A Panhard rod kit provides positive lateral location of the rear axle, limiting the sideways movement that is inherent in a leaf spring rear suspension under cornering loads. The standard half-elliptic leaf springs locate the axle fore and aft, but allow a degree of lateral float, this manifests as a slight rear-end wander during hard cornering or rapid direction changes, and is more noticeable on the MGC than the MGB owing to the higher cornering speeds the six-cylinder car is capable of achieving. The Panhard rod bolts between the rear axle and the bodyshell, providing a simple and effective geometric constraint that keeps the axle centred under the car regardless of cornering forces. Installation requires no modification to existing components and is fully reversible.
How It Works
The Panhard rod is a simple diagonal bar running from a mounting point on one side of the rear axle to a mounting point on the opposite side of the bodyshell. Under cornering, when the body rolls and the suspension deflects, the rod constrains the axle from moving laterally relative to the body, the axle can still move vertically on its springs as normal, but the sideways float is eliminated. The practical effect is noticeably more precise rear-end behaviour during cornering, improved turn-in response as the rear of the car follows the front more faithfully, and reduced rear-end instability on uneven road surfaces where one rear wheel encounters a bump mid-corner.
For MGCs used in enthusiastic driving, particularly on winding B-roads, the Panhard rod is a worthwhile and cost-effective addition that complements uprated dampers and polyurethane bushes.