2 1/2" Trac/Panhard Bar Drop Bracket.
This one is down and dirty and needs to be welded on locally. This will re-center the rear axle on a 1996-2002 4Runner after it has been lifted 2" to 3". This bracket fits over the out side of the factory panhard bracket creating a second mounting hole 2 1/2" lower then the stock mounting point. The stock mounting point is also retained so the bar can be reset back to the stock position. This modification is permanent but allows you to still retain a stock mounting point. This part ships unpainted and does not include the two 45 degree diagonal supports in the pictures. Your installer can eaily make these if you want at the time of installation, use 1" wide 1/4" thick strap stock. This bracket is cut out of 2 1/2" square trailer hitch stock, which is 1/4" inch thick. Included is a new longer metric grade 8.8 bolt, nut and washers. If your 4Runner does NOT have ABS brakes it is Very Important to level your panhard bar after the lift. The rear brakes will not work correctly and the load sensing valve will send the wrong data resulting in over use of the front brakes and warped rotors due to excess heat.
Toyota designed the suspension to work correctly based on that bar being level, the truck will track on the street correctly with the bar level, when the suspension cycles it will react predictable and more responsive with the bar level, after all that is the way Toyota designed it. The axle will in theory droop further with a drop bracket, but in reality the rear shocks are the limiting factor. The rear shocks stop the travel long before the full RTI ramp benefits of the drop come into play. Finally the drop bracket re-aligns your rear axle and springs. With a shifted axle, the springs will sit cockeyed in the seats since they no longer line up and will wear quicker since they are constantly being squished off to an angle rather than straight up and down.
"I wanted to send my endorsement of the Sonoran Steel Panhard Drop Bracket. Since adding a 2.5" suspension lift to my wife’s 2000 Toyota 4Runner, it developed the characteristic of shifting sideways after going over any bump in the road. This caused an unusual steering correction for every bump encountered. While my wife had become used to driving with this issue and didn’t see the need for a change, she was totally amazed at the difference this bracket has made in her 4Runner. Our thanks to Sonoran Steel for making this worthwhile component available!" - Mark Griese, 4X4 Wire Toyota Staff & TTORA member.
This drawing shows why dropping the trac/panhard bar is necessary with any rear lift springs or spacers.
Applications:
This Trac/PanHard drop bracket kit will fit:
1996-2002 Toyota 4Runners with 2-3" of rear lift
|
|
 |
 |
|
PanHard Bracket |
Downey coils & Bilstein shocks with PanHard drop bracket | OME 891 and HD shocks without PanHard drop bracket |
OME 891 and HD shocks with PanHard drop bracket |
 |
 |
|
|
| Rear sensing valve | Rear sensing valve | Full Stuff BEFORE PanHard bracket | Full Stuff AFTER PanHard bracket |
PanHard Drop Bracket installation Instructions:
1. Jack the rear of the 4Runner up so the rear tires are off the ground. Support the frame with jack stands. DO
NOT work under the vehicle, all of the work can be done form the side.
2. Remove the stock Toyota bolt from the factory PanHard bracket and drop the PanHard bar down.
3. Test fit the Sonoran Steel bracket over the OUTSIDE of the factory bracket. The stock hole should line up with one of the two holes in the Sonoran Steel bracket. The other hole will then be the lower drop position.
4. Some grinding may be necessary on the very back of the stock bracket. This will be covered up with 1/4" of solid steel so do not worry. The part in question is the two pieces of metal on the very back that overlap. You may need to grind the
top flap on the back of the stock PanHard bracket down slightly. I have adjusted the design of the bracket so this is not necessary, but be advised this could be an issue.
5. Pick your self up a junk grade M12 8CM bolt and nut, any thread pitch will
do. DO NOT use the bolt I have supplied. It is heat-treated, a special 1.25
pitch and is over 6 bucks at ACE Hardware alone. Insert the disposable bolt into the top hole through both the
Sonoran Steel bracket and the stock bracket. This will hold it in place for welding.
6. Make sure the bracket is as straight up and down as humanly possible. This is extremely important! The drop hole should be directly below the stock hole.
7. Weld it on! Place a bead all around the top of the Sonoran Steel bracket. Cover all the areas where the stock bracket and the Sonoran Steel bracket come in contact. Weld the inside and the outside. You will need to remove the paint on the areas to be welded on the stock Toyota Bracket. Discard the junk M12
bolt after welding is complete.
8. If you want you can install angled supports, Use 1" wide 1/4" thick
strap stock, cut and attach two diagonal supports if desired. The bracket should be strong enough without these but they are a nice finishing touch.
9. When the bracket has cooled, paint the entire piece with some semi-gloss black spray paint to prevent rusting.
10. Reinstall the PanHard bar in the lower mounting position using the included Grade 8.8 M12 bolt, nut and washers. Here is the washer placement. One washer goes on the outside next to the nut head and one next to the bolt. Two washers go on the inside between the PanHard bushing and the drop bracket. Then one washer and
the thinner drilled out fender washer go on the other side of the Pan Hard busing inside the drop bracket.
11. Check the bar it should again be level with 2"-3" of rear lift.
12. Welcome to few and the proud, the PanHard drop club. Many 3rd Generation 4Runners lift, but very few drop.
DISCONTINUED
Replaced with our Adjustable Trac/PanHard bar which is a far better solution.
Back to www.sonoransteel.com
e-mail me: steve@sonoransteel.com