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A Panhard Rod controls lateral movement of an axle. It is sometimes called a Track Rod. Datsun 1200's leaf sprung rear axle requires no Panhard Rod, as the leaf springs locate the axle relative to the body. However, when cornering, the car body like any mass tends to keep going in a straight line. So there will be some deflection of the body relative to the wheels. A panhard rod is the oldest, simplest method to tighten this up, first being used circa 1900 by the Panhard car company.
- Panhard Rod
The basic downside to the Panhard Rod is that it increases side-to-side deflection as the axle moves to the highest and lowest points. Only in the normal portion of the suspension travel does it keep the axle centered. A longer rod helps here to shorten the arc, so this is a problem with narrow cars. For this reason, a much more effective method is Watts Linkage or four-link suspension.
