9sport Adjustable Panhard Rod parts????

[Freecirc]

Hi there fellow Sport Saabers - from North Idaho!

Being a SAAB 900 lover in north Idaho is no small task, especially in the salty winters!
No longer do I drive my '89 SPG in the winter months because of this, however, after two unprotected winters, the damage was done.
My 9sport adjustable panhard rod spherical u-joint on one end completely rusted into the mounting bolt, and then the body-mount tore off due to an old injury (that's a whole other story :-D). I had to cut off the end of the bolt just to remove the mounting metal and then re-weld it. However, now I have an inoperable 9sport hanhard rod, and the original is gone. My car is lowered, so the adjustable is the only option for me.

Anyhow, do spare parts still exist for this custom accessory that is NLA? I just want the spherical u-joint that screws into the end of the 9sport adjustable pan-hard rod so I can keep on Saabin'. you know? Can I buy this from someone? Part exhange numbers? Anything?

TIA,
Rob
~and~
Ashe (1989 SPG pending T5 and engine rebuild this winter)

[squaab99t]

When I built my adjustable panhard bar I used an Afco bar and Aurora rod ends.
https://www.pegasusautoracing.com/produ ... oduct=3062
Alloy Steel Male Rod End, PTFE Lined
Check your rodend size, thread pitch and diameter, and left hand vs right hand.
I think I bought my jam nuts from McMaster-Carr

[Freecirc]

Hey Thanks for the suggestions, info and link, squaab99t!
For this project, I will also need some spacers that help fill the gap on either side of the spherical ball joint - because the body mount has a larger space than the ball joint itself... What did you end up using for that?

The original spherical-ball joint had flayed-out pieces that connected to the ball itself (now all rusted).

peace,
Rob

[squaab99t]

I made bushings out of oil impregnate bronze.
Oversized the hole in one flange to allow the bushing to slip and the other sized for the bolt. This creates what is called a single leg clamped design.

[Freecirc]

Hi again, squaab99t, and again, many thanks for your guidance here.

Do you have part numbers for those bushings that I can purchase, or a suggested online retailer for oil impregnated brass bushings?

peace,
Rob

[squaab99t]

It depends on how crazy you want to design to be. Like I said I made mine with a step down to fit in the bearing 1/2 depth on each. One could go with some simple donuts and just get the hole diameter and bush thickness correct and clamp it up.
Raw materials I went to Onlinemetals.com
Off the shelf. McMaster Carr would be my first stop.

[DrewP]

McMaster or some race shops carry stuff for the spherical bearings too, like this: https://www.summitracing.com/parts/fkb- ... ZLEALw_wcB

Look for "high misalignment" bushings, or what I searched for was "spherical bearing reducer bushings." You might be able to find something off the shelf that will work for you.

Strictly speaking you could use a washer stack for now to get the bar back on the car to make it driveable too while you search for the parts to make it a little more elegant.

[Freecirc]

Ok, that was what I was thinking too.
At this time, I'm not too inclined to go nuts on the build of this, but do want it to last, so I have already ordered the ball-joint, some nylock hex-nuts, a new jamb-nut and bolt, and will look for appropriate spacers as well. That should do the trick!

Again, Squaab and Drew thanks for your help with this. Y'all seem to be a saab saviors, racers, and fabrication masters - many thanks to you for my SPG, "Ashe" who will be getting a new motor this winter!

[squaab99t]

You are welcome. Far cry from FB discussions, but need to roll with the times.