bad night for the GT CS. need some help
02-25-2009, 07:04 PM
#1
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 11
bad night for the GT CS. need some help
To make a long story short, I was turning over a road with a dip, after the dip the car got so light on its feet that the rear immediately 'snapped' loose and the rear driver side wheel met a curb. it basically hit the curb perpendicular. The problem is, it pushed the rear out of center. my panhard is bowed and the rear is sitting an inch or two towards the passenger side. i know the panhard is definitely going to need to be replaced from what i can see. as well as the rim. can any one offer some advice for what else i should check to see it if needs to be replaced? the lower control arms are surprisingly as straight as a ruler. I was thinking the upper control arm and mount might be bent as well? though i haven't had a chance to look at it in sunlight yet. has anyone experienced a similar situation? if the panhard is bent, then the other bar that supports the panhard should also need to be replaced correct? any help would be greatly appreciated. any nice adjustable panhards for sale might interest me !
03-01-2009, 08:53 AM
#2
5th Gear Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Small walk way by big walk way
Posts: 4,717
03-01-2009, 09:51 AM
#3
4th Gear Member
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location:
Posts: 1,538
To make a long story short, I was turning over a road with a dip, after the dip the car got so light on its feet that the rear immediately 'snapped' loose and the rear driver side wheel met a curb. it basically hit the curb perpendicular. The problem is, it pushed the rear out of center. my panhard is bowed and the rear is sitting an inch or two towards the passenger side. i know the panhard is definitely going to need to be replaced from what i can see. as well as the rim. can any one offer some advice for what else i should check to see it if needs to be replaced? the lower control arms are surprisingly as straight as a ruler. I was thinking the upper control arm and mount might be bent as well? though i haven't had a chance to look at it in sunlight yet. has anyone experienced a similar situation? if the panhard is bent, then the other bar that supports the panhard should also need to be replaced correct? any help would be greatly appreciated. any nice adjustable panhards for sale might interest me !
I would jack it up and check everything out. Just so you know it may be expensive and you could claim it as a accident though your insurance (your rate will go up though). Also, if you are going through your insurance, just bring it to a ford dealer. They will go out there and fix everything that needs to be replaced.
03-02-2009, 11:50 AM
#6
3rd Gear Member
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Chicago
Posts: 757
Wow, sorry to hear of this.
First, +1 on a very thorough run through of all the underpinnings, including the best assessment you can make of the basic frame/chassis condition.
Quick point, the bar that supports the panhard is a chassis brace that spans from one frame rail to the other. So, if you're lucky it did its job in reinforcing the frame and kept it intact. That would leave the panhard to do the work of keeping your axle located. The panhard's failure does not necessarily mean that it would have warped/bent the frame or panhard support. Of course, as others have pointed out, these parts are not that expensive and replacing yours (esp. if it's OEM) is well advised. Again, if you're lucky, the panhard absorbed enough of the load to leave all else safe.
Also, I wouldn't be surprised that the control arms are ok. If they're still OEM the rubber bushings have so much play that they probably just went with the flow. Your panhard had no assistance from any of these other components (they're not even designed to work in these planes regardless of bushing type) in resisting the impact.
Good luck!
Best,
-j
First, +1 on a very thorough run through of all the underpinnings, including the best assessment you can make of the basic frame/chassis condition.
Quick point, the bar that supports the panhard is a chassis brace that spans from one frame rail to the other. So, if you're lucky it did its job in reinforcing the frame and kept it intact. That would leave the panhard to do the work of keeping your axle located. The panhard's failure does not necessarily mean that it would have warped/bent the frame or panhard support. Of course, as others have pointed out, these parts are not that expensive and replacing yours (esp. if it's OEM) is well advised. Again, if you're lucky, the panhard absorbed enough of the load to leave all else safe.
Also, I wouldn't be surprised that the control arms are ok. If they're still OEM the rubber bushings have so much play that they probably just went with the flow. Your panhard had no assistance from any of these other components (they're not even designed to work in these planes regardless of bushing type) in resisting the impact.
Good luck!
Best,
-j
03-03-2009, 04:06 PM
#7
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 11
jahudso2 thanks for the pricing but i already ordered a J&M adjustable panhard for about 110 with free shipping. I'm thinking about just installing the new panhard myself then bringing it to a pro down the road if i have any problems. It is still driving fine with zero noise from the rear just a little to the side. Can any one come up with exact stock panhard measurements so i would know about where to set the aftermarket one for a starting point?
03-03-2009, 10:41 PM
#8
3rd Gear Member
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Chicago
Posts: 757
Hey DynamiteBlues,
My old notes indicate that the OEM bar is 41-3/4" eye-to-eye. That should get you close enough to either nail it (assuming you're not lowered) or require only minor adjustments. Keep in mind that even stock Mustangs have been reported to be within a variance, some guys go out and measure their bone stock cars only to realize their 1/4" off to one side (many guys are perfectly centered). Good luck and keep us informed.
Best,
-j
My old notes indicate that the OEM bar is 41-3/4" eye-to-eye. That should get you close enough to either nail it (assuming you're not lowered) or require only minor adjustments. Keep in mind that even stock Mustangs have been reported to be within a variance, some guys go out and measure their bone stock cars only to realize their 1/4" off to one side (many guys are perfectly centered). Good luck and keep us informed.
Best,
-j
