Panhard drop bracket option?

[Tex68w]

Adding the 10mm OME trim packer/spacer will do the trick. Which side is lower for you? The driver side rear spring is super easy to access. The passenger side takes a little but more effort with disconnecting the kdss sway bar.

Here's that spring data info:

Rear spring recommendation

Passenger rear is lower

 

[linuxgod]

Passenger rear is lower

If you have a spring compressor available, the whole thing is easy and takes <30 minutes

1. Climb under vehicle and put the spring compressor on the spring. You won't be able to get the whole spring but you'll be able to get like 5 of the 8 wraps
2. Unbolt shock from the axle and slide it off
3. Jack up vehicle at frame so the spring stretches.
4. Slide spring down, put spacer on top, slide back into position
5. Lower vehicle, making sure the spring fits back into the perch correctly
6. Reattach shock, remove spring compressor

Seriously, I hate trying to get the sway bar back into position when I remove it from the axle or disconnect at the end link, but the above was surprisingly easy. If you had something better than the cheap compressor I bought off Amazon a few years ago you might even be able to do it without detaching the shock, however the fat end on the one I used prevented me from squeezing enough coil to avoid that. Still, not having to even open the KDSS valves was a win.

Amazon product ASIN B000CMDPLM

 

[DJCloz]

Like @linuxgod I too have been through a few different rear spring rates and l after installing my rear panhard bracket, removing and reinstalling the passenger rear became a real pain in the ass! Typically a rear spring swap on my 200 was a 25 min job on my garage floor ( including jacking it up/ tire removal/ ect). When I most recently went from 880lbs + coils to 220lbs+ that bracket just doesn't make it easy at all to get the coil in or out. I had painted my ironman coils blue to go better with my king shocks and I scratch the crap out of them during install.
P.s. here is a picture of the 880+ coils in green and 220 in blue and they are about exactly the same size according to the level I out straight across .

 

[AnyMal]

I done told all yall over and over! Equal rates in the rear!!!!

The ones you see with a/b are all australian products (or copy cats).

LHD cruisers need equal rear coils!!!
Ill die on this hill, and punish this horse!

Lol but i did done told yall…
All yall!

You can trim pack @Tex68w but also the matching RR coil (tall) is cheap and easy.

Its a factory “oversight” and actually your AHC/KDSS will thank you for it.

 

[kcjaz]

Like @linuxgod I too have been through a few different rear spring rates and l after installing my rear panhard bracket, removing and reinstalling the passenger rear became a real pain in the ass! Typically a rear spring swap on my 200 was a 25 min job on my garage floor ( including jacking it up/ tire removal/ ect). When I most recently went from 880lbs + coils to 220lbs+ that bracket just doesn't make it easy at all to get the coil in or out. I had painted my ironman coils blue to go better with my king shocks and I scratch the crap out of them during install.
P.s. here is a picture of the 880+ coils in green and 220 in blue and they are about exactly the same size according to the level I out straight across .

View attachment 3250906

I’m about to install the panhard bracket and was looking at it thinking “I wonder if I’ll be able to get the coil out after the bracket goes in.” I looks like I’d have to remove the shock and pull the coil out the front side of the axle. How did you do it?

 

[linuxgod]

I done told all yall over and over! Equal rates in the rear!!!!

The ones you see with a/b are all australian products (or copy cats).

LHD cruisers need equal rear coils!!!
Ill die on this hill, and punish this horse!

Lol but i did done told yall…
All yall!

You can trim pack @Tex68w but also the matching RR coil (tall) is cheap and easy.

Its a factory “oversight” and actually your AHC/KDSS will thank you for it.

Maybe your LX does. My LC got a longer coil on the passengers side and it STILL needed a 10mm trim packer to get it level. If they were equal length I would’ve been a full inch taller on one side

 

[kcjaz]

Maybe your LX does. My LC got a longer coil on the passengers side and it STILL needed a 10mm trim packer to get it level. If they were equal length I would’ve been a full inch taller on one side

Same here. I’m 1/2” lower on passenger side even with taller coil on that side. IMO, that’s not enough to bother fixing as I don’t notice it without a tape measure.

 

[linuxgod]

Same here. I’m 1/2” lower on passenger side even with taller coil on that side. IMO, that’s not enough to bother fixing as I don’t notice it without a tape measure.

I lived with my initial setup being 1/2” off for years. I would not have fixed it except I’m just OCD enough about stuff like that it bothers me sometimes, and I’d already pulled the truck apart to do the new springs so I get committed to getting it perfect.

 

[kcjaz]

Dry fitted my bracket. Had to do a bit of grinding to get it to fit. I’m going to bevel the edges a bit after I talk to the welder.

 

[kcjaz]

I lived with my initial setup being 1/2” off for years. I would not have fixed it except I’m just OCD enough about stuff like that it bothers me sometimes, and I’d already pulled the truck apart to do the new springs so I get committed to getting it perfect.

I’m the last guy to judge anyone’s OCD! I just taped off the weld edges of my panhard bracket before painting it so not to have paint in the welds.

 

[Tex68w]

I lived with my initial setup being 1/2” off for years. I would not have fixed it except I’m just OCD enough about stuff like that it bothers me sometimes, and I’d already pulled the truck apart to do the new springs so I get committed to getting it perfect.

Yep, same here. I'll have the trim packer installed the next time it goes to the shop. Funny enough, I ordered it yesterday and it arrived today.

 

[kcjaz]

Yep, same here. I'll have the trim packer installed the next time it goes to the shop. Funny enough, I ordered it yesterday and it arrived today.

Ok guys, I guess I’ll go order mine too…

 

[AnyMal]

Maybe your LX does. My LC got a longer coil on the passengers side and it STILL needed a 10mm trim packer to get it level. If they were equal length I would’ve been a full inch taller on one side

Well not my just LX, every single LX I’ve ever seen…

But what do you mean about your LC? You had a tall USA passenger side rear coil and a short driver side, and your passenger side was LOWER than the driver?
How is that even possible? Are you talking fully loaded or even when stock? New or old springs?

Genuinely curious at this point, not doubting your experience.

 

[BadReligion]

Dry fitted my bracket. Had to do a bit of grinding to get it to fit. I’m going to bevel the edges a bit after I talk to the welder.

View attachment 3251645View attachment 3251646View attachment 3251647

Looks like my afternoon. I had to do a bit of grinding too but I would not worry about beveling it. Definitely pull the ABS line from the sensor and a few of the clips that hold it to the axle. I also had the coil removed so I could weld up the rear and even with the coil out, access was still a little tough. Not my best looking weld on the back, but it got the job done.

I have about 2.5" of lift on the rear and bolted the panhard in the middle position. Before the bracket, there was noticeable rear end"sway" at highway speed if you hit a dip. Completely gone now.

 

[BadReligion]

One other note. With the new panhard bracket, the coil now has to be removed/inserted from the front of the coil perch. With the rear lower shock bolt removed, along with disconnecting the KDSS bar, there is room. Like @linuxgod mentioned, a set of coil compressors would not be a bad idea for future removal/insertion, especially if you are doing it by yourself.

 

[kcjaz]

Looks like my afternoon. I had to do a bit of grinding too but I would not worry about beveling it. Definitely pull the ABS line from the sensor and a few of the clips that hold it to the axle. I also had the coil removed so I could weld up the rear and even with the coil out, access was still a little tough. Not my best looking weld on the back, but it got the job done.

I have about 2.5" of lift on the rear and bolted the panhard in the middle position. Before the bracket, there was noticeable rear end"sway" at highway speed if you hit a dip. Completely gone now.

Great pics! I was wondering about the backside access and was thinking spring removal would be the best. Is it possible to weld the inside of the bracket?

 

[jkeithw]

Dry fitted my bracket. Had to do a bit of grinding to get it to fit. I’m going to bevel the edges a bit after I talk to the welder.

 

[jkeithw]

Looks like my afternoon. I had to do a bit of grinding too but I would not worry about beveling it.

(I'd bevel the edges - better for penetration.)

 

[jkeithw]

having trouble with multi-quote this morning! - Where are you guys having to grind it? (and what years are your trucks? - might be able to identify the difference between the truck I tested on and tweak it a bit)

 

[jkeithw]

I have about 2.5" of lift on the rear and bolted the panhard in the middle position. Before the bracket, there was noticeable rear end"sway" at highway speed if you hit a dip. Completely gone now.

Glad that it's working well for you!