With a 5" rear drop, is it necessary to use

[jeff1vol]

an adjustable panhard rod? I want to drop the rear of my '68 another inch or so and I'm getting mixed information from vendors. Any information would be appreciated.
Thanks!

[jimmydean]

I was told anything lower than 4" would want an adjustable. But then anything lower than 6" and you want the Deluxe version.

You might just consider going the Deluxe route in case you decide to go lower or bag it later.

[whatnow123]

I don't know the answer to this as mine has one already since it came with the truck. But what I would do is measure the frame to the wheel on both sides as it sits to see if the rear is centered now (I'm guessing it isn't) then tossing enough weight in the back for the desired stance and do it again. I'm guessing there is going to be a significant difference between the two measurements to warrant purchasing an adjustable one.

BTW, mine was off more than an inch when I measured mine, but not thinking I did it with the bed off, now I have a fuel tank back there as well so I guess I'm going to be doing it again once the truck is back together. Duh.....

[jsbgump]

Yes you will need one. Anytime you go more than 4 in lower it is recondmended to run a adjustable panhard so that the rear end can be correctly centered.

[raggedjim]

Jeff, it all depends on how your truck is dropped. If you have 4" drop springs you can add a 1 or 2 inch block and won't have to worry about the bar or shock relocators.

If you try to get 5 or 6 inches of drop with springs only you will need those.

You will get many different opinions on this... I'm going from personal experience.

Rg

[Bamm]

Heck, I've got 4" drop springs and I bought one. Was it "necessary", probably not, but and someone correct me if I am wrong, for every inch you drop your rear, the new angle of the stock "fixed position" panhard bar pushes the rear over, making it off centered that inch or something close to it? Am I right in this fella's?........Jerry

[dave2953]

I have 5" drop springs in the rear of my 68. When I had the bed off a while back, you could stand at the rear of the truck and see the change in the position of the driveshaft. The rearend is pushed over quite a lot.

[FarmTruk]

Originally Posted by raggedjim

Jeff, it all depends on how your truck is dropped. If you have 4" drop springs you can add a 1 or 2 inch block and won't have to worry about the bar or shock relocators.

If you try to get 5 or 6 inches of drop with springs only you will need those.

You will get many different opinions on this... I'm going from personal experience.

Rg

Rg, I humbley disagree with ya'. I wouldn't think the "method" of the drop would have any bearing, only the total amount dropped. The frame's position relative to the axle is the same either way...am I wrong ?

[raggedjim]

Farm truck, after thinking about this for awhile I came to this conclusion, I was about halfway right! The only thing that would be affected by the method of drop would be shock relocators because they connect to the trailing arms (if you use drop blocks the position of the axle changes, but not the position on the trailing arms).

I was wrong about the panhard bar. No matter how the drop is done the axle goes up and since the panhard bar attaches to the axle the rear end gets pushed over. I apologize for any confusion and want to thank you for making me take the time to really think about this ( I hate having misconceptions more than I hate being wrong!)

I'm going to have to take a better look at my trucks. They are all 6" drop in the rear using 4" springs and 2" blocks with no adjustable bar. I've never noticed the rear being to one side (It would be closer to the passengers in theory) but it could be...

Thanks, Rg

[Joe67]

Originally Posted by jeff1vol

an adjustable panhard rod? I want to drop the rear of my '68 another inch or so and I'm getting mixed information from vendors. Any information would be appreciated.
Thanks!

As stated, yes you would need one.

Give the tech team at Early Classic a call, they are VERY helpful

[XXL]

Originally Posted by jsbgump

Yes you will need one. Anytime you go more than 4 in lower it is recondmended to run a adjustable panhard so that the rear end can be correctly centered.

The only value in adjustable is that it can help you center it... once. After that, you won't ever need to adjust. Also, if you're doing a static drop, you don't need the longer bar. The value of the longer Panhard bar is that, on bagged or hydraulic (adjustable) suspensions, which have more travel than you might see on a sprung vehicle, the shift caused by the Panhard bar's arc is more evident. On a static suspension, with realistic to-to-bottom travel being ~3", the tighter arc of a shorter bar (like the stock unit) won't be noticed.

[raggedjim]

Anyone know the length of the stock bar? Or the angle the stock bar is with no drop?

I'm trying to work this out...

[68speedalert]

I may have an adjustable bar for sale, if interested. Brand new from GMCPaul's.

[Spray-Bomb]

Don't know if this helps or not, but I bagged my 66 pickup bed trailer and didn't really notice any problems

The axle rests on the bump stops, so I cut them down to about an inch

But it doesn't have a drive-shaft to worry about

If ya'll want I'll get some pics