Rear Panhard Conversion
Rear Panhard Conversion
As per popular request, I have decided to do a thread on the panhard rear conversion. I am not stepping in uncharted territories, and it is not the end-all solution for ultimate articulation by any means, I just want the info out there. I'm sure a lot of you know this, this is for those that don't.
Basically the idea is that with a watts linkage, you have reasonable articulation until a certain point where the linkage binds and there's no more give. There are ways around this, RTE has an extended watts linkage, as does Lucky8. I did not want to stay with the watts linkage as it's more complex and expensive to replace the bushings WHEN they DO go.
The benefit for a watts is definitely there, because it moves in a straight line essentially.
However, there is a curve and end to that line. Here is a panhard, it curves but allows for more movement.
I ended up buying the Ruff Stuff Specialties Panhard kit. It is a very nice kit that is all inclusive, everything you need to do the conversion comes with it. It is important to specify axle offset bracket and frame outside panhard. It can be found here: Panhard Kit - RuffStuff Specialties
Here's a photo I took of what I received in the package:
Basically you remove the Watts linkage, grind down the outside where there's that little bracket that hangs back, and weld the new brackets it. I am no good with a welder, so I had Don Trudeau of Portsmouth bang out the job for me. He did a great job and I highly recommend him. He did it to his own truck before mine.
And here it is finished:
As you can see it is coated in underbody spray, as we get a lot of corrosion in the North Eastern states.
Cheers,
Zack
Basically the idea is that with a watts linkage, you have reasonable articulation until a certain point where the linkage binds and there's no more give. There are ways around this, RTE has an extended watts linkage, as does Lucky8. I did not want to stay with the watts linkage as it's more complex and expensive to replace the bushings WHEN they DO go.
The benefit for a watts is definitely there, because it moves in a straight line essentially.
However, there is a curve and end to that line. Here is a panhard, it curves but allows for more movement.
I ended up buying the Ruff Stuff Specialties Panhard kit. It is a very nice kit that is all inclusive, everything you need to do the conversion comes with it. It is important to specify axle offset bracket and frame outside panhard. It can be found here: Panhard Kit - RuffStuff Specialties
Here's a photo I took of what I received in the package:
Basically you remove the Watts linkage, grind down the outside where there's that little bracket that hangs back, and weld the new brackets it. I am no good with a welder, so I had Don Trudeau of Portsmouth bang out the job for me. He did a great job and I highly recommend him. He did it to his own truck before mine.
And here it is finished:
As you can see it is coated in underbody spray, as we get a lot of corrosion in the North Eastern states.
Cheers,
Zack
I got the extensions from another forum member here, should be fine. I'm more worried about the brake lines.