The Dodge Challenger Message Board

Okay I sort of bought too big of torsion bars for my 71 I think. 1.16" because I thought big is better. After reading several threads I think I should sell 'em and get some 1" instead. I replaced my 318 with a 440 and just want some cornering ability. If I keep them what should I do to increase the rear spring rate so as not to get understeer?

A one inch bar is about a 30% increase in the normal 440 spring rate. You need a rear spring about 30% up on the stock 440 spring too.

I got mine custom made. It was quite cheap actually.

I also use a 1-1/8" sway bar on the front and 3/4" on the rear although depending on the balance of the car and actual unsprung weight at the corners you might want a 7/8" rear bar.

I am a novice to this question so go easy on me.

Do you have to replace the rear springs or any other parts if I were wanting to install a rear sway bar? Is the installation process relatively easy? I should expect less body sway when completed?

Reccomendation on where/what to purchase.

Brad

A rear sway bar is always a good thing as long as you already have a front bar.

Chrysler should have fitted front and rear bars on all the challengers right from the start.

But if your car already has a tendancy to oversteer (going too fast around a corner and the back end slides out) then increasing the spring rate at the rear by adding a bar will make this worse. The fix is to increase the front roll rate with a bigger bar (or stiffer torsion bars) there.

However most Challenger understeer to some degree (too fast into a corner and the car tries to go straight instead of around) and a rear bar will improve this as well as keeping the car more level in the corners.

The more level the car is on a turn the more weight is on all four wheels and grip is improved.

I forgot to say. There are two types of rear sway bar (or anti-roll bar as we call them over here).

One type fixes to the axle and the ends are connected to the chassis.

The other type fixes to the chassis and the ends to the axle.

That latter type is the bast type as it does not add to the unsprung weight. So the suspension works better.