Thanks to the eyeballs here I found out that the panhard bar on my R was evidently bent when the truck was lowered. Instead of installing an adjustable panhard bar they just bent the factory bar.
I am planning to buy one of Mike in AZ's chrome adjustable bars to replace it.
I was just curious if I can do this replacement myself by just backing the truck up on ramps and removing the bolts that hold the bar in place or does the truck need to be on a lift to replace the bar?
My SSR: 05 6 sp. with 4.56 gears, ZR1 clutch, Edelbrock intake, Lunati cam, Crane rockers, C6 modified pan
I've had mine on and off a number of times, and it's fairly easily done if the rear is jacked up and jack stands placed under the rear frame rails, ahead of the axle. Then using the floor jack, under the axle housing, raise or lower the housing until there's minimal tension on the bar and remove the bolts. With the vehicle weight on the rear axle, I'd think it would be a much harder task, having to push the body around to center it. Good Luck!
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"Strive for perfection in everything. Take the best that exists and make it better. If it doesn't exist, create it. Accept nothing nearly right or good enough."
Gee, with a panhard being bent that much, your thrust angle must be way off. To solve that, be sure to get a 4-wheel alignment once you get the newer panhard put in.
__________________ Nothing to do & all day to do it.
My SSR: "Kate" a Haughty Redhead, '06 Redline FPR 6 spd. #23333 Build Date 2/16/06
While you are putting that chrome bar on from Mike get him to send you a new stainless dif cover ...course then while the cover is off you might as well swap some 4.56 gears in while you are changing the cover! Course you have to take the rear wheels off to do that so paint your callipers ...maybe some slotted rotors too.
As to the original question,I had mine on jacks to do the rear end swap but pretty sure you need all weight off to do anything with it and get it back together properly.
I see topspin just posted and his advice is going to be solid!
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"Such are the Vagaries of Life"
Ah, I'm Just Truckin' With Ya!
My SSR: 05 6 sp. with 4.56 gears, ZR1 clutch, Edelbrock intake, Lunati cam, Crane rockers, C6 modified pan
Don't waste money on an alignment, as the rear end has no provisions for adjustment. Your new bar will allow you to center the axle, and that's it for adjustment. BMR does offer some adjustable control arms that allow you to set pinion angle, and also would allow you to correct slight differences in wheelbase, side to side.
Now, if you never had the truck aligned after the lowering, by all means get it done.
__________________
"Strive for perfection in everything. Take the best that exists and make it better. If it doesn't exist, create it. Accept nothing nearly right or good enough."
Don't waste money on an alignment, as the rear end has no provisions for adjustment. Your new bar will allow you to center the axle, and that's it for adjustment. BMR does offer some adjustable control arms that allow you to set pinion angle, and also would allow you to correct slight differences in wheelbase, side to side.
Now, if you never had the truck aligned after the lowering, by all means get it done.
Being a complete novice when it comes to panhard bar installation, what is the procedure to "center the axle"?
I have no idea if it was aligned after lowering since it was performed by previous owners.
Don't waste money on an alignment, as the rear end has no provisions for adjustment. Your new bar will allow you to center the axle, and that's it for adjustment. BMR does offer some adjustable control arms that allow you to set pinion angle, and also would allow you to correct slight differences in wheelbase, side to side.
Now, if you never had the truck aligned after the lowering, by all means get it done.
It not a waste of money ... especially if you don't know the prior history of that vehicle.
In looking at those pictures, I can't see why that bar was bent that much in the first place.
__________________ Nothing to do & all day to do it.
I don't understand why that bar had to be bent in the first place just because it was lowered.
to Quote MIke in AZ from the original thread
"You will need to replace the bent Panhard bar at your earliest opportunity. I suspect that the guys that lowered your truck put a bend in the Panhard bar to accommodate the sideways shift in the rear axle that happens when you lower it."
My SSR: "Kate" a Haughty Redhead, '06 Redline FPR 6 spd. #23333 Build Date 2/16/06
Quote:
Originally Posted by ChuckDuck
to Quote MIke in AZ from the original thread
"You will need to replace the bent Panhard bar at your earliest opportunity. I suspect that the guys that lowered your truck put a bend in the Panhard bar to accommodate the sideways shift in the rear axle that happens when you lower it."
Sorry, didn't see Mike's note. Don't exactly understand the sideways shift either, but that isn't important as I probably wouldn't understand it anyway. I can't imagine trying to adjust that bar accurately with a sledgehammer with any degree of accuracy.
A lot of trial and error I presume!
__________________
"Such are the Vagaries of Life"
Ah, I'm Just Truckin' With Ya!
My SSR: 05 6 sp. with 4.56 gears, ZR1 clutch, Edelbrock intake, Lunati cam, Crane rockers, C6 modified pan
Simple tape measure work will accomplish the goal. Measure from the inner frame rail, at a given point, out to the tire edge. Also measure from the fender lip to the tire edge. Your goal is to get the same dimensions on each side of the truck. While you're at it check the body to frame alignment also, as I know at least one forum member had the body offset almost an inch.
__________________
"Strive for perfection in everything. Take the best that exists and make it better. If it doesn't exist, create it. Accept nothing nearly right or good enough."
Measure - pick a point on the wheel well opening, measure the distance to the tire. Repeat on opposite side. Adjust length of panhard bar until measurements are equal.
Just be sure to do this on the ground at normal ride height.
Measure - pick a point on the wheel well opening, measure the distance to the tire. Repeat on opposite side. Adjust length of panhard bar until measurements are equal.
Just be sure to do this on the ground at normal ride height.
Hmmm can I do this with it on ramps? Not sure if I could have room otherwise.
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...course then while the cover is off you might as well swap some 4.56 gears in while you are changing the cover! 
Course you have to take the rear wheels off to do that so paint your callipers ...maybe some slotted rotors too. 
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