Can I remove Panhard rod safely?

[Eric_FJ40]

Can I remove the front panhard rod without the Cruiser shifting sideways? I know the control arms are a limiting factor - I don't want the truck to shift and the front springs to go flying.

I need to do some work on the bottom panhard mount on the axle - what's the best way to do this safely?

Eric

 

[LandCruiserPhil]

Yes you can but it is unstable. Put jack stands on the frame and you will be ok. In order to reinstall it you will more than likely need a rachet strap to get it back on.

 

[Darwood]

Or just turn the steering wheel which will shift the axle over allowing you to line up the holes. Just sitting there the truck should be fine without a panhard arm. Jack stands are probably a good idea, but I've pushed pretty hard on my truck with the panhard rod off, and it really doesn't move much.

 

[Eric_FJ40]

Thanks guys:

I'll need to see if I can get something tall enough to support the frame - my jackstands don't get that tall! Maybe time for some new ones...

 

[stayalert]

WooHoo!...Tool purchase rationalization at its best! I like the way you think. How many times are you willing to have the truck fall on you or almost fall on you?

 

[Eric_FJ40]

WooHoo!...Tool purchase rationalization at its best! I like the way you think. How many times are you willing to have the truck fall on you or almost fall on you?

Uh - I think one time is all it would take!

Seriously though, the 4 little jackstands I bought years ago do great for supporting the axle, but now that I have the FJ80 that is lifted 5" they don't cut if for anything else. I'll have to take some measurements and see where to get a pair of suitable jackstands for it.

 

[Cruiserdrew]

Eric-I pulled both panhard rods with no drama. I just left the truck on it's wheels. You don't need jack stands for this and I'm a safety freak. In fact, when the came out the truck didn't move at all. It was a little more difficult to re-install in the rear, but a friend was able to push to one side and then sit on the tailgate and they went back in. Good luck, but not a difficult job. 0.5

 

[Jim_Chow]

Uh - I think one time is all it would take!

Seriously though, the 4 little jackstands I bought years ago do great for supporting the axle, but now that I have the FJ80 that is lifted 5" they don't cut if for anything else. I'll have to take some measurements and see where to get a pair of suitable jackstands for it.

How about stacking some 4x4's underneath the stands? It's the poor-man's way of getting more height.

 

[Eric_FJ40]

How about stacking some 4x4's underneath the stands? It's the poor-man's way of getting more height.

Yeah, I thought of that too. A good solid stack - maybe screwed together in places so it wouldn't shift might do the job.

 

[cruiserdan]

If you do choose to try that DO IT ONLY ON A PERFECTLY FLAT CONCRETE SURFACE. In addition I would toss the tires under the frame rails to slow it down if it starts to go.

 

[Eric_FJ40]

If you do choose to try that DO IT ONLY ON A PERFECTLY FLAT CONCRETE SURFACE. In addition I would toss the tires under the frame rails to slow it down if it starts to go.

I always toss the tires under...

I just need to undo the bottom of the front trackbar and move it out of the way for a short time - the captured nut inside the mount is loose and the bolt tends to loosen there as well.

Dan, is there supposed to be a locknut on that bolt, because I don't see one on mine (previous-previous owner did the lift)?

 

[cruiserdan]

If you mean the axle housing-side of the panhard, No there is not. The bolt threads into the weled (captive) nut on the back side, that's it.

I assume your goal is to re-attach the nut then?

 

[firetruck41]

Definitely have some kind of jackstand/blocking under it, if you are working under it. I have been on a call where a guy lost part of his finger after a tranny dropped on it while working on/underneath his car, we also had a guy a couple years ago that was working under his car, his wife found him with legs sticking out and the car resting on him, he died. I wasn't on duty that day, thankfully, or I might not venture under my rig anymore

 

[Darwood]

If you somehow manage to get the car to fall on you when you disconnect the panhard arms and nothing else, well I'd like to know how you did it because you have talent!

 

[firetruck41]

If you somehow manage to get the car to fall on you when you disconnect the panhard arms and nothing else, well I'd like to know how you did it because you have talent!

I don't know how that would happen, not familiar enough with the Panhard rod and associated parts/connections, but if there is any chance the vehicle or part of it could shift and come down, or create a pinch/crush point between frame/axle or other parts, I recommend caution.

 

[cruiserdan]

If you somehow manage to get the car to fall on you when you disconnect the panhard arms and nothing else, well I'd like to know how you did it because you have talent!

Agreed but I think he also plans to remove the tires.

 

[Darwood]

Agreed but I think he also plans to remove the tires.

Well that's a completely different scenario. More like an axle removal.

Speaking of axles and jacking, where should I be jacking up on the front and rear of my axles and how do I get the jack stands on the frame when I jack up on a non centralized location?

I would tell you what I've been doing in the past, but I'm afraid of folks telling me I bent my axle housing.

 

[Eric_FJ40]

Agreed but I think he also plans to remove the tires.

Well - not exactly. I DO put the tires under the rig - like when I recently worked on the brakes (not breaks) but I don't think that the tires necessarily need to come off for this - yes, the ultimate goal is to reattach that nut.

I'm not a welder, but have been assured that either a stick welder or one of the wirefeed type could get into that little area and zap it in place quick-like.

Besides it being loose - I get a loud CLUNK periodically that reminds me I need to get under there, jam the nut with a big screwdriver and tighten the bolt again. It has not gotten unsafe, but I usually can eek out a little bit of a turn when re-tightening. I think loctite or a lock washer might be in order. Maybe the bushing there is bad too? What to do to keep that bolt tight?

suggestions?

 

[Arya Ebrahimi]

If you bend your axle housing by jacking on it, YOU have talent

Depending what the goal of the jacking is(minds out of the gutters guys ) I will either place the jack under the control arm at the axle, under the diff, or somewhere under the "tube". As for the placement of jackstands, I think the frame is plenty beefy to have the stands placed just about anywhere as long as the situation provides for a stable connection.

Ary

 

[Arya Ebrahimi]

Well - not exactly. I DO put the tires under the rig - like when I recently worked on the brakes (not breaks) but I don't think that the tires necessarily need to come off for this - yes, the ultimate goal is to reattach that nut.

I'm not a welder, but have been assured that either a stick welder or one of the wirefeed type could get into that little area and zap it in place quick-like.

Besides it being loose - I get a loud CLUNK periodically that reminds me I need to get under there, jam the nut with a big screwdriver and tighten the bolt again. It has not gotten unsafe, but I usually can eek out a little bit of a turn when re-tightening. I think loctite or a lock washer might be in order. Maybe the bushing there is bad too? What to do to keep that bolt tight?

suggestions?

Just went outside and looked at the mount. Damn that thing is beefy! Not much room to work in there though. I think if it were me I would enlarge the small existing hole to the point where I could get a wrench on the nut. Then I would take the bolt out, apply some loc-tite, and tighten that sucker down as hard as I could. I'm not an expert welder, but I have a decent amount of experience. Enough to know that getting an effective weld on that nut is going to be extremely difficult, if not impossible.

Ary