thecaminator

I've been doing some research and cant seem to come up with the answer I need. I've had my 92 RS for about 3 years and noticed a long time ago that it sits kind of funny. One day when I had the time I decided to take some measurements to see if the body was twisted (I have a small crack where the B pillar and T-Top edge meet on the passenger side) and the measurements are relatively close. Once I crawled up under the rear that's when I seen it. The bracket that the panhard bar and track bar connect to it pushed up into the car...a lot....at least 3 inches up. I also saw the shock mounting bolt on the axle and the LCA is rubbing on the same side. If I cut one of these off another car and weld it up in there, Will it correct this and will it hold together? Should I abandon ship and run from this car? If I can fix this rather easy (re cheap) I want to install some SFCs and continue on.

//<86TA>\\

iTrader: (15)

Sounds fishy.
Post pics

RocketyMan

Agreed...not sure exactly what you're talking about without any pics...

thecaminator

there you go. The more I look at it the more I think I can try and straighten it. Thanks for all the help guys.

RocketyMan

You know...mine looked sorta wonky and bent too. But I haven't noticed anything strange with mine.

RocketyMan

Here's a picture of mine. Hopefully we can compare it and see if there's any difference between yours and mine. From what I can tell they both look "bent." But I believe this to be sort of the process of forming the structure (yours does look like someone was hammering on the side of it there because the lack of undercoating/black paint). Regardless of it "looking" bent, I think the more important factor is it's function and how it actually lines up with the panhard frame structure to the opposite side of the rear-end.

You can see in my second picture how the upper part above the actual panhard bar looks like it buckled a little bit. I think this is normal because those bolts need to be super tight in order to get the rigidity of the bushing to the frame of the car. I would also check yours to make sure they're as tight as possible (at least ~50 lb*ft?). They're (supposed to be) class 10.9 bolts. And the one bolt necks down on a shoulder. The whole point is getting the frame as tight as possible to the dowel on the bushing to maintain axis of movement resilience.

Can you take another picture like my second one so we can see how the inner webbing looks of the frame structure?

InfernalVortex

iTrader: (4)

Yours looks really messed up... like it got bent and they cut and rewelded it or something... Am I imagining that? Is that just some dirt or something?

thecaminator

I'm gearing up to take the wheel off on that side to get a better look. It doesn't appear like it's been re welded or anything. Pics to follow

thecaminator

Some better shots with the wheel off. The car tracks pretty good and still handles like every other Camaro I've had. The shock mount on the axle appears bent and so does the LCA on that side. I know for sure it was either curbed or ditched at some point upon closer inspection, panels reattached, junkyard rear axle (86 Camaro SC in yellow paint marker on the inside of the left drum brake). I'm just trying to figure out wether I should try and repair this or just cut and paste a new one.

thecaminator

Man, I just got a real good look at these pics I posted. That thing is worse than I thought. Its even starting to tear off around the pan hard rod bolt. the shock mounting point on the axle is bent as well, glad I have an 88 IROC posi disc rear to put in. Car handles fine, it does have excessive tire wear in the rear (one wheel peeler, but the wear on the passenger side is very uneven. Probably a shock issue which I've rectified since noticing it.) I worry about trying to repair this one. It looks like itll take a bunch of heat, pulling, beating, and welding to get it straight.

Vortex, if it has been cut off and re welded, i cant find the welds. I noticed a bunch more looking around this afternoon. it was definitely either curbed or ditched at some point in its life.

InfernalVortex

iTrader: (4)

That bracket that is damaged is just bolted to the car. Bolt a new one on there and call it good.

thecaminator

Cool. Mine is spot welded in. Off to the pick n save I go lol

chad pickens

iTrader: (1)

Ive never seen one "bolted in " i reinforced my bracket whille i was redoing my suspension

InfernalVortex

iTrader: (4)

I brain farted... I was thinking about that brace that goes over to it.

Foudners sells a lowered PHB mount bracket... if you dont know the advantages/benefits of lowering the panhard bar mount, then dont bother with doing it, but just be aware it's available.