How does lowering affect the location of the rear axle?

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Panhard Bar : Axle Shift Due To Lowering

It is known that the rear axle of a 1st gen CRX or 3rd gen civic, by design shifts from side to side as the suspension travels. The following pictures illustrate why and how much the axle shift actually is.

For this study, I've assumed a panhard bar length of 33.5" and that the chassis mount for the panhard bar is approximately 1.5" above the rear axle Centre Line (CL) in a stock ride height CRX.

The following pictures show that when lowering the CRX (based on the previous assumptions) the rear axle shifts to the passenger side of the vehicle by 0.0336" (approx 1/32) during the first 1.5 inches of lowering. At this point the Panhard bar is horizontal and further lowering will bring the rear axle back towards nominal position. If the vehicle is lowered 3" the rear axle will once again be at nominal. Lowering past 3" will shift the axle towards the drivers side. I have not studied how much the axle shift is past 3" as there would be next to no actual suspension travel remaining past this point to require further study.

Anyway, the pictures are pretty self explanatory.

Have Fun!