2026-07-072026-07-07http://salesiana.dossiersoluciones.com/handle/123456789/97016We explore the metastability effects across the order-disorder transition pertaining to the peak effect phenomenonon in critical current density ($J_c$) via the first and the third harmonic ac susceptibility measurements in the weakly pinned single crystals of $2H$-$NbSe_2$. An analysis of our data suggests that an imprint of the limiting (spinodal) temperature above which $J_c$ is path independent can be conveniently located in the third harmonic data ($χ_{3ω}^{\prime}$).Accepted for publication in Phys. Rev. BSuperconductivityStatistical Mechanicstext