Adjustable Panhard Bar recommendation- 2014 GT

Norm Peterson

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WTF ? To get the car body shifted over to the driver's side, the PHB has to be shortened, not lengthened. Driver's side of phb goes to the axle. Pass side of PHB goes to the car body. Axle doesn't move, the back end of the car body moves side to side, depending on length of phb.
CR is saying that the BMR PHB would have pushed the axle even further off center.


As a dedicated DIY'er, I have to wonder if there's enough room on the pass-side pedestal to redrill the PHB mounting holes a little further to the right (looking from behind). PHB clearance on the inside would probably establish a limit to how far you could move the hole, and the job would probably entail reinforcement and welding, assuming that the pedestal is made of a readily weldable grade of steel (a good body shop ought to know this).

You might still want to look for any wrinkling of metal above the pedestal proper, which would indicate local deformation in the platform structure itself.


Norm
 

Juice

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Well, I decided to do the install myself today. Ended up putting back to the stock PHB. There were no clearance issues at all. The problem is that at it’s shortest adjustment, the BMR is 3/4” longer than stock. So that doesn’t help me.
You may have the wrong panhard bar there.
AM had a rash of "boxed wrong" bars many years ago. Somehow Camaro bars in ended up in mustang part number boxes.
 

Pentalab

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You may have the wrong panhard bar there.
AM had a rash of "boxed wrong" bars many years ago. Somehow Camaro bars in ended up in mustang part number boxes.
I agree. I have seen loads of BMR on car adjustable PHB's installed, (05-14 cars) and never any issues with the PHB being 'too long' when adjusted to it's shortest length. Dead simple, plug and play, easy to adjust.

This is the version I used, with poly at both ends. https://www.bmrsuspension.com/?page=products&productid=172&superpro=0
 

crjackson

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Somehow Camaro bars in ended up in mustang part number boxes.

How could that be determined? Strange that other parts I’ve ordered were shipped from TURN5 and this was shipped from CAMARO5. You may me onto something.
 

skwerl

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Call BMR directly and get an exact measurement of the bar.

BTW, AM had an excellent reputation 10 years ago but then management changed and they turned bad practically overnight. Now 10 years later people are still buying from them based on their old reputation. No way in hell would I buy so much as a stick of gum from them. Spend $10 more and buy it from a reputable dealer (or directly from BMR).
 

scramblr

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Well, I decided to do the install myself today. Ended up putting back to the stock PHB. There were no clearance issues at all. The problem is that at it’s shortest adjustment, the BMR is 3/4” longer than stock. So that doesn’t help me.
This happened to me last year. BMR sent me the wrong PHB which was too long. I contacted them and they swapped them out.

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Juice

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How could that be determined? Strange that other parts I’ve ordered were shipped from TURN5 and this was shipped from CAMARO5. You may me onto something.
Holy shit, AM is still fucking this up? 9 years later??? There was a major drug bust at their wearhouse 9 years ago.....

Pretty simple to determine if it is a wrong part issue.
Put them side by side, stock vs bmr. With adjustment roughly in themiddle, both should be about the same length.
 

crjackson

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Call BMR directly and get an exact measurement of the bar.

BTW, AM had an excellent reputation 10 years ago but then management changed and they turned bad practically overnight. Now 10 years later people are still buying from them based on their old reputation. No way in hell would I buy so much as a stick of gum from them. Spend $10 more and buy it from a reputable dealer (or directly from BMR).

I just finished internet chat with AM. They started a full refund and issued 2 return labels in my inbox already. I’m just sending everything back. I’ll order elsewhere, and go with a different brand.

This happened to me last year. BMR sent me the wrong PHB which was too long. I contacted them and they swapped them out.

Since it was ordered through AM, they have to be the one who handles it. I ordered from them because I had some store credit with them. I won’t order from them on the next purchase.
Holy shit, AM is still fucking this up? 9 years later??? There was a major drug bust at their wearhouse 9 years ago.....

Pretty simple to determine if it is a wrong part issue.
Put them side by side, stock vs bmr. With adjustment roughly in themiddle, both should be about the same length.

That’s exactly what I did. Side by side, with the BMR reduced to it’s shortest length, it’s 3/4” longer than the stock bar.
 

crjackson

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You have the wrong panhard bar.

That’s what I told them. They offered a replacement but I decided against it.

I just got back from FedEx drop-off site. It’s all on the way back to AM now. I’ll try again after my refund has been processed.

FWIW - The BMR parts numbers on the box were correct for my car, despite having the wrong PHB. I’m guessing this was BMR’s fault, not AM. The AM boxes had the BMR boxes inside (double boxed).
 
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scramblr

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FWIW - The BMR parts numbers on the box were correct for my car, despite having the wrong PHB. I’m guessing this was BMR’s fault, not AM. The AM boxes had the BMR boxes inside (double boxed).

Same here. All the labels were correct but the part wasn't. This has happened to me a few times with BMR over the years. Shit happens.

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crjackson

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CR is saying that the BMR PHB would have pushed the axle even further off center.


As a dedicated DIY'er, I have to wonder if there's enough room on the pass-side pedestal to redrill the PHB mounting holes a little further to the right (looking from behind). PHB clearance on the inside would probably establish a limit to how far you could move the hole, and the job would probably entail reinforcement and welding, assuming that the pedestal is made of a readily weldable grade of steel (a good body shop ought to know this).

You might still want to look for any wrinkling of metal above the pedestal proper, which would indicate local deformation in the platform structure itself.

I’m not going to start drilling/welding, I’ll try another brand once my RMA’d parts are refunded.

There are no bent or wrinkled metal parts/mounts. I’ll just get a different brand and try again.
 

crjackson

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The Ford Racing Adj PHB has IMHO 2 things going for it over the others (I have both the BMR & Ford Racing parts).............

So, I ordered the FRPP PHB as suggested based on your recommendation and some face-2-face recommendations from my local speed-shop owner (who ordered it for $75 less than I could find online).

Since it’s so simple to install, even my crippled-up old ass can do the work.

Does this thing come with any paperwork that recommends offset positioning as you mentioned above?

Also, is there any specific grease I should use on the urethane bushings?

I actually like the idea of a split bushing design. I may go on and order a bushing replacement kit, just to have it for down the road. I suspect that being a split bushing, there may be some advantage with regards to how the bar interacts with the bushing during articulations (allowing each half to move or not-move independently in case of binding). Probably a long shot on that. Just spit-balling an idea.
 

Norm Peterson

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Also, is there any specific grease I should use on the urethane bushings?
Silicone grease. I think there are some polyurethane-specific greases available. I've been using some sort of marine grease (3M?) without issue.


I actually like the idea of a split bushing design. I may go on and order a bushing replacement kit, just to have it for down the road. I suspect that being a split bushing, there may be some advantage with regards to how the bar interacts with the bushing during articulations (allowing each half to move or not-move independently in case of binding). Probably a long shot on that. Just spit-balling an idea.
Shouldn't matter. There isn't enough off-axis rotation (pinion angle change) or longitudinal axle migration (the axle moves in an arc about the side view instant center as seen in side view) to matter.


Ford Racing NOT putting the adjustment in the middle of the PHB is a good thing.


Norm
 

GlassTop09

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So, I ordered the FRPP PHB as suggested based on your recommendation and some face-2-face recommendations from my local speed-shop owner (who ordered it for $75 less than I could find online).

Since it’s so simple to install, even my crippled-up old ass can do the work.

Does this thing come with any paperwork that recommends offset positioning as you mentioned above?

Also, is there any specific grease I should use on the urethane bushings?

I actually like the idea of a split bushing design. I may go on and order a bushing replacement kit, just to have it for down the road. I suspect that being a split bushing, there may be some advantage with regards to how the bar interacts with the bushing during articulations (allowing each half to move or not-move independently in case of binding). Probably a long shot on that. Just spit-balling an idea.
No, no installation paperwork came w\ mine (the usual FRPP stuff....stickers, the blue paper slip w\ the usual FRPP printing on it, etc).

To help you out I'll give my suggestions for you to consider on installation:
1.) Always install adj PHB w\ the adjusting end installed to the AXLE side (driver side of car) as this is the lowest position thus the easiest access point for on car adjustment (clears most all other devices such as the sway bar). For the record, my BMR adj PHB came set up for this orientation out of the box (I have pictures of it installed showing this).
2.) As far as the FRPP PHB bushing offset positioning, the maximum clearance setting is w\ the bushing offsets on both ends set to push the bar furthest away from the diff cover. In my case (I have the FRPP 8.8" Girdle installed) I noted that the axle wasn't quite parallel w\ the PHB (girdle casting in area where the bearing cap load bolts reside...the farthest protrusion of this diff cover & is flat & stretches across the diff cover width thus making this PHB angle off deflection easier to see....) & since I now had extra clearance to do this (3\4") thanks to this FRPP adj PHB & it's bushing offset design, I set up this FRPP adj PHB where the body side bushing offset pushed the bar towards the axle & left the axle side bushing offset pushing the bar away from the axle to "square" the PHB to the diff cover thus axle (but retains 5\8" clearance).
Nothing special about this, just me being me (ideal that the PHB is aligned parallel to axle tube but in real world application based off the OEM LCA hole center measurements the amount of PHB angle off--thus deflection--is moot so don't sweat it) taking advantage of what this FRPP adj PHB design would allow.....
3.) As Norm has suggested, marine grease or any type grease that is PFTE-based will work just fine w\ poly bushing materials. I use a PFTE-based grease on mine that has worked fine w\ no poly bushing damage (main thing) & has held up very well over time (no squeaking during any bushing rotation).

Hope this helps.
 

crjackson

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The adjustability is a pretty irrelevant and unnecessary feature as explained in the article.
It’s not irrelevant to me on my car. With stock wheels & tires, my car has the left rear tire poking completely past the top of the fender apex, and the right rear tucked in about 3/4”. It’s noticeable and bugs me.

Thanks, I’ve read article before, I’ll read it again, but I’m not racing the car, I just don’t like the stupid off-center look.
 
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BillyJRacing

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It’s not irrelevant to me on my car. With stock wheels & tires, my car has the left rear tire poking completely past the top of the fender apex, and the right rear tucked in about 3/4”. It’s noticeable and bugs me.

Thanks, I’ve read article before, I’ll read it again, but I’m not racing the car, I just don’t like the stupid off-center look.
What's your ride height? Pic of the car? I can't see how the left side can stick out when the furthest the axle can go to the left is when the PHB is parallel to the ground (where the stock PHB length will not cause it to stick out of the left side of the car).
 

Norm Peterson

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What's your ride height? Pic of the car? I can't see how the left side can stick out when the furthest the axle can go to the left is when the PHB is parallel to the ground (where the stock PHB length will not cause it to stick out of the left side of the car).
See post #1, Billy.

I still think there's some damage somewhere, maybe the car was a little 'off' to begin with, or maybe a bit of both. That amounts to about 3/8" or 10mm at the PHB's chassis-side pivot, to try to put a number on it.


Norm
 

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