Roadster Panhard Rod.

[velovol]

Recently met up with another Roadster owner, Roger Holding who has an excellent ex trials car. We both want to fit Panhard Rods to cure the wandering rear ends. Wondering if anyone has photos of the chassis and spring mountings and any ideas on tube size ?

[stevejgreen]

Re: Roadster Panhard Rod.

https://www.frontlinedevelopments.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/rtl-quarter-elliptic.pdf

[andyf]

Re: Roadster Panhard Rod.

That looks very complicated wouldn't a simple panhard rod do?

[HairyDave]

Re: Roadster Panhard Rod.

The panhard rod moves in an arc so the axle does move sideways. It would help but a Watts link might be better. Check out 'Race and Rally Car Source Book' . My other, 7est kit car has coil overs on an Escort axle with 4 link and panhard rod for sideways location. How much can a cart sprung axle move sideways anyway?

[velovol]

Re: Roadster Panhard Rod.

Personally I am drawn to the Frontline RTL setup as it gives perfect geometry and doesn't need welding. Downside is the price and long term reliability. A panhard rod is a simpler if slightly imperfect way of doing it but we were wondering where the factory or other owners had mounted the chassis end as the chassis rails would be quite a bit higher and just wondered if there were any photos out there.

[stevejgreen]

Re: Roadster Panhard Rod.

Obviously as I shared to link, I think this is the way to go once you have eliminated all the other sources of movement.
When I fitted Spax adjustable shock absorbers it made a significant difference to the rear handling.

There are other home brew modifications, I have never tried any of them, but the description in the link seems to be pretty comprehensive.

[jon_wilkinson]

Re: Roadster Panhard Rod.

Frontline kit road tested on SWB Roadster from the "archives": http://www.marlinownersclub.com/foru...ge-road-tested

[stevejgreen]

Re: Roadster Panhard Rod.

Frontline kit road tested on SWB Roadster from the "archives": http://www.marlinownersclub.com/foru...ge-road-tested

Thats what the search button is for!

[velovol]

Re: Roadster Panhard Rod.

I read the road test from back in 2010 and it is as positive as you can get about the Frontline RTL unit. My Roadster has to my feeling over soft rear springs which are two leaf thin jobs which feel as if they are moving an unacceptable amount. Until I had a ride in Rogers trials prepared car I didn't have any direct comparison. He has van springs which are heavier and I think three leaves and definitely a lot more stable back end, presumably as the springs are less able to twist.

A five link set up is obviously the ideal with a live axle but I wouldn't set about that work with a car still having Marina front suspension, it would be easier just to buy a Westfield and have it all done for you.

[andyf]

Re: Roadster Panhard Rod.

Of course fitting poly bushes might help with stability

[stevejgreen]

Re: Roadster Panhard Rod.

There are numerous rear spring options, I listed them in my Marina Ital Axle article. There are some significant variants, even a choice of two leaf springs, but inevitably Roadster Owners don't have Marina Chassis number data so it's difficult to be certain what you have,

I think the lesson here is if you want to add any mechanism to control the suspension movement, every part of the system should be in good order including the tyres, the only thing between you and the road, that in a Marlin are conventionally run in the low 20's psi.

Changing to Superflex bushes, and Adjustable shocks are simple things to do, but with leaf springs, either change them for Genuine NOS or send them off to be re-tempered, my article lists some suppliers though it may be out of date by now.

Only once you have eliminated any flaws, then start making modifications.

I do agree with Velovol though that the work involved in adapting to fit a five link is excessive when an alternative car may be cheaper than themodification, it's personal choice.

i can only imagine the hours of effort that our French friend put in, shoe horning as MX5 rear end into his Roadster, along with the extensive chassis and body mods. Was it really a Marlin when he finished?

[dogoncrazy]

Re: Roadster Panhard Rod.

In attempting to provide an answer to Steve's post regarding The MX 5 and Marlin's
Is Tribute Automotive's take on a Ferrari [MX5 based] considered to be such. I think that we have our answer.

[stevejgreen]

Re: Roadster Panhard Rod.

To help people decide

http://www.tributeautomotive.co.uk/mx250.html

but is not the real answer that the Marin Roadster tried to look like an early Alfa.
now what was the question again?

[velovol]

Re: Roadster Panhard Rod.

I quite agree with Steve that the basics have to be taken care of before you start modifying, unfortunately I've no idea what the origin of the rear springs was. Any ideas on sources of Marina would be welcome.

The purpose of my post originally was to try to find out where the factory fitted their chassis mounting for the Panhard rod they offered as an option and maybe a photo if anyone has one.

[stevejgreen]

Re: Roadster Panhard Rod.

History tells us that on a late Roadster a mounting bracket was provided but this at best turns out to be an option that by all accounts was never taken up.
On YKC Roadsters the news is more positive the optional bracket did appear as standard, but that's where the trail runs cold.
Of course the later Sierra YKC Roadsters were a different suspension so my guess it was a very short lived feature hence the lack of concrete information and pictures.