Panhard bar washers as spacers?

[VKannan]

Hi all,

My Mk4 complete kit unfortunately was missing several important spacers, including some of those for the Panhard bar. I went to the hardware store to buy some 5/8" washers, but I'm worried that the larger diameter will prevent angular motion of the Panhard bar.

Not being a racer, I have no idea how important that motion is. Here's a picture of what I've mocked up (but not tightened down yet):

183197

Do you think this will create issues?

Thanks,
Vijay

[rich grsc]

That will be fine

[Jeff Kleiner]

I'd use steel tubing with .625" I.D. and .125" wall cut to length.

Jeff

[Jacob McCrea]

I think I have quite a few of those spacers from FFR in a parts bin. I'm happy to mail a few to you if you want.

[CraigS]

Use the washers. What little restriction your washers cause, would only happen as the rod is twisted. But normal suspension movement does not apply any twist at all. When I install a rod like that I tighten the jam nut on one end, and twist the rod so tightening the other nut I will end up w/ both rod ends at the same angle.
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[VKannan]

An update on the question:

As an update, I found a perfect spacer at Ace Hardware that is 1 inch long, which is exactly the total length of the combined spacers that factory five recommends go in the front of the bar where it attaches to the traction control.

The question is, with all of those spacers in use there is essentially no way for me to make the panhard bar perpendicular to the long axis of the car, it’s at an angle. I remember in Build School hearing that it should be parallel to the ground, but I can't remember if it was also supposed to be parallel to the short axis of the car. What am I aiming for?

Thanks!

[Railroad]

Sounds like you are passed the spacer issue, but this is available in sizes that will address the spacer issue.

https://www.amazon.com/QSC-Aluminum-6061-Spacer-Tapered/dp/B00GBE7CXM

They are also available in steel. Speedway motors.

[RBachman]

Agree completely with Jeff's "Best Practice" approach. Do it right, do it once. Check with McMaster Carr or Online Metals (or similar) for the tubing.


I'd use steel tubing with .625" I.D. and .125" wall cut to length.

Jeff

[CraigS]

Parallel to the ground is important but parallel to the axle doesn't matter within reason. Anywhere inside the FFR brackets is definitely within reason.

[rich grsc]

Craig, isn't the axle parallel to the ground?

[CraigS]

Rich I look back and realize I didn't state that real well. I am looking at parallel to the ground in a rear view. I was thinking that this part of the OP's question "...essentially no way for me to make the panhard bar perpendicular to the long axis of the car, it’s at an angle." he was describing the bar's position from a top view. I may be misinterpreting.

[VKannan]

Yes that’s correct, I meant looking top down. I do remember learning that it should be parallel to the ground but not sure if it should also be parallel to the axle in that plane. In order to do that I’d have to move all of the spaces around and it still wouldn’t be terribly close.

Seems like that isn’t the goal though, just parallel to ground. Thank you for helping!