Jack disaster

Hi folks
Made a major schoolboy error today. Removing front wheels so i jacked up the jimny on the jacking point on the front axle. I never put any axle stands underneath and the jack slipped off. Luckily for me i wasnt underneath, but the jack caught a metal rod in front of the differential and bent it badly. Now my jimny drives awful, is pulling strongly to the left and in order to keep it straight, the steering wheel is turned to the right and not straight. I have attachef photos of the damage. Is that the panhard rod I've bent?

Yes that is the panhard rod.

Take it off and straighten it, probably best to get a new one on order as bending and straightening could weaken it.

The bend has made it short, so the axle is out of line to the right, and the steering is pushed to the left.

Never mind.  No-one hurt and it's a bolt-on part.

Thanks guys. I took it off and straightened it as best I could. Not an easy job at all! It's still slightly bent and pulling to the left a little bit but way better than before.

I think i will order an adjustable one to replace it. Can't seem to locate the price for an OEM part or even the part number but there are adjustable ones available.

What sort of jack are you using? Can I suggest you buy a trolley jack? If using a bottle jack, then one with a saddle to go round the axle tube is the safest way, but only use a bottle jack on solid level ground.

Yes it was a trolley jack. I must have been careless with how it was positioned on the axle which led to it slipping off when i jacked it up to a high level. A silly mistake that i won't make again, you live and learn!