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Another question I have relates to the panhard bar. Is bending the panhard bar not a good thing? Also, is mounting the panhard bar at an angle (frame side more toward rear of car) an ok thing? We did this to make room for exhaust. I realize it needs to be parallel to the rearend in order to lessen lateral travel. HELP!
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Ideally, the PHB should be parallel to the ground, and a straight piece of tubing for a couple of reasons. One, if it is parallel, the rear will move the same amount laterally for a given bump/droop amount, so it keeps it better "centered" in the car relative to a slanted one. Two, and this directly applies to your question about a PHB being bent, tubes do a wonderful job at handling loads that are applied straight down the tube (i.e. compressive, or tensile). They don't like bending loads nearly as much, especially if they are not supported to handle them. By slanting the PHB at static ride height, you are introducing a bending moment to the tube, which may or may not be an issue depending upon how far it is tilted. Further, in the case of the bent bar, the localized straing in the area of the bend is going to depend upon how big a of a bend is there, bigger being worse.
The circle track guys frequently use a variation of the PHB called a "J bar," it's really short, bent big time, and mounted assymetrically: murder on a street or road car that has to turn both directions. They can get away with it though in that they only need to turn one way in anger.
Mark