Panhard Bars, Track Bars & Rods

The panhard bar setup is responsible for keeping the rear axle centered between the wheel wells laterally on many coil spring suspensions. Without it, the tires will sway in and out of the wheel wells, which results in erratic handling from changing roll center as well as possible damage to the quarter panels from contact.

If installing a custom panhard rod suspension or when raising or lowering the rear suspension, an adjustable track bar allows you to fine-tune the rear axle lateral location. This helps keep the wheels equally inside the wheel housings on both sides and is critical for proper handling and tire clearance.

A panhard bar is a suspension component that keeps the rear axle in position laterally (side-to-side) while allowing the suspension to move vertically with a pivot point on each end. It is most commonly found on coil-spring suspensions in car and truck applications, as opposed to leaf springs setups as the springs typically prevent lateral movement of the rear axle. The panhard bar is connected to the axle on one end and diagonally to the fixed chassis or frame on the other end. It is designed to swivel at the connection points on both ends to allow vertical movement of the axle. Suspensions with panhard bars usually incorporate trailing arms that keep the axle from sliding forward or backward (longitudinally).

Depending on the year, make, and model, the directions for track bar car and truck applications can change. However, in most applications, the first step is raising the vehicle in the air safely with jack stands under the rear axle. If you are replacing an existing panhard bar, remove the old panhard bolts and bar. Then install the new bar in the reverse order, confirming the correct torque setting. If the bar is non-adjustable, the car can be lowered back to the ground and a test drive performed to confirm proper operation. For adjustable track bar applications, confirm the vehicle is at ride height. With a plumb bob or level, measure the wheel positions within the wheel wells on each side. The goal for pan hard bar adjustment is to have the distances for each side to match within an 1/8 of an inch by adjusting the panhard rod clockwise or counterclockwise. Once track bar adjustment is confirmed correct, tighten the jam nuts, using thread locker to ensure no movement. The vehicle can then be test driven to confirm proper handling.

Panhard bars play a critical role in helping locate your rear axle and suspension in the proper position between the wheel wells, preventing side-to-side movement. When upgrading or modifying your coil-spring suspension, an adjustable panhard bar or rear track bar will allow you to move the rear axle to the correct position. Check out our large selection of front and rear car and truck track bars, panhard bars, panhard rods and track rods as well as related parts such as hardware and bushings (sometimes searched online as "panhard rod bushes") to improve your suspension handling today!