Hi Derek,
A Panhard rod, although perhaps not the ideal solution, is a pretty good
system for limiting left /right movement of the rear axle of cars with a
live rear axle or De Dion rear suspension. It is not recommended for
cars with a lot of rear suspension travel as the change in length as it
travels through its arc will produce a rear axle steering effect over
bumps. However the Panhard rod works pretty well on pre '65 Healeys, as
the rear suspension travel is very limited and the rod is almost
horizontal in the normal ride condition.
I chose to install an improved one on AHX12 which can be seen in these
pics. http://www.acmefluid.com.au/larry/ahx12-1.html
That car handles better than any Healey I have ever driven.
It is actually quite easy to install a more complex and heavier Watt's
Linkage system using the very center of the diff housing as the center
for the vertical link but having tried both in competition I can
honestly say that the difference is virtually undetectable.
Michael Salter
www.precisionsportscar.com
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-healeys@autox.team.net [mailto:owner-healeys@autox.team.net]
On Behalf Of derek job
Sent: Wednesday, May 19, 2004 5:57 PM
To: Healey List
Subject: Panhard Rod
I was feeling bored so he's a question for you.
my car has been running without a panhard rod since Ive had it. A couple
of
years ago I was talking to a hot rod friend who didnt think much of
them. said
they affected the handling.
I was recently reading article by a guy who owns a Sunbeam Tiger that he
races. he said that that we he accelerates hard out of a corner the
panhard
rod starts steering the car!
So the questions
Apart from "locating the rear axle" what does the panhard rod do?
In normal driving does it matter if you have one or not?
If racing are there plusses and minuses?
just asking out of interest
cheers
Derek Job
58 BN4
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