Review: Delta VS Panhard Lift Bracket

[IanB]

Received and installed mine last night as well, install took about an hour as I also loosened and retorqued the panhard and lateral links while I was under there. Truck feels almost like it got a rear swaybar upgrade, corners more confidently, rear suspension cycles up and down without the tail wag I'd always just compensated for.

I had to jack the rear up higher than the instructions called for so the lateral link bolt would clear the coil spring, but otherwise it went smoothly.

 

[Nay]

The thing people are leaving out here is having the bar lateral at stock length means your tires will stuff equally on both sides.

If your clearances are really tight, this may matter. I’m considering it for this reason now that I’m running a 3/4” larger 37 (Cooper STT Pro) and getting a bit of contact on the driver’s side where it will stuff further out by the extended length of the adjustable panhard.

Edit: just bought one. I may keep my adjustable panhard if I think it still makes a difference, or if not the stock one comes back out of the spare parts bin.

 

[-Spike-]

I may keep my adjustable panhard if I think it still makes a difference, or if not the stock one comes back out of the spare parts bin.

The adjustable is nice to align the panhard ends with the mounts if you have changed the angle of your pinion.

 

[VuickB6]

Sooooooo... @Delta VS or @LandCruiserPhil, where do I get one for a 4" lift? I don't see options on either website.

 

[baldilocks]

The thing people are leaving out here is having the bar lateral at stock length means your tires will stuff equally on both sides.

If your clearances are really tight, this may matter. I’m considering it for this reason now that I’m running a 3/4” larger 37 (Cooper STT Pro) and getting a bit of contact on the driver’s side where it will stuff further out by the extended length of the adjustable panhard.

Edit: just bought one. I may keep my adjustable panhard if I think it still makes a difference, or if not the stock one comes back out of the spare parts bin.

What size did you order? Size matters here.

 

[baldilocks]

Sooooooo... @Delta VS or @LandCruiserPhil, where do I get one for a 4" lift? I don't see options on either website.

I had some emails with Dave at Delta and found out that anything over a three inch riser bracket is made to order.

 

[nukegoat]

The thing people are leaving out here is having the bar lateral at stock length means your tires will stuff equally on both sides.

Thats not exactly true. In that case, when you stuff the driver side and droop the passenger side, ceteris paribus, the arc of the panhard forces the entire axle to the passenger side. In the reverse- the passenger stuffed and driver drooped- you still shove the whole axle to the passenger side. How much droop and stuff will affect how significant a translation you end up with.

But overall its closer to symmetric than otherwise.

 

[LandCruiserPhil]

Sooooooo... @Delta VS or @LandCruiserPhil, where do I get one for a 4" lift? I don't see options on either website.

What is your measurement from the center of your rear hub to underside of your fender?

 

[VuickB6]

What is your measurement from the center of your rear hub to underside of your fender?

I'm at work right now and don't have a tape measure but was able to improvise. Looks to be ~22.5".

 

[LandCruiserPhil]

I'm at work right now and don't have a tape measure but was able to improvise. Looks to be ~22.5".

The 3" will be perfect

 

[VuickB6]

Thanks, just ordered one.

 

[Nay]

Thats not exactly true. In that case, when you stuff the driver side and droop the passenger side, ceteris paribus, the arc of the panhard forces the entire axle to the passenger side. In the reverse- the passenger stuffed and driver drooped- you still shove the whole axle to the passenger side. How much droop and stuff will affect how significant a translation you end up with.

But overall its closer to symmetric than otherwise.

Yep, true with a horizontal panhard, although way more minimal than having a ~3/8” longer panhard at an angle stuffing on the driver’s side where the almost all of the arc is pushing the longer bar driver’s side.

I only need about 1/4” relief so this should serve the purpose. I could also just cut (more) s***, but this is seemingly more elegant while addressing the angles.

 

[Nay]

What size did you order? Size matters here.

There was no option provided. Assume it’s the standard 3”.

I have 4.5” of lift, but I’m not obsessing about super fine tuning. I need to relieve the DS side extension of an adjustable panhard for full stuff fitment on that side and couldn’t care less about a bit of remaining angle.

I’ll keep my adjustable for the fine tuning bits.

 

[baldilocks]

If you contact Delta VS, they will make a bracket specific to your needs and you need more than a three inch riser in order to get the most out of your investment. When I do this, I’m going with a 5” riser. We came to this determination when I provided Dave at Delta with my hub to fender dimension of roughly 25.5” if not a tad bit more. @Nay

 

[nquillen]

Any suggestion on what to do when the old captive nut on the axle for the panhard breaks loose when you are tightening it? It is fully boxed in and I cant get to the backside...

P.S. might also want to note in the instructions that the ABS wire has to move while installing.

 

[Delta VS]

Any suggestion on what to do when the old captive nut on the axle for the panhard breaks loose when you are tightening it? It is fully boxed in and I cant get to the backside...

P.S. might also want to note in the instructions that the ABS wire has to move while installing.

That sounds bad dream inducing. Looked closely at the spare axle at the shop and the best (only?) possible solution looks like taking a holesaw to the underside of that perch. 1” or 1-1/4” would probably be enough. The challenge will be to get through both layers of steel. The biggest one you feel comfortable with would be best. This method will leave you with a way to remove in the future if needed.

Instructions will be noted, thank you for the feedback.

 

[Nay]

If you contact Delta VS, they will make a bracket specific to your needs and you need more than a three inch riser in order to get the most out of your investment. When I do this, I’m going with a 5” riser. We came to this determination when I provided Dave at Delta with my hub to fender dimension of roughly 25.5” if not a tad bit more. @Nay

Installed my bracket. I definitely like the improved handling - it’s tighter with the raised bar and a greater improvement than I was expecting.

I think the 3” is perfect for my 4.5” lift. On DS compression the bar will move through an arc to horizontal and then back a bit to where it is at static ride height. Improving DS side tire stuff was my primary reasoning for doing this mod and the geometry gain is there for road use. I personally wouldn’t worry about trying to raise it more unless I had materially more lift.

For an install tip, I just lifted the DS with my hi-lift jack under the slider to extend and partially unweight the coil, and then used a 4” bar to lever up the coil wind that’s still partially in the way to pull the stock bolt. Way easier than trying to droop it out of the way.

And yes, the ABS bracket has to move. I just zip tied it. Seems unnecessary, though, and that Delta could easily add 1/8” more clearance there.

Great mod

 

[baldilocks]

Installed my bracket. I definitely like the improved handling - it’s tighter with the raised bar and a greater improvement than I was expecting.

I think the 3” is perfect for my 4.5” lift. On DS compression the bar will move through an arc to horizontal and then back a bit to where it is at static ride height. Improving DS side tire stuff was my primary reasoning for doing this mod and the geometry gain is there for road use. I personally wouldn’t worry about trying to raise it more unless I had materially more lift.

View attachment 1747139

For an install tip, I just lifted the DS with my hi-lift jack under the slider to extend and partially unweight the coil, and then used a 4” bar to lever up the coil wind that’s still partially in the way to pull the stock bolt. Way easier than trying to droop it out of the way.

View attachment 1747157

And yes, the ABS bracket has to move. I just zip tied it. Seems unnecessary, though, and that Delta could easily add 1/8” more clearance there.

View attachment 1747159

Great mod

Good info. I spoke to DVS and provided measurements, they advised the 5” bracket. My Slee 4” HD progressive coils lift my rig more than 5” when unloaded, which is the case most of the time. I have room for a 5” rise based on my home made bumpstop drops. And, actually, I’m debating just making my own riser anyway. I know the DVS unit is a very nice, simple solution but I would enjoy the project.

 

[alia176]

If you contact Delta VS, they will make a bracket specific to your needs and you need more than a three inch riser in order to get the most out of your investment. When I do this, I’m going with a 5” riser. We came to this determination when I provided Dave at Delta with my hub to fender dimension of roughly 25.5” if not a tad bit more. @Nay

Can you attach a pic like mine below so that we can get an idea of the current angle? Just curious, nothing scientific here! It's not hard to compare the rear sway bar angle vs the panhard angle just to get the delta.

I have a 4" Slee linear lift from back in '07 I think, not sure how tired it is by now.

 

[baldilocks]

Can you attach a pic like mine below so that we can get an idea of the current angle? Just curious, nothing scientific here! It's not hard to compare the rear sway bar angle vs the panhard angle just to get the delta.

I have a 4" Slee linear lift from back in '07 I think, not sure how tired it is by now.

View attachment 1747174

From the photos you can see that mine appear to be considerblay taller than yours. I bought the springs second hand three years ago and was told they were 5 years old then.

Also, know that I run a DC rear shaft so the pinion is rotated upward a good bit.

Are your springs heavies or mediums?