD/TRACE BRACE BAR ???
any one have comments on how the car handled with one of these set ups ? seems to me that it should be a large improvement . please comment , thanks . how about it Lonnie P unless that was not your car ???
Last edited by UNCLE TOM; 11-16-2011 at 05:44 PM.
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Car: 91 Formula
Engine: 2012 LS9
Transmission: 4L80E
Axle/Gears: Strange 60 3.54:1
Re: DUAL PANHARD/TRACE BRACE BAR ???
Yes it is my car.
The handling improvement was tremendous.
The car is more predictable & stable at its limits.
I have had it for over 2 years now & am very glad I bought it.
With a panhard, you may notice a "jacking" effect in the rear of the car where the inside rear corner lifts in a hard right turn. Also you may feel the opposide lowering in a hard left turn. The car now feels the same in both directions.
Previous to the Watts link, I was battling an oversteer condition, which caused me to drop the swaybar size from stock. After the watts, I could go back to the 24mm bar with balanced handling.
I also had tire contact issues with the rear inner fenders with a panhard bar. After adding the watts, I cannot get them to touch, so it did remove side-to-side deflection. This was noticible the first time I drove it.
If you want to lower the roll center, you can easily do it by removing 1 bolt.
They aren't cheap, but I would buy one again in a second.
The handling improvement was tremendous.
The car is more predictable & stable at its limits.
I have had it for over 2 years now & am very glad I bought it.
With a panhard, you may notice a "jacking" effect in the rear of the car where the inside rear corner lifts in a hard right turn. Also you may feel the opposide lowering in a hard left turn. The car now feels the same in both directions.
Previous to the Watts link, I was battling an oversteer condition, which caused me to drop the swaybar size from stock. After the watts, I could go back to the 24mm bar with balanced handling.
I also had tire contact issues with the rear inner fenders with a panhard bar. After adding the watts, I cannot get them to touch, so it did remove side-to-side deflection. This was noticible the first time I drove it.
If you want to lower the roll center, you can easily do it by removing 1 bolt.
They aren't cheap, but I would buy one again in a second.
Last edited by Lonnie P; 11-16-2011 at 09:19 PM.
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Re: DUAL PANHARD/TRACE BRACE BAR ???
The watts link single-handedly jump started the industrial revolution! It was one of the earliest forms of parallel motion, at least the first to be widely used. It's named after James Watt - the guy that the electrical power unit "Watt" is named after... also the guy who defined exactly what a "horsepower" is.
http://web.mat.bham.ac.uk/C.J.Sangwi...ine/index.html
I for one find this stuff fascinating, I may be the only one, but if anyone else is interested...
http://web.mat.bham.ac.uk/C.J.Sangwi...ine/index.html
I for one find this stuff fascinating, I may be the only one, but if anyone else is interested...
Last edited by InfernalVortex; 11-17-2011 at 04:49 AM.
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Car: 91 R/S , 89 dodge p/u
Engine: L31 GM crate re-cammed , 318
Transmission: T-5 , 4 speed auto
Axle/Gears: 3.42 , ?
Re: DUAL PANHARD/TRACE BRACE BAR ???
thanks for the feed back Lonnie . i will be ordering one as soon as i return from my thanksgiving road trip . Porky ck. STRANO website & google "watts link" , (lots of good info.) thanks again , good luck .
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Re: DUAL PANHARD/TRACE BRACE BAR ???
Strano doesn't make it, it's made by Jim Fay from Fays2. http://fays2.net/
I have one on my 9 bolt rear:
I have one on my 9 bolt rear:
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Car: 91 R/S , 89 dodge p/u
Engine: L31 GM crate re-cammed , 318
Transmission: T-5 , 4 speed auto
Axle/Gears: 3.42 , ?
Re: DUAL PANHARD/TRACE BRACE BAR ???
first thanks to all who responded . the past few days i have done a lot of research , almost all (99.5%) positive on watts-link . i will be ordering it & new LCA's after thanksgiving. (will be my christmas present to myself) seems like it would also be a great benefit for over axle exhaust clearence . i know the couple of 3" systems & dual's i have installed would have been easier with it . thank's again .
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Car: 2003 F-150
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Re: DUAL PANHARD/TRACE BRACE BAR ???
It will. An inverted Watts linkage, which the Fays2 is, locates the roll center from the chassis, not the differential like a regular Watts link would. This means an inverted Watts mounts to the chassis, not the differential.
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Re: DUAL PANHARD/TRACE BRACE BAR ???
You'd certain know as you've installed one, but Strano's site would make one believe otherwise:
"Greater clearance for bigger and/or dual exhaust pipes since the PHB brace is no longer needed or used."
At any rate, I'm intrigued with the piece (thanks for the link to Fays2, Twin). One question for those who've installed the piece: How did you remove the upper panhard brace--often the pass side bolt is frozen to the sleeve.
JamesC
"Greater clearance for bigger and/or dual exhaust pipes since the PHB brace is no longer needed or used."
At any rate, I'm intrigued with the piece (thanks for the link to Fays2, Twin). One question for those who've installed the piece: How did you remove the upper panhard brace--often the pass side bolt is frozen to the sleeve.
JamesC
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Car: 1989-92 FORMULA350 305 92 Hawkclone
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Transmission: 700R4 4800 vig 18th700R4 t56 ZF6 T5
Axle/Gears: 3.70 9"ford alum chunk,dana44,9bolt
Re: DUAL PANHARD/TRACE BRACE BAR ???
I use PB blaster twisting/ turning and smacking w a hammer.
Worse case if its super nasty is sucking it up and carefully grinding off the heads and threads..
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Re: DUAL PANHARD/TRACE BRACE BAR ???
impact wrench and praying LOL.
Should have said not a whole lot more room, there is more room..that's for sure.
Here's a pic of the clearance. I think you can cram 2 3" pipes up there but not a whole lot more and it will be tight. For a single pipe you can go to 3.5 most likely, not sure if 4" would fit. I remember I tried to get 2 3" elbows in there an it was tight in there.
Should have said not a whole lot more room, there is more room..that's for sure.
Here's a pic of the clearance. I think you can cram 2 3" pipes up there but not a whole lot more and it will be tight. For a single pipe you can go to 3.5 most likely, not sure if 4" would fit. I remember I tried to get 2 3" elbows in there an it was tight in there.
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Car: 91 R/S , 89 dodge p/u
Engine: L31 GM crate re-cammed , 318
Transmission: T-5 , 4 speed auto
Axle/Gears: 3.42 , ?
Re: DUAL PANHARD/TRACE BRACE BAR ???
excellent that last picture turbo . i know what i'm giving myself for christmas .
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Re: DUAL PANHARD/TRACE BRACE BAR ???
impact wrench and praying LOL.
Should have said not a whole lot more room, there is more room..that's for sure.
Here's a pic of the clearance. I think you can cram 2 3" pipes up there but not a whole lot more and it will be tight. For a single pipe you can go to 3.5 most likely, not sure if 4" would fit. I remember I tried to get 2 3" elbows in there an it was tight in there.
Should have said not a whole lot more room, there is more room..that's for sure.
Here's a pic of the clearance. I think you can cram 2 3" pipes up there but not a whole lot more and it will be tight. For a single pipe you can go to 3.5 most likely, not sure if 4" would fit. I remember I tried to get 2 3" elbows in there an it was tight in there.
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