SS adjustable panhard didn't center axle.

Dom8706 · May 17, 2020

So my left rear tire is noticeably sticking out more than the right rear tire. A good inch or so. Bought the adjustable bar to fix it. No brackets. Followed the instructions and the left rear is still noticeably out further.

I'm wondering if I can take the bar off and lift the rear and set it back down to center the axle and adjust the panhard bar to fit whatever that would Messure.

Would this be OK to do? Centering the axle is the whole point of the adjustable bar right? Would anything else be causing the left tire to pop out like that?

Also my mind is telling me to shorten the bar to pull in the left side more but that would make the adjustable bar shorter than the original. Is that correct?

I did follow his directions correctly and used the more accurate "cut an inch" methard.

Bonus question. When I add an aftermarket bumper and tire rack in a couple of months would I have to re adjust the bar again to make up for the added weight? About 200 lbs.

Thank you guys!

Dieselchessy · May 17, 2020

Are you lifted?

The longer bar is to push the axle to driver side when lifted.
When lifted the bar is at more of an angle down, thus swinging the axle to the passenger side.

If your not lifted or the bar sits pretty level, slight down angle, at ride height, then a longer bar would push the axle too far to the driver side.

I’ve never played with an adjustable, but if I did, I’d adjust it so the axle was centered at ride height, and maybe even lean toward the shorter side of things to keep the driveline off the gas tank at full drivers wheel compression.

You can undo the bar on the adjustable end. Then use a ratchet strap from axle to frame to pull the axle to center. Then adjust the bar to fit and bolt it up. Adjust from there.

Dom8706 · May 17, 2020

Dieselchessy said:
Are you lifted?

The longer bar is to push the axle to driver side when lifted.
When lifted the bar is at more of an angle down, thus swinging the axle to the passenger side.

If your not lifted or the bar sits pretty level, slight down angle, at ride height, then a longer bar would push the axle too far to the driver side.

I’ve never played with an adjustable, but if I did, I’d adjust it so the axle was centered at ride height, and maybe even lean toward the shorter side of things to keep the driveline off the gas tank at full drivers wheel compression.

You can undo the bar on the adjustable end. Then use a ratchet strap from axle to frame to pull the axle to center. Then adjust the bar to fit and bolt it up. Adjust from there.

Yeah 2 inch OME lift. Good idea with the ratchet strap I will give that a try thank you.

That's bazzar that it was pushed to the drivers side with the oem bar after i put in the lift.. I figured it should of been pushed to the passenger side which is why I am confused. Seems like I have to make the adjustable bar shorter than the oem bar to pull it to the passenger side.

Dieselchessy · May 17, 2020

???

The axle will be furthest to driver side when the Panhard bar is level. Any other orientation of the bar below or above level should move the axle to the passenger side.

A lift should have moved your axle to the passenger side.

3bears · May 18, 2020

Dom8706 said:
Yeah 2 inch OME lift. Good idea with the ratchet strap I will give that a try thank you.

That's bazzar that it was pushed to the drivers side with the oem bar after i put in the lift.. I figured it should of been pushed to the passenger side which is why I am confused. Seems like I have to make the adjustable bar shorter than the oem bar to pull it to the passenger side.

what......
.I was thinking of a 2 inch OME lift and I was told it would not effect anything like axel placement...that might make me rethink my lift as I dont want to get into those games. I was told only when you get to 3 inch lift. Hmmm...guess I need to do more research

G_Raw · May 18, 2020

Any lift changes the angle of the stock panhard therefore affects axle position. When I did my SS panhard ( done sametime as lift) I measured the position pre lift, did the springs and shocks. Mreasured and calculated the change. Then set the SS to anticipated length and installed. Took it in for alignment and put it on the lift to full droop. Sat it back down measured and had the shop repeat the lift and adjust until it was centered ( took 3 up and downs total). My panhard is nearly horizontal on flat level ground. I believe they call it a shakedown.

Dom8706 · May 18, 2020

3bears said:
what......
.I was thinking of a 2 inch OME lift and I was told it would not effect anything like axel placement...that might make me rethink my lift as I dont want to get into those games. I was told only when you get to 3 inch lift. Hmmm...guess I need to do more research

It might be completely unrelated man I'm not 100% sure yet. Cause the lift should of pulled the rear axle towards the right not the left. There might be someone else going on. I'm not sure yet. A good number of people don't even get the adjustable bar for a 2 inch lift because it's not suppose to throw off your rear axle much. I'll spend some time looking at everything tomorrow and reply back with what I find/do.

But the OME 2 inch lift has been great man I love it and would recommend it. Although I do wish I would of went with a 3 inch lift tbh. I just didn't want to deal with adjusting the springs and absorbers. She is also my daily driver. The rear was super easy. Front took a little time cause i wanted to cut corners.

If you do get the OME lift or anyone reading this who is going to buy it note that the front coilovers are not side specific but the rear springs are!

Dom8706 · May 18, 2020

G_Raw said:
Any lift changes the angle of the stock panhard therefore affects axle position. When I did my SS panhard ( done sametime as lift) I measured the position pre lift, did the springs and shocks. Mreasured and calculated the change. Then set the SS to anticipated length and installed. Took it in for alignment and put it on the lift to full droop. Sat it back down measured and had the shop repeat the lift and adjust until it was centered ( took 3 up and downs total). My panhard is nearly horizontal on flat level ground. I believe they call it a shakedown.

What an excellent idea. I wish I would of thought about that. I didn't buy the lift and panhard at the same time though. I still might end up doing this if I can't figure it out tomorrow.

Dom8706 · May 18, 2020

Dieselchessy said:
???

The axle will be furthest to driver side when the Panhard bar is level. Any other orientation of the bar below or above level should move the axle to the passenger side.

A lift should have moved your axle to the passenger side.

That's what I thought also and why I am confused with all this. I'm going to get under my rig tomorrow and give everything a once over. Maybe take a couple of pics too.

RandyBobandy · May 18, 2020

3bears said:
what......
.I was thinking of a 2 inch OME lift and I was told it would not effect anything like axel placement...that might make me rethink my lift as I dont want to get into those games. I was told only when you get to 3 inch lift. Hmmm...guess I need to do more research

I put thousands of miles on a 3” lift with no panhard correction and didn’t have any noticeable negative effects, I did eventually install a panhard correction kit and it does handle better with the centered axle and no more drivers side lean, but I wouldn’t say it’s completely necessary either

fourfive · May 19, 2020

Dom8706 said:
So my left rear tire is noticeably sticking out more than the right rear tire. A good inch or so. Bought the adjustable bar to fix it. No brackets. Followed the instructions and the left rear is still noticeably out further.

You're saying your rear axle was shifted to the left/driver side before you bought the adjustable bar correct? Few things if that's the case:
1. Since a rear lift higher than stock shifts the axle to the passenger side, I'm thinking there's something else going on.
2. Was the axle centered when you had stock suspension and shift to the left after you installed 906? Even with a 3" lift, the amount of lateral axle shift is minimal & the amount of panhard adjustment is less than 1/4" from the stock bar.
3. Following SS instructions, you did subtract an inch from your total panhard measurement correct?

Dom8706 · May 20, 2020

fourfive said:
You're saying your rear axle was shifted to the left/driver side before you bought the adjustable bar correct? Few things if that's the case:
1. Since a rear lift higher than stock shifts the axle to the passenger side, I'm thinking there's something else going on.
2. Was the axle centered when you had stock suspension and shift to the left after you installed 906? Even with a 3" lift, the amount of lateral axle shift is minimal & the amount of panhard adjustment is less than 1/4" from the stock bar.
3. Following SS instructions, you did subtract an inch from your total panhard measurement correct?

I honestly cant say if it was center before the lift or not. I only had the rig a few months with minimal use before i added the lift. After the lift is when i noticed it.

Yeah the ss panhard was just a tad longer than the stock one. I did follow his directions carefully and started at the one inch mark for best accuracy. It was pushing left with the stock panhard before hand.

I did mess around with it some yesterday. I unbolted frame end of the panhard, unbolted the sway bar and jacked the back end of the frame up. Both tires measured the same distance from the frame at that point. Lowered it back down slowly and the axle shifted back left some. I ended up man handling the rear axle and frame the best i could to align it. Well align the tires with the frame. I got it close but not spot on. I know that in order to get it as close as i did i had to make the ss panhard SHORTER than the stock panhard. I know something isnt right but i dont know what. Everything looked good to me..

Off topic: can you post some pics of your custom bolt on rock sliders? I'm going to be in the market for something like that after soon.

Kanoe · May 20, 2020

Is there any chance that your original pan hard bar was not the oem? Could it have been monkeyed with before you bought it? Did the PO remove a tall lift before you got it?

Failing the above I wonder if your bar mounts are bent somehow.

jkeith.w · May 20, 2020

what is the center to center dimension of the Panhard bar mount holes (axle to frame side) with the Panhard bar removed?

- repeat what you did: removing one end of the Panhard bar, lifting the truck, and allowing it to settle, then measure the distance between the holes.

Also, is there a chance some PO put a wheel spacer on the driver's rear to make the tires sit similarly in the wheel wells?

Dom8706 · May 20, 2020

Kanoe said:
Is there any chance that your original pan hard bar was not the oem? Could it have been monkeyed with before you bought it? Did the PO remove a tall lift before you got it?

Failing the above I wonder if your bar mounts are bent somehow.

I'm pretty sure it was oem. It wasn't adjustable. The bushing were one piece. Also the SS bar was just a hair longer than the stock bar which is how it should of been. No the PO never had a lift on it. He had those Firestone blue air bags in the rear springs but that was it. It was pretty much stock when I bought it.

Dom8706 · May 20, 2020

eimkeith said:
what is the center to center dimension of the Panhard bar mount holes (axle to frame side) with the Panhard bar removed?

- repeat what you did: removing one end of the Panhard bar, lifting the truck, and allowing it to settle, then measure the distance between the holes.

Also, is there a chance some PO put a wheel spacer on the driver's rear to make the tires sit similarly in the wheel wells?

I will do that when I get some time. I didn't think it was important but I will lift it up again and Messure with the bar removed.

I thought there might of been a spacer too but no there wasn't.

jkeith.w · May 20, 2020

a photo might be helpful.

Dom8706 · May 21, 2020

eimkeith said:
a photo might be helpful.

Not sure what photo would be helpful honestly. Here is a quick on I put together the other day. SS Panhard in at correct length. I can take more tomorrow. Had a late work day today and don't feel like crawling under it right now.

Dieselchessy · May 21, 2020

We need a photo of the panhard mount on the axle, the panhard mount on the frame, and a wide angle overall look at the panhard bar.

About all I can think is that something is bent.

Your saying the stock bar has the axle to the drivers side and the SS bar also has it to the drivers side.

fourfive · May 21, 2020

Dom8706 said:
Yeah the ss panhard was just a tad longer than the stock one. I did follow his directions carefully and started at the one inch mark for best accuracy. It was pushing left with the stock panhard before hand.

I did mess around with it some yesterday. I unbolted frame end of the panhard, unbolted the sway bar and jacked the back end of the frame up. Both tires measured the same distance from the frame at that point. Lowered it back down slowly and the axle shifted back left some. I ended up man handling the rear axle and frame the best i could to align it. Well align the tires with the frame. I got it close but not spot on. I know that in order to get it as close as i did i had to make the ss panhard SHORTER than the stock panhard. I know something isnt right but i dont know what. Everything looked good to me..

Do you know if it was in a previous accident? May be worth taking it to a body shop/frame shop to get it checked. How much shorter did you have to make the ss ph to get it closer to normal alignment? Anything underneath look bent or misaligned? Both brake drums, wheels, etc securely on?

Dom8706 said:
Off topic: can you post some pics of your custom bolt on rock sliders? I'm going to be in the market for something like that after soon.

Here are some pics.
Custom made bolt on rock sliders (no frame drilling)

SS adjustable panhard didn't center axle.

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