Roadster Panhard Rod.

[HairyDave]

Re: Roadster Panhard Rod.

On my escort axled Locust a bar comes down from the chassis to a point level with the loaded centreline of the axle and near the spring mounting. The Panhard rod has 2 track rod ends 1 to the chassis and 1 to a bracket on the axle so that it is nearly horizontal under load. Detail would not be helpful as it is a different chassis and suspension.

[jon_wilkinson]

Re: Roadster Panhard Rod.

On YKC Roadsters the news is more positive tha optional bracket did appear as standard, but that's where the trail runs cold.

Isn't this where the Club comes in? Membership records should show if someone owns a pre Sierra YKC Roadster and then the member could be contacted to ask if he/ she can help.

[velovol]

Re: Roadster Panhard Rod.

I think on the Locust the suspension is by coil spring shocks. One problem on the Marlin is the position of the lower shock absorber mounts and the restricted movement of a bar between the inclined shocks and the lower mounts. I think that is a job for autumn and rigging up some trial bits and trying out maximum axle movements each side and seeing what you are left with.
I agree that the bar needs to run parallel to the ground and the mounts each end to match the spring centre pretty much. The chassis mount would I guess be a short vertical of 1 1/2" to 2" square tube drilled for a bush or spherical rod ends.

[stevejgreen]

Re: Roadster Panhard Rod.

Tracking back to 2004 I found this description from a Marlin, not a YKC Roadster.

I've got one...fitted the factory option back in 1986 when I originally built my Roadster. It runs side to side, hanging off a bracket welded to the underside of the main rear cross-member to the near-side axle lowering block, which is tapped to accept the mounting bolt.
It certainly eradicates rear-wheel steer, which Marinas were notorious for (amongst many other things..), but I'm not sure it reduces twitchiness as I've never driven a non-Panhard Roadster and always felt mine was a bit twitchy even with the panhard..!
I'd be more inclined to reconsider the "usual suspects" first up get the front tracked and balanced. You shouldn't be running rear tyre pressures over 20 psi (I run about 18-19) and the rear dampers need to be set to the softest... It took me a while to experiment but I've found these settings work pretty well, although the lightness of the car inevitiably means a degree of bounce..! You could also try Superflex shackle bushes - I've noticed a distinct handling improvement since fitting. You can also get poly spring pads (Escort Mk1 I think as there isn't a Marina option) although they can be a bit harsh, or so I've heard.

Maybe the original author if they recognise the text, has a picture but I think this predates a forum when pictures could be posted. It's the best description I have found and it echo's everything that has been said and agreed already, get the basics right first.

I am not convinced that bolting to an aluminium spacer is the best idea, unless it bolts through, giving some adjustment, the lateral forces could easily strip a thread, but 13 years on, I could be proved wrong.

[lil_red_roadster]

Re: Roadster Panhard Rod.

I have a feeling the quote above may be attributable to me, but I struggle to remember yesterday let alone 13 years ago..!

The n/s ally spacer block is longer than the o/s and the factory Panhard bolts to the rear of this in single shear. The bolt is orientated north-south, so lateral forces would more likely to move the spacer block than strip threads...so I added a locating bolt through the axle pad into the spacer. The o/s upper Panhard mount is suspended from the main chassis cross-member.

Here are some pictures.

Panhard_NS.jpg

Panhard_OS.jpg

[stevejgreen]

Re: Roadster Panhard Rod.

Thanks Jez, I felt I might be attributable to you but my source was not clear.

Your comments reslove some of my issues, but there seems to be no length adjustment which I would have thought necessary due to welding tolerances.

The bar looks strikingly like a Dolomite part, perhaps it was?

Lets hope we can make the the definitive Panhard rod post for those who can still remember!

[lil_red_roadster]

Re: Roadster Panhard Rod.

Thanks Jez, I felt I might be attributable to you but my source was not clear.

Your comments reslove some of my issues, but there seems to be no length adjustment which I would have thought necessary due to welding tolerances.

The bar looks strikingly like a Dolomite part, perhaps it was?

Lets hope we can make the the definitive Panhard rod post for those who can still remember!

Steve, I doubt the bar was Triumph Dolly or other OEM...from what I can hazily recall it arrived unpainted, as did the bracket.
As regards length adjustment the bracket was welded in with the car at normal ride-height and with the rod bolted to the lower mount...upside down welding with a stick and not enough hands...I got the paint shop to do it properly later..!

[stevejgreen]

Re: Roadster Panhard Rod.

Steve, I doubt the bar was Triumph Dolly or other OEM...from what I can hazily recall it arrived unpainted, as did the bracket.
As regards length adjustment the bracket was welded in with the car at normal ride-height and with the rod bolted to the lower mount...upside down welding with a stick and not enough hands...I got the paint shop to do it properly later..!

Thanks Jez.

Normal ride height with a full tank of petrol and me as driver ballast?

Just asking because a 'wet' Roadster with a driver (and passenger) drops the Roadster well below the normal ride height.

To give an indication on mine, over A road bumps, and just me, my propshaft ran uphill from gearbox to diff. Which is why I was looking for adjustment however small, but hopefully effective.

The advantage of the Frontline system is that once set up, it balances the lateral load pretty much equally.

[velovol]

Re: Roadster Panhard Rod.

Thanks so much for dredging your memories and photo albums as that answers my original question completely. A couple of other points are that I had contemplated drilling and tapping the spacing block in the same way but as mine is steel I would be reasonably confident of not stripping the thread. I think a screwed adjustment would be necessary in case changes to the ride height or loading were made.

Also I had forgotten to take into account the lower ride height with driver and fuel, (passenger optional) as this is the real life ride height so you would need to ballast for this. Probably water barrels would be handy.

I think this is a great result from the forum.

[b_caswell]

Re: Roadster Panhard Rod.

Steve, I doubt the bar was Triumph Dolly or other OEM...from what I can hazily recall it arrived unpainted, as did the bracket.
As regards length adjustment the bracket was welded in with the car at normal ride-height and with the rod bolted to the lower mount...upside down welding with a stick and not enough hands...I got the paint shop to do it properly later..!

I seem to remember someone saying the actual panhard rod was from a Ford Fiesta of some sought ??
The dolomite didnt use a panhard rod they had coil overs with trailing links and radius rods.

[stevejgreen]

Re: Roadster Panhard Rod.

I seem to remember someone saying the actual panhard rod was from a Ford Fiesta of some sought ??
The dolomite didnt use a panhard rod they had coil overs with trailing links and radius rods.

Was not trying to compare it with a part used in the exact same purpose, it just looked at first glance to be Dolomite Suspensionish.

Nothing I can think of on a Fiesta looks the same, Jez is probably right.

If it was a Marlin part as was the exrended wedge block and the welded chassis mount, drawings of all the relevant parts would be most helpful for others, otherwise we are just guessing.

Was Jez the only one to take up the option? In which case people are on their own so far as design goes.

[danny_nelson]

Re: Roadster Panhard Rod.

Ykc provided a kit of parts for home assembly,They told me they used a Fiesta panhard and location brackets that reqd to be welded on.

[stevejgreen]

Re: Roadster Panhard Rod.

Ykc provided a kit of parts for home assembly,They told me they used a Fiesta panhard and location brackets that reqd to be welded on.

I have been wrong before and will be again.

Can we surmise that the Marlin Roadster, as in Jez's writeup actually used a Fiesta part that then migrated onto a YKC?

There is very little hard info here, is there any source data that confirms this between 1986 and 2004? the date that Jez ordered his kit and the date he published info?

Surely someone in the club must have some Documentation, isn't that what the archive is for?

[velovol]

Re: Roadster Panhard Rod.

A week or so ago I rang Frontline Developments and spoke to a very helpful chap called Tim who I think is the Technical Manager to query if the RTL linkage is still available. We had a very interesting conversation as he knows what a Marlin is.

He does not recommend the MGB version for a car like the Marlin as he said the difference in weight and springing are too great but says the MG Midget device is more suitable (and cheaper) and works well. He also offered to look at the axle mounting if I wanted to visit their works at Abingdon.

I've forwarded the mounting photos of the Panhard Rod to Roger and will put things on hold for my car until the autumn and get it into the air and make a final decision.

[lil_red_roadster]

Re: Roadster Panhard Rod.

It was probably Tim Fenna you spoke to; he is the founder of Frontline.