So the T has around 1k miles on it now. I am tired of the random death lunges it does all the time. I need a panhard bar but didn't want to weld or drill holes in my shiny frame. I know ideally the panhard should go all the way to the frame rail but I made a compromise just to see if one would help. Well it helps a lot and works just fine. Here's what I came up with.
That's clever. Let us know how it works out. It doesn't look like you have a damper on there. That might help too: http://www.socalsac.com/SO-CAL-Speed-Shop-Steering-Stabilizer-p/socal001418-.htm
I have thought about a damper but I wanted to try a fix before I just masked the issue. I drive it about 15 miles last night and the steering feels much more predictable and responsive. I am really happy with the difference it made. Now I just have to track down the nasty shake it seems to have developed. I'm thinking I threw a weight off a wheel or something.
Dustan, Keep in mind there are reasons why the panhard bar extends to the frame. Think of the rotation of the axle in an off camber turn and body roll. with that short of a panhard bar you may be putting undue stress on the axle mounting and it could be contributing to the nasty shake you are experiencing. You may want to pull the panhard bar off to test if you still have the shake... From Wiki: "The advantage of the Panhard rod is its simplicity. Its major disadvantage is that the axle must necessarily move in an arc relative to the body, with the radius equal to the length of the Panhard rod. If the rod is too short, it allows excessive sideways movement between the axle and the body at the ends of the spring travel. Therefore, the Panhard rod is less desirable on smaller cars than larger ones."
Thanks, but the car had a bad shake and darted all over prior to the bar and the bar made the car drive a lot better. I understand how it works and I know this way isn't ideal but it seems to be driving much better after the bar was installed. Also I have very limited spring movement in the front anyways so the shorter rod probably isn't horrible. I made the bar as long as possible by making my bracket angle out toward the drivers side as much as I could.
Pretty sure I have figured out my shake. Spun the rear tires when it was on the lift and they appear to not be round.
Geesh can't believe I read that all lol. A few things I'm surprised no one brought up * you might be getting heating issues because your fan is to low in regards to the center of the radiator.Im not about to scroll back but it stuck in my head as looking low so if I'm wrong never mind. Anyhow what of it if it is low? A bunch of people seem to run into this in 32's for some reason I'm not aware of and they use a ZIP's water pump riser to get the fan centered. * the grill being pushed out front to drop it looks ok with a hood on it via the photo shop, honestly I like the whole car better with that hood mocked up on it. But yeah with out the hood it's a bit weird. And the big one!. When you came up stumped with how you'd get away with running the bottom hose when it looks like you'd have to go between the spring and the axle . That's not an uncommon problem and what I see use, made?, to fix that is... Well I guess a neck riser. I'm not sure what else to call it. Imagine metal box about the size of a deck of cards, a hose size hole on either flat side but on opposite ends, and enough of a lip on the holes to put a hose and clamp on. Like a radiator hose Z. Seems like it would slow flow down but I see them used often so they must be alright? Just stuff that stuck out as worth mentioning
Crude drawing of a riser. I've seen them machined, one piece, two piece, welded. Doesn't seem to matter how it's made. On the rad being tall you could always just tell people it's set up to race hill climb events
I might look into making something like this if I keep the car long enough. The fan is low on the radiator so that sure doesn't help. I appreciate your thoughts.
No problem, I saw recently where someone built a pump riser themselves but it sure looked like a lot of work for something you can purchase
BTW: when someone tells me what they JUST hate about my ride, I often responded: Did you bring yer VW today, or yer mom's car ?
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