Panhard / Rear Control Arm Questions

[Caldwell]

Hey fella's,

Im trying to some research on mods for my suspension. Now I'll be honest I may never even get around to installing these mods on this truck, but none the less I want to get a better understanding of what these mods will do for the handling of the truck should I ever find the available funds to install them. I love the lifted look, but that is just not realistic for me, as this truck rarely leaves pavement anyway.

* I DO NOT want to lower the stock suspension height *

Panhard Bar - Say I install the Tubular Non Adjustable Bar on my truck, what kind of improvement would I feel ? I know this mod is supposed to keep the axle in place, but thats about it.

Upper / Lower Rear Control Arms - Non Adjustable Arms would just help plant the rear axle to the ground better under throttle im assuming ?. Would I feel any noticable difference with these when hitting hard corners ?

I would also like to throw Sway Bars F/R, and some 305/50/20 Tires into the mix to really hammer the highway on / off ramps lol.

 

[Buddy]

2nd that, I'm curious myself. I know Spohn makes these parts, but you never see these written under members vehicle descriptions under their sigs on here...

 

[The Q]

I know you stated you don't want to lower your truck, but go to the "Lowered" section of this forum and use the search function using the keyword "spohn" and you'll find info you're looking for. There are a few members there that have posts of their installs and results.

 

[DavidRam]

Hey fella's,

Im trying to some research on mods for my suspension. Now I'll be honest I may never even get around to installing these mods on this truck, but none the less I want to get a better understanding of what these mods will do for the handling of the truck should I ever find the available funds to install them. I love the lifted look, but that is just not realistic for me, as this truck rarely leaves pavement anyway.

* I DO NOT want to lower the stock suspension height *

Panhard Bar - Say I install the Tubular Non Adjustable Bar on my truck, what kind of improvement would I feel ? I know this mod is supposed to keep the axle in place, but thats about it.

Wouldn't make a difference at all. Your track bar is doing it's job. Your axle is centered left-right. Good to go.

Upper / Lower Rear Control Arms - Non Adjustable Arms would just help plant the rear axle to the ground better under throttle im assuming ?. Would I feel any noticable difference with these when hitting hard corners ?

In themselves they wouldn't make a difference. They are designed to center your axle/wheels front to back, and correct pinion angle thereafter.

However, I have the Spohn adj control arms and when I switched to the hard delrin bushings, it tightened things up ALOT! My axle hardly twists at all on acceleration, shifting... much less deflection.
That could help your trucks performace, but I don't think it would be worth the cost just to get hard-as-rock bushings. Lol

I would also like to throw Sway Bars F/R, and some 305/50/20 Tires into the mix to really hammer the highway on / off ramps lol.
Sway bars would help you in cornering.

I put my humble opinions after your questions. BTW, a 2" drop/level in back really helps tighten up the trucks handling... Just sayin



@ The Q
Sure, anyone can use the search button... But taking a minute to try and answer some questions, is part of what this forum is about.

 

[Caldwell]

DavidRam,

Thanks for the honest opinions. I gotta say im am a little disappointed in the responses you gave, only because I really thought these mods in conjunction would really make a difference in tightening up the truck for hammering it in a straight line, as well as hitting the corners. . It seems that just throwing on some Sway Bars is gonna be the only mod really worth looking into at this point.

However I am happy that you took the time to help me out, because realistically you saved my wallet from a pointless purchase, seeing as I do not want to lower the truck.

 

[audio1der]

I second the opinion that losing a couple inches of altitude in the rear tightens it up. A thicker rear sway bar (or a sway bar at all if you start without one) would def. help.
Most of the pieces you asked abut would only be needed to correct geometry after at least a 4" rear drop.

 

[The Q]

I put my humble opinions after your questions. BTW, a 2" drop/level in back really helps tighten up the trucks handling... Just sayin



@ The Q
Sure, anyone can use the search button... But taking a minute to try and answer some questions, is part of what this forum is about.

Wasn't trying to be unhelpful or a smart a$$, just suggesting the use of search due to the number of posts I found when doing my own research for lowering my own truck and the Spohn track bar. Guess I should have just kept lurking on this one

 

[BlownGP]

DavidRam,

Thanks for the honest opinions. I gotta say im am a little disappointed in the responses you gave, only because I really thought these mods in conjunction would really make a difference in tightening up the truck for hammering it in a straight line, as well as hitting the corners. . It seems that just throwing on some Sway Bars is gonna be the only mod really worth looking into at this point.

However I am happy that you took the time to help me out, because realistically you saved my wallet from a pointless purchase, seeing as I do not want to lower the truck.

The biggest gain on handling is going to be a drop followed by sway bars. Then better wider tires/rims.


The panhard bar and Control Arms on a stock truck really are not worth it.
At stock height a panhard bar helps keep rear from wiggle sliding over bumps..

Control Arms help plant the tires better to the groung to gain more traction. Again on a stock truck I dont see them helping much.

Where the value comes in is when you lower/raise your ride you can get the adjustable ones to correct all the angles.

 

[Buddy]

As soon as I saw Spohn made parts for the Ram I was the same, time to order parts!!
But looked under the truck, panhard and control arms are already tubular. Coming from the F-body cars (Camaro/Firebirds) this is a common upgrade, But... on them GM used a stamped steel parts, which could flex. so aftermarket is either tubular or boxed. Well the Ram's are tubular, so no big difference.
The only change would be in the bushings, stock are all rubber, aftermarket have a few choices with the entry level polyurethane. Well for some bushings, thats a lot of $$ to pay to buy the complete panhard or control arms just for that.
If you want to maximize your stock panhard and control arms, contact Energy Suspension to see if they make bushings to replace the stock ones. Will be way way cheaper.

 

[BlownGP]

As soon as I saw Spohn made parts for the Ram I was the same, time to order parts!!
But looked under the truck, panhard and control arms are already tubular. Coming from the F-body cars (Camaro/Firebirds) this is a common upgrade, But... on them GM used a stamped steel parts, which could flex. so aftermarket is either tubular or boxed. Well the Ram's are tubular, so no big difference.
The only change would be in the bushings, stock are all rubber, aftermarket have a few choices with the entry level polyurethane. Well for some bushings, thats a lot of $$ to pay to buy the complete panhard or control arms just for that.
If you want to maximize your stock panhard and control arms, contact Energy Suspension to see if they make bushings to replace the stock ones. Will be way way cheaper.

Exactly.. My dad as a 02 T/A and I'm very familiar with there suspension. Your right every suspension part on a F-body is cheap thin steel. Upgrading makes a huge difference on those cars.

I think besides a drop the rear sway is best upgrade for these trucks.

 

[JohnD72]

Wasn't trying to be unhelpful or a smart a$$, just suggesting the use of search due to the number of posts I found when doing my own research for lowering my own truck and the Spohn track bar. Guess I should have just kept lurking on this one

I don't see any problem with reminding people of the search function. It was at least as helpful as the other replies and you were polite in doing so.