[tanshi]

As some of you know i am looking at trying to make my lj ute a bit more capable at speed on the rough stuff.

Ive decided that i might have a go at setting up a panhard on the front of it.

Ive looked around a bit and know that i need to keep it in phase with the drag link but are there any other "must haves" when it comes to setting one up to work at its optimum efficiency??

[tanshi]

so i can find it later
http://www.afcoracing.com/tech_pages/panhard.shtml

[droverdave]

What about a watts link?

My initial response is that the watts links would be better for large suspension movement as you wont get the lateral movememnt like you get in a panhard rod.

[tanshi]

Im going to be extremely cramped at the front end with the steering components, narrow chassis rails and engine sump already.

I understand what your saying but im not going to get crazy front end travel with leaves any way, panhard works for winch comp patrols and they manage some pretty impressive speeds.

[Gwagensteve]

A watts link will bump steer quite badly when used in the front. A panhard rod should result in close to zero bumpsteer, which is a much better outcome than leaves alone.

Steve.

[droverdave]

How does a watt link cause bumpsteer? (admitedly ive only seen them on the rear of cars)

edit: answer found. http://powerstrokenation.com/forums/arc ... 43516.html

Hang on, doesnt the diff (standard setup) go up and down in a straight line anyway? (springs can only go up and down?).

i just read your post again steve, i think you are saying that yes they do bump steer without a panhard rod, and if you match the panhard rod arc to the drag link arc, then you should get zero bump steer. Which makes sense.

[Gwagensteve]

That's what I'm saying. A panhard can improve bumpsteer from stock, a watts link can't.

Steve.

[31zook]

Big dropped pitman arm, then match the panhard to the draglink. As close to 0° as possible.

I need to find a dropped pitman arm for my jimny to take a little of the bump steer out of it...

EDIT: Mud-Pig has one in his tintop maybe chat with him...

[tanshi]

drop pitman arm is easy, i have an 80 series pitman arm to use if i want to.

at the moment the one i have on it is dead flat as im wating to keep it low and the 80 series pitman arm makes the drag link run up hill to the diff in stead of down.

[SierraDan]

As close to the same length as drag link.
Parallel to draglink.

Main things to consider.
Not sure about LJ's or yours in particular. But ive found some room in the front of my Sierra, man there's some lateral movement with steering!

[tanshi]

so you think as long as they are parallel and the same length it wont matter too much if the ends sit along the same verticle plane aswell?