Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Classic Morgans (pre-CX) Panhard Rods - who needs them?

Teetering on the brink here - the car is in the garage so not a problem to make a call and add it.

Who fits Panhard rods and why?

I am looking for a quick but comfortable road car so am going for SUPLEX suspension with new rear dampers which I hope will smooth out the London potholes and speed bumps. I have ruled out anti-tramp bars for now as to track focussed.

Why would I add a Panhard rod, is it only for very fast road or track work? Will I get unpleasant feedback or chassis noise from it? This is a car that the other half will be in quite a lot so comfort is important!

Or are there no downsides to it, it just aids handling and there is no reason not to fit it?

I did a search and read the notes, a few have them fitted and like them. But are they the hardcore of Moggy drivers rather than those going for a picnic at a country house on a Sunday..? Which is me, with a little bit of the former if I am on my own

Thanks and I promise to stop making new topics

The Panhard rod made a noticeable difference to the handling of my 4/4 Sport Competition when I had it. There were no downsides. The feeling of the body moving sideways relative to the rear axle disappeared and the car felt much more "planted" on the road, even in normal road use. Just do it - you won't be disappointed.
Don.

The one great upside is that the Rod de Panhard stops the plate that the U bolts go through rubbing grooves in the vertical web of the Chassis Z section as the axle goes up and down. My 4/4 has barely 1mm clearance, the Rod de Panhard stopped the rubbing and delayed chassis repairs!
OK a sheet of stainless (?) inbetween the lower U bolt plate and the chassis would have worked too........ Regards PJB.

Like Max, I fitted one to my 4/4 Sport. It took away that sideways lurching on the rear springs on cornering. No effects on ride or road noise as far as I can tell.

I fitted one to Woodstock in the very early days of ownership and greatly improved the handling from pootling about and supermarket car parks, to speed hill climbs. It also stopped the propshaft hitting the tunnel when carrying a passenger.

Only downside is the need to look after two extra joints, but hardly an onerous or difficult task even with rose joints; a wipe over and a spray of oil suffices.

After fitting one and doing 20 miles, you'll not be asking "who needs them?" but "why didn't I fit one earlier?"

Just to drift off topic a bit, I would ask the same of the brake reaction bars, are they really only useful if doing track days, sprints etc or would you notice a difference in "normal" driving?

The only time I have noticed a problem without them is under very heavy braking on uneven/broken surfaces when I got a lot of judder as the tyres seeemed to grip then let go, I assumed this was do to the top tube flexing. Fitted 'brake braces' and not got it since. Under normal driving I doubt if one would notice any difference.
A piece of thick wall steel tube £5.00, and a couple of M8 nuts & bolts does the trick. No downside apart from extra weight.
NB watch the route of the brake flex hose relative to the new brace! PJB

PJB, Seems a cheap mod with no real downsides.

Panhard rod is great, was first thing I did, it really improves that stability of the rear end. If you are after a comfortable ride go for AVO's on the rear and leave at softest setting, talk to Peter Mulberry at Mulfab, there are 3 types of AVO's and only one is right for a Morgan, he can advise.

All this information is making me think