The Dodge Challenger Message Board

It`s been a few years since i`ve worked on this type of suspenion and am wondering if the torsion bars are interchangable from side to side, if there is a front and rear end, and if they need to be indexed in a certain position when installed ( I noticed a line across each end ) also would a 1 inch dia. bar in a big block Challenger give a much stiffer or harsher ride than the stock bar (.920 dia. ) thanks

The torsion bars have a slight offset built into the hex at each end. The amount of offset depends on the size of the bar.

Because of this offset the bars are normally left and right handed. They should be marked as such and they should have a different part number for each side.

I don't think it matters which end goes to the front and there is no indexing as the bar is the same no matter which way you turn it.

Now note I said "normally" left and right handed. I also said that the amount of offset changes with bar diameter. The thicker the bar the less offset.

As it happens I use one inch diameter front bars. When i first got them years ago I noticed that there was NO offset built into them at all. Not that I could see or measure.

When this is the case i don't think it matters which side goes where.

A one inch bar is about a 30% increase on the spring rate. How stiff and harsh it feels depends on what you are used to.
American cars in general are very soft and bouncy compared to the way cars are made around the rest of the world. I personally like a firm ride and the cornering ability it gives the car.

But it will understeer like mad if you don't also increase the spring rate at the rear of the car.

hello if you put the bars in back to front it will reverse the offset but as dave said if theres no offset with 1" bars it shouldnt matter but ive always found the ends with the L& R & the other numbers etc always goes to the front
cheers ian
ps the photo is a right hand bar from an A body its the front end of the bar hope this helps

Now. I didn't think it did reverse the offset if you spin them front to back. I thought it stayed the same and only changes from side to side.

I tried thinking about it some more but ended up confusing myself.

I will need to think about it later. You are probably right Ian but i like to excersise my brain and prove these things to myself. Wish I had a stock bar to look at like you but I sold mine to a guy fitting a 440 in a 318 convertible.

yes you are right dave(i confused myself) if a torsion bar has a clockwise offset it is still clockwise when switched back to front however bars seem to be always fitted with the markings to the front from factory thats what ive found anyway
cheers ian