Injuneer 07-16-2003, 03:51 PM When I was removing my exhaust system, I removed the panhard rod brace to make things easier. Seemed fairly heavy. I have also been warned to notch the rear edge of the brace, above the preload bolts on the LPW cover on the 12-bolt, or if the car squats on launch, the brace is going to come down and hit the preload bolts. Appears this would be the case if the brace dropped about 2".
Anyone notched the brace to clear the rear cover?
Anyone removed the brace completely on a track-only car?
BigRick 07-16-2003, 04:01 PM If you talking about the bar/brace above the panhard rod bar, yes mine is gone.
Does it do anything? Is it worth removing on a street car?
Stephen 87 IROC 07-16-2003, 08:55 PM Mine is gone. On a street car I'd recommend keeping it. It's just one more brace to help keep everything aligned from cornering forces on the street.
On a drag car, get rid of it since the car is only going straight.
CSJTA 07-17-2003, 12:29 AM Mines been gone for years.
Originally posted by CSJTA
Mines been gone for years.
Is your car a street or strip car?
Injuneer 07-17-2003, 10:36 AM I guess it would be a good idea to keep it on a street car, at least if you plan on a lot of hard cornering. On a drag car, I would think side-to-side positioning of the body is still important, to keep the car pointed straight ahead. But I can't see the stock attachment point deflecting all that much with the up-and-down body movement being the main thing the panhard rod has to contend with.
Maybe a little sheet metal to box in the attachment point for the panhard rod, after the brace is removed. Seems like it is extremly heavy piece for what it does. Apparently no one who has removed it has seen any indication of anything bending without the brace????
I think its "gone". :)
THANKS!
Pro Stock John 07-17-2003, 11:03 AM I took mine off two years ago but I also installed an aftermarket PHB at that point. Everything under there looks okay.
383 Blwn Bird 07-17-2003, 12:16 PM I've removed mine. The car is a limited street car. The car weight is under 3000lbs with me in it. If it doesn't help me go faster in a straight line it gets tossed.
Kevin
CSJTA 07-17-2003, 01:23 PM Well mine use to be a street car, drove it for bout 2 years on the street without that brace, never had a problem, but never really thru the car into corners real hard, I wouldn't recommened removing it if you going auto x'ing.
Guido 07-17-2003, 03:23 PM Are you guys talking about the upper panhard bar???
Thats what I always called it. Is that the same thing as panhard bar brace??
yellow Z28 07-17-2003, 09:45 PM Mine is gone ...needed the room for the wheeliebar brackets ;)
quick91rs 07-17-2003, 11:47 PM Mine has been gone for about 3 years. Been driving on the street ever since with no problems. Of course, I don't throw the car into any hard corners either. Kind of pointless with Moroso skinnies on the front and no front anti-sway bar.
Injuneer 07-18-2003, 12:42 AM Originally posted by Guido
Are you guys talking about the upper panhard bar???
Thats what I always called it. Is that the same thing as panhard bar brace??
Yes... talking about the same thing. GM calls the panhard rod a "track bar" and the upper piece the "track bar brace". It can't move..... it is strictly structural reinforcement for the bracket the panhard rod bolts to on the body.
KTamez 07-18-2003, 03:42 AM Originally posted by yellow Z28
Mine is gone ...needed the room for the wheeliebar brackets ;)
Ding Ding Ding!! I know someone else who did the same thing! ;)
Injuneer 07-18-2003, 04:11 PM Thanks for all the feedback!!
Fred
Fred,
I removed the brace on both of my Stockers. I have quite a lot of passes on both cars without problems. Memory says that the brace weighs betwean 6 and 7 pounds.
Best Regards,
Daren
speedmiser 07-20-2003, 05:00 AM Mine's not out yet. But it might be by the end of the day. Thanks for the headup everyone. :D
rskrause 07-20-2003, 10:16 AM Except for a "straight line only" car, this has to be one of the more foolish "mods" that I have ever heard of. Again, if it's a drag race car, that's one thing. But if it sees street use, the amount of weight is trivial compared to anything that compromises structural integrity.
Rich Krause
chevyguy3 07-20-2003, 12:16 PM i just removed mine as well to make room for wheelie bars, since i relocated my PHR to mount up above where the upper brace used to mount on that bracket. i think on a setup like mine it would be perfectly fine since with the PHR mounted on high on the bracket like mine is now, it would put less of a strain on the bracket and the welds since the side forces would be applied from up closer to the top of the mount
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