Hot Rods pan hard bar with leaf springs?

Thanx. I've got a lot to chew on now.

 

Don't over think it too much. [I'll do that for you ]

I've only given you an ideal scenario as an example. If you moved the mounting brackets inboard 2" each end [shortening the Panhard 4"] the consequences are minimal.

The great thing about a Panhard bar is during body roll it only moves 1/2 the amount of the body roll [one end is fixed height at the axle]

I'll give you an example/explanation.........
A 55 Chevy is 74" wide. If during a hard corner it lifted the inside 3" AND compressed the outside 3" it would have 4.65 deg of body roll [6" of body roll]
6" of body roll is a hell of a lot [enough to make you feel uncomfortable]

On a 55 Chevy the spring base is 48" wide, so the same 4.65 deg Body Roll would equal 1.946" of extension on the inside spring and 1.946" of compression on the outside spring.

Assuming the bar is normally horizontal when static ,And if the panhard bar was 48" long and mounted as described previously ^^^ It would only move either up [or down] 1.946" from horizontal.

Because the axle pivot height never changes a 48" long panhard bar only moves 2.324 deg from horizontal for 4.65 deg of Body Roll . [It also arcs inwards 0.039"]

NOW if you shortened the Panhard bar to 44" [to fit inside the frame rails]
The same 4.65 deg Body Roll would equal 1.784" of extension [or compression] measured at the frame pivot.
a 44" long panhard bar moves the same 2.324 deg for 4.65 deg of Body Roll . [But it surprisingly arcs inwards 0.036"] [3 thou less]
So the sideways movement during body roll is less with a shorter bar
[The explanation is simple trigonometry. The 2 bars create exactly the same shape triangle, but the shorter bar is a smaller triangle]

This doesn't mean shorter is better [ these ^^^ calculations only apply to body roll]
In a straight line 3" of compression over a bump is the same regardless of the Panhard bar length.
A 48" long panhard bar will arc back 0.094" with 3" of compression.
Whereas A 44" long panhard bar will arc back 0.103" with 3" of compression. An increase of 8 thou.

If you use the correct rubber bushes ,the differences are a moot point.

I would be more concerned about your intended use of ladder bars on a street driven vehicle [Don't do it!]

 

...now that’s a bunch less welding!!

 

I totally agree!

 

Correct. You don't want to use the Panhard bar to shove the axle one way or the other @ static ride height. Starting with bar bound up puts a load on the spring bushings all the time & all other pivots. May also respond differently from turning left to right. Maybe not, But is is possible. Center the axle or repair fender opening, or what ever is the main issue. With a Panhard bar you want to start out with the suspension not bound @ static ride height. Keep in mind, as soon as the axle moves up & down with a Panhard bar, a small amount of binding will occur, generally not enough to be an issue, depending on suspension travel that is.

 

@1962 comet gtr did you finish the bar? would appreciate seeing how it came out. thanks