Rear Suspension ?

[chasgtv6]

I'm looking at installing a rear panhard rod on my lowered, track day only spider. Can I retain the upper Tbar link or is something else better?

[ddouglas77]

Whoa! What a tick, if she'll only be race day only, why even keep the Tbar link and just go ahead and build a ladder bar suspension for it?

[alfaloco]

I suggest you check with Jim Steck at Autocomponenti. He may have just what you're looking for, if you're serious about altering your car's rear suspension geometry.

http://www.autocomponenti.com/body.htm

[conedriver]

Hi chasgtv6,

In a word, NO!. A panhard bar in conjuction with a Tbar link results in conflicting geometry. There's lots of discussion of this if you use the search function. In a nutshell, a Tbar link provides sideways and for-and-aft location for the rear axle. A panhard bar provides sideways location and also lowers the rear roll center, but ONLY if the sideways location function of the Tbar is disabled. A Panhard bar is only half of the upgrade. You must replace the Tbar with a cross brace having a heim-jointed for-and aft link only.

Others will likely chime in but, in all sincerity, if you don't understand the geometry don't change the rear axle locating components. Jeez... I sound like the late Fred DiMatteo...(which would be a most sincere compliment).

Quote:

Originally Posted by chasgtv6 I'm looking at installing a rear panhard rod on my lowered, track day only spider. Can I retain the upper Tbar link or is something else better?

[chasgtv6]

Thanks George, I suspected as much. The panhard rod was recommended and installed by someone who is supposed to be an alfa expert, but I don't think has much experience in the actual performance end of things.
My next step is to sort the rear end out with someone who actually puts them on the track.
Charlie

[conedriver]

Hi Charlie,

One source for the replacement of your Tbar is Orion Motorsports. http://www.orionmotorsports.com/ This is Jack Beck's establishment in Omaha Nebraska. A "Rear Upper Trailing Link and Frame, 105 Series" is part number A16008 in the online catalog. Price is $500.00. This a brace that mounts to the Tbar mounting points and has a single, Heim jointed, rod that connects to the upper differential bolt where the Tbar fits, and only controls for-and aft movement. I have had this setup on my autocross Spider for a long time, and the benefits are worth the cost.

Andy Kress at Perormatek used to offer a similar part, but this doesn't appear in his online catalog. http://www.performatek.com/ maybe a call would bring more information...


http://www.orionmotorsports.com/

Quote:

Originally Posted by chasgtv6 Thanks George, I suspected as much. The panhard rod was recommended and installed by someone who is supposed to be an alfa expert, but I don't think has much experience in the actual performance end of things. My next step is to sort the rear end out with someone who actually puts them on the track. Charlie