Help for Panther's suspensions

[Alexandre STADNYK]

Hello from Alex.

I'm a french customer of ARMORTEK and so excuse me for my english.

I've been built my Panther and the construction is quite achieved but I have a trouble because the panther is unable to stay on its own suspensions and it is at present on blocks.

I've been followed the instructions, the screws on suspension bars and on suspension shafts are firmly tightened but the suspension arms hang down initialy at about 40 degrees come to break down on bump stops and I dont understand how the suspension arms can stay on their initial position under the weight of the kit without stops for each axle ?.

I sincerely thanks the Panthers and Tigers' owners would could help me to solve my problem.

Thanks you very much and goodbye.

[Robert E Morey]

Alex,
It sounds like your torsion bar screws may not be gripping properly allowing the suspension to sag? Have you tried machining or grinding (filing) small flats on the torsion bars? This would help If the torsion bars are slipping. I know it is quite a bit of work to add this now, but I think it might resolve your problem. You will want the flats on both ends of the torsion rod - one flat at horizontal, the opposite end flat at 40 deg from horizontal. I hope that makes since.
Kind regards,
Bob

[Alexandre STADNYK]

Hello Bob,

I give you all my thanks for your advices, I haven't understood that point of the instructions and I haven't machining the torsion bars.
I'm sure now it will be allright.

Could you give me an other advice ? The small flat on the torsion bar must be put on the suspension bar side or axle side ?

Thanks you Bob.

I give you my best regards.

Alex.

[Robert E Morey]

Alex,
You want the flat on BOTH sides of the torsion bar. One flat under the M6 screw in the hull. The other flat such that the two M4/M5 grub screws in suspension arm contact on the flat. The two flats on the torsion bar must be at the correct angle apart for the suspension arm to hang correctly.

This isn't in the instructions to do this. But it is a fairly common engineering technique.

I hope that helps your understanding.
Bob

[Roland Wallick]

Alex, Robert is right. File the flat surface on both ends. It really not that bad, the metal is rather soft, at least softer than I expeted. I started with a hand file, but then went to a bench grinder. Id recomend the hand file for better accuracy unless you've used a grinder much. Because it will cut fast and you may grind your bar crooked in no time. And if you flat is off you cant put the metal back on, your bar will not sit right.

[Robert E Morey]

Rolland,
I would recommend hand filing the flats or machining them. Unless you are very careful grinding them, one can overheat the steel and change its temper from very springy to soft. You would know if you change the temper by a change in color in the steel. Use a lot of cooling water if grinding the flats.
-Bob