Track Bar Question

RevMetric · 11-07-2009, 05:50 PM

Sorry my first post has to be a request for help. If this is not the correct place to post this, please let me know.

I'm working on a wrecked 99 Firebird and have found what I think is a bent track bar. The car is sitting slightly low in the left rear and it appears the tire has been rubbing some in the left rear wheel well. Can someone confirm that the bent bar in the picture is called the Track Bar. Just need to know I'm ordering the correct part. Thanks for the help.

xXxSilveradoxXx · 11-07-2009, 07:33 PM

Wow! That is the pan-hard bar.

xXxSilveradoxXx · 11-07-2009, 07:36 PM

I would also pull that upper pan-hard rod support and look it over too. It could be bent also.

RevMetric · 11-07-2009, 08:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xXxSilveradoxXx

I would also pull that upper pan-hard rod support and look it over too. It could be bent also.

Thanks for the info and help. I'm not really sure how that thing was bent since the wreck was mostly in the front end. I'm assuming it was done when the car went off road during the wreck.

xXxSilveradoxXx · 11-07-2009, 08:07 PM

No problem, at least a PHB is pretty cheap if you don't get it from the dealership!

Foxxtron · 11-07-2009, 11:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RevMetric

Thanks for the info and help. I'm not really sure how that thing was bent since the wreck was mostly in the front end. I'm assuming it was done when the car went off road during the wreck.

Yep. That PHB bending like that can be expected with a stock design or one similar to that. Even though it doesn't seem too desirable, if the axle (left wheel side is where the PHB attaches to the axle) experiences enough force in the appropriate direction, then the stock PHB could effectively buckle resulting in possibly saving additional damage to the body mount (right body side where the PHB attaches to the car's body). When this happens, usually the bushings remain connected, which hopefully prevents too much loss of vehicle control during motion. If it didn't do that, more serious damage could've resulted (e.g. damaged PHB body mount and in some cases, bent axle and/or an even more disastrous accident).

That's about the only advantage I see in stock PHBs.

UMI Performance · 11-08-2009, 10:01 AM

Yep like mentioned that is a panhard bar, also known as a track bar.

We offer an aftermarket replacement for $74.99 seen here- www.umiperformance.com/2020

Take a look and let me know if you have any questions. Thank you!
Ryan

RevMetric · 11-08-2009, 10:40 AM

Many thanks to everyone for the help, and for taking the time to explain things. I have a lot of experience in building car and motorcycle engines, but this is my first venture into the suspension. I'll be ordering one of the UMI replacements. I still haven't decided on the solid or adjustable version yet. I don't plan to lower or add anything other than stock suspension parts or OEM wheels, so the non-adjustable would probably work. But then again, having built-in adjustability is always a good thing.

Thanks again.