rear sway bar (panhard rod)

[dartme]

hello, my panhard rod broke on my 70 spider i wanted to know if i can just weld it together? ( it's a clean break) or do i have to buy a new one? P.S. does anyone know where i can find a new one? would a 1979 work on my 1970? thanks

[pope]

first of all, why would it break? Did you hit something? If it just broke on its own, then toss it, because it is structurally not sound and not worth the chance. That is a pretty vital part for safety and would get an other one anyways. Dont know what years are compatiable, not sure, but I would guess up to 1978, as 1979 is the year they changed the rear end. Someone else will have to chime in here.

It is not really a sway bar.

[dartme]

Yeah it is strange the way it broke.. I was driving I did not hit anything or hear anything the car just started to sway. It almost looks like it was cut,(it wasn't) A straight break (weird) thanks for your help. Anyone know where I can find a new one.

[pope]

Post it in the Wanted forum

[Europa]

Vick Autosports: $64.25 plus shipping (pre 1978)
http://www.vickauto.com/cgi-bin/store/63-7308.html

International Auto Parts: $64.25 plus shipping (this is probably for the Spider 2000)
http://www.international-auto.com/index ... sid=875167

There are additional vendors that carries the part.

[So Cal Mark]

the only time I've seen them break is after the car was put on a flat bed for towing. The driver used the panhard to chain down the rear and kinked the bar

[dartme]

Thanks I knew you guys would come Thu. Mark its was not towed and no bends,It just snapped like a dried twig I didn't even see it at first.. Thanks again P.S. so do you guys think its a bad idea to weld it??

[pope]

Yes!!!!!! Very bad idea.

[So Cal Mark]

I've only seen one welded; they slid a pipe inside the bar to strengthen it, then welded the seam. It sure was ugly and heavy but it seemed to work.

[brad131a4]

I've welded mine and have had no problems with it at all. I did put another short piece pipe inside and drilled two holes on each side and welded those up to act as a anchoring spot to each piece of the panhard bar. A little grinding and some paint and good as new. If the seam is welded correctly it will be stronger than the original metal. If it breaks again then there is something else that is happening that is the problem. This is if you have a welding machine handy if not it would be cheaper to buy a new one.

[pope]

Come on guys, there not that expensive and not worth welding. Especially since it just snapped meaning the the metal is stressed and brittle, or rusted and thin...maybe on the inside. Get a new one or a good used one.

[dartme]

yeah Mark i thought about doing that buy Pope is right its cheap to buy another one.. i bought one from Chris for $25

[brad131a4]

Pope if he had a welder handy it wouldn't be that bad. Mine was a need of getting the rear end to align correctly after I lowered the car.I'm working on getting an adjustable bar for this reason.