Panhard installed with question

[TexasT4R']

So I just installed my Sonoram Steel Adjustable Panhard Bar and my axel didn't recenter itself. But the ride is a lot more solid and I'm very happy, I was really looking to recenter my axel, how do I do so? PS. I installed the new bar with all wheels on the ground and the truck wasn't jacked in the air,the instructions told me to keep it on the ground so I kept it on the ground.

 

[nc-grayson]

can you post some farther away pics so we can see the perspective of how it hasn't recentered?

 

[nissanh]

I think I have the same issue. I installed 99 tall springs long ago. I always have a slight pull to the right so I have to hold the wheel forced to left at all times. Had many alignments (all within the specs) but no cure.

I remember I had an hard time to line up the holes in the panhard bar to the frame and axle at the time I installed the tall springs.

Would this adjustable panhard bar is the way to eliminate the pull to right?

 

[JayRolla]

If you read his instructions he gives you the amount to adjust the bar for the amount of lift you have. It got mine close but not perfect.

The best way to align it is remove the stock bar. Lift rear end in the air. The axle should recenter when no bar is installed. Measure from panhard mounting bolt hole left to right to the the amount you need to adjust the bar too.

Install the bar and drop her down. Then find an alignment shop that will do a 4 corner alignment. They will adjust the rear tires to be aligned perfectly with the front tires. I did this and my highway ride is pretty much perfect.

 

[Mudeprived]

I think I have the same issue. I installed 99 tall springs long ago. I always have a slight pull to the right so I have to hold the wheel forced to left at all times. Had many alignments (all within the specs) but no cure.

I remember I had an hard time to line up the holes in the panhard bar to the frame and axle at the time I installed the tall springs.

Would this adjustable panhard bar is the way to eliminate the pull to right?

I have the same pull to the right and it started right after I had brand new tires mounted. Mine's a 99. It has just been aligned. I'm chalking it up as a radial pull and will confirm it once I swap tires to the other side.

I've had offset front and rear axles in my jeeps with no ill effects while driving.

 

[TexasT4R']

If you read his instructions he gives you the amount to adjust the bar for the amount of lift you have. It got mine close but not perfect.

The best way to align it is remove the stock bar. Lift rear end in the air. The axle should recenter when no bar is installed. Measure from panhard mounting bolt hole left to right to the the amount you need to adjust the bar too.

Install the bar and drop her down. Then find an alignment shop that will do a 4 corner alignment. They will adjust the rear tires to be aligned perfectly with the front tires. I did this and my highway ride is pretty much perfect.

Alright I'll do that this weekend!! Really appreciate it!!

 

[Tyler James Inc]

So the axle was off-center with the rig sitting on all 4 tires, on level ground, and no panhard? If that's the case, something else is wrong. How are you measuring the centered-ness of the axle, anyway?

 

[JRZEE2000TR4LTD]

So the axle was off-center with the rig sitting on all 4 tires, on level ground, and no panhard? If that's the case, something else is wrong. How are you measuring the centered-ness of the axle, anyway?

Shouldn't be anything wrong. The panhard just controls lateral motion. I didn't remove mine but took out the bolt from the driver's side and rolled forward and backward. Then I eyeballed it from how far it was sticking out on either side mainly using the fender wells as reference.

 

[JayRolla]

So the axle was off-center with the rig sitting on all 4 tires, on level ground, and no panhard? If that's the case, something else is wrong. How are you measuring the centered-ness of the axle, anyway?

He said it was off center with his new adjustable bar installed. He did not lengthen the bar correctly to fix the offset.

 

[Tyler James Inc]

He said it was off center with his new adjustable bar installed. He did not lengthen the bar correctly to fix the offset.

But he said he installed it with the weight on the axle/tires/rear end/suspension/whatever you want to refer to it as, and unless he forced it to one side or the other, the axle should rest at center.

Shouldn't be anything wrong. The panhard just controls lateral motion. I didn't remove mine but took out the bolt from the driver's side and rolled forward and backward. Then I eyeballed it from how far it was sticking out on either side mainly using the fender wells as reference.

I agree there shouldn't be, but if it's off-center at rest- something is wrong.
If you have your truck on level ground- on its own weight, with no panhard- the axle should be VERY close to center. Close enough that you wouldn't be able to tell it's off unless it's on an alignment rack.
If you adjust your panhard such that you can slide both bolts in without prying anything, it should be VERY close to center.

 

[TexasT4R']

He said it was off center with his new adjustable bar installed. He did not lengthen the bar correctly to fix the offset.

The install instructions told me to put it to I think it was 38 7/16" and that's what I didn before I got under the truck. Then I struggled to get the old one off and when I was putting the new one on I A) the instructions told me to put the bolt in from the coil side, but there was NO way I could fit a ratchet or impact back there to tighten that, but it put it in bumper side. And B) the adjustable end of the panhard was at 38 7/16", then I got under the truck and it wouldn't fit like that so I just unscrewed it to where it would fit properly, so it's not really 38 7/16"

 

[JRZEE2000TR4LTD]

But he said he installed it with the weight on the axle/tires/rear end/suspension/whatever you want to refer to it as, and unless he forced it to one side or the other, the axle should rest at center.


I agree there shouldn't be, but if it's off-center at rest- something is wrong.
If you have your truck on level ground- on its own weight, with no panhard- the axle should be VERY close to center. Close enough that you wouldn't be able to tell it's off unless it's on an alignment rack.
If you adjust your panhard such that you can slide both bolts in without prying anything, it should be VERY close to center.

I gotcha. I just didn't read anywhere where he said it wasn't centered without the bar.

You're right about the bolts sliding out easily when the bar is adjusted correctly. That's what I noticed about mine although that wan't my goal after seeing it. After I thought about it, it made sense.

 

[fourfive]

The install instructions told me to put it to I think it was 38 7/16" and that's what I didn before I got under the truck. Then I struggled to get the old one off and when I was putting the new one on I A) the instructions told me to put the bolt in from the coil side, but there was NO way I could fit a ratchet or impact back there to tighten that, but it put it in bumper side. And B) the adjustable end of the panhard was at 38 7/16", then I got under the truck and it wouldn't fit like that so I just unscrewed it to where it would fit properly, so it's not really 38 7/16"

I think you may have misunderstood the install instructions. He states to use the 1" mark on the tape measure in the center bolt hole as the starting point & the other end of the bolt hole will show 38+. If you use the 1" mark on the tape measure then the total length of the bar (center bolt hole to center bolt hole) should actually be 37+. I think he suggests using the 1" mark instead of the 0 because the 1" will be a clearer & more defined point to see on the tape measure.

 

[reelamin]

I think you may have misunderstood the install instructions. He states to use the 1" mark

LOL...Cut and inch....will mess with people all the time. I even catch myself forgetting I cut an inch at times. No question the most accurate way to use a tape measure

 

[Tyler James Inc]

Well, that would certainly make a difference. We say "burn an inch".

 

[fourfive]

If you have your truck on level ground- on its own weight, with no panhard- the axle should be VERY close to center. Close enough that you wouldn't be able to tell it's off unless it's on an alignment rack.
If you adjust your panhard such that you can slide both bolts in without prying anything, it should be VERY close to center.

The best way to align it is remove the stock bar. Lift rear end in the air. The axle should recenter when no bar is installed. Measure from panhard mounting bolt hole left to right to the the amount you need to adjust the bar too.
Install the bar and drop her down.

Damn, both methods seem like a logical way of getting a baseline centered axle when adjusting the panhard. Wish you guys could have read my mind and suggested this several weeks ago when I was trying to find out if my axle was truly centered with my panhard adjusted to SS recommended length. I had it lengthened to SS guidelines but thought that visually my axle still looked like it was slightly off center. I used 2 long levels using my fender flare and center wheel hub as my measuring points & it turned out my axle was centered the whole time per SS recommended length (even though I thought it LOOKED off).

I was able to slide the bolts in/out by hand with all 4 wheels on the ground when I removed my panhard last weekend to refresh the paint. I guess that will help confirm that my axle is as centered as it can be without actually getting a rear wheel alignment. I appreciate the insight.

 

[JRZEE2000TR4LTD]

Damn, both methods seem like a logical way of getting a baseline centered axle when adjusting the panhard. Wish you guys could have read my mind and suggested this several weeks ago when I was trying to find out if my axle was truly centered with my panhard adjusted to SS recommended length. I had it lengthened to SS guidelines but thought that visually my axle still looked like it was slightly off center. I used 2 long levels using my fender flare and center wheel hub as my measuring points & it turned out my axle was centered the whole time per SS recommended length (even though I thought it LOOKED off).

I was able to slide the bolts in/out by hand with all 4 wheels on the ground when I removed my panhard last weekend to refresh the paint. I guess that will help confirm that my axle is as centered as it can be without actually getting a rear wheel alignment. I appreciate the insight.

Just to be clear, you don't actually get a rear wheel alignment, you align the front with the rear so you track straight. If you've had an alignment while the axle was not centered it might have affected your front alignment a little, although I doubt it would be enough to notice.

 

[fourfive]

Just to be clear, you don't actually get a rear wheel alignment, you align the front with the rear so you track straight. If you've had an alignment while the axle was not centered it might have affected your front alignment a little, although I doubt it would be enough to notice.

I should have clarified, I meant having the rear axle centered at an alignment shop.

 

[mtbtim]

When [MENTION=102606]infamousRNR[/MENTION] and I installed a Toytec lift for [MENTION=146244]phokingchink[/MENTION], we took the old panhard bar out, put in the adjustable one and put the rear wheels back on. To get the rearend centered, we simply measured from the frame to the outer part of the tire tread. We made the necessary adjustment by twisting the panhard bar the appropriate direction. We'd re-measure, adjust a little more until the length from the frame to the outer part of the tread was equal on both sides. We tightened the lock nuts and we were all done.

Unless i'm missing something, this seemed like a pretty straight forward process to me.

Here's the video we made of installing the lift on Eric's rig. Go to play time 1:10:15 to watch part of the footage of the panhard bar installation. Then go to play time 1:17:11 to see what I'm talking about how we checked for the correct alignment of the rearend.

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