The Dodge Challenger Message Board

Can anyone refer me where I can locate suspension upgrade kits.
I know they are offered.
I am wanting to get the steering and suspension as tight as I can and know there are bushings/ parts that can be upgraded/ replaced.

Any thoughts?

Thanks!

Polygraphite bushings for the frontend
Manual steering box
SS leaf springs
Thicker torsion bars
Thicker swaybars front & rear
Stiffer shocks front & rear
Big rims w/ low profile tires
Put the car on a diet

All of the above will make a car's suspension stiffer and makes it handle 'better' depending on the purpose of the car. Most of the parts can be bought from places like PST, Just Suspension, Mancini, Summit etc.

Am no expert on these parts as I mostly go the other route - loosen everything, better weight transfer, straight line racing - but there some around here who can really help you set up the suspension!

Have you "seen" my reply on torsion bar selection post? A good man to talk MoPar Suspensions id Dick Ross at FirmFeel, another is Just Suspenson. Both have exclusive products that you can build a "canyon carver" from their quality bolt on parts. If you want the "best" and are willing to pay for it, then Xtreme Velocity engineering cant be beat XV has two levels, one can be bolted on, the other is extensive and requires major sheetmetal surgery but it can outcorner any other american 60s musclecar. I "pieced meal" my suspension with what I percieved as the "best" parts I could get at a reasonable price with out any cutting and only requiring ,(4), four 3/8 inch bolt holes to be drilled on the rear frame rails. I am very happy with the outcome and the car handles great for how heavy it is.

In my opinion, the offset upper control arm bushings would make the greatest differance, especially at higher speeds. The reason being, kicking out the caster makes the car feel more stable. The stock bushings can only go so far. Mine made it only to about 0.0 caster. Dave recommends about 2-3 degrees (positive?) That is why the offset units are in production. I know Moog makes a set for cheap.

From what I have heard the soild "poly" bushings throughout will transfer more road noise. If that doesn't bother you, in return you will get better feel. They probabaly last quite a bit longer too.

Yes, Jon, you are right on that one! My car "feels" every pebble in the road and the slightest road imperfection can be felt which is what I wanted! The trade-off in excellent handling was well worth it. Also dont forget the poly transmission mount, it makes a difference in the way it even shifts! I dont believe I have ANY rubber left in the car,(black poly graphite used thru-out and no squeaks too!)

I'm in the same boat, I also have a 70 chally. Sorry to hihack your thread. I've been looking at the Just suspension Real Deal kit. What do you guys think about it? Is it worth the money which I think is $1800. Or is there a better kit to get for the money.

JD, most of my parts came from just suspension and Firm Feel. I dont think it gets any better than that, and they dont have the chinese tawainese made parts which I would steer clear of, (pun intended). All of Just Susp. parts are USA made and Dick Ross at Firm Feel is very help ful and will talk to you. I called him and was gonna use the 16:1 Manual box on my car. He talked me out of it and I am VERY thankful he did. It would have been undrivable on anything but a racecourse. The 20:1 box combined with his Sway bar diameter front and rear was dead on. The car will throw you around if not belted in, and there is NO wallow through the curves. It is not setup for the drags as the front end does not rise on accel, which is also what I wanted. They can set your car up for drags however if that's what you want.

I think what I'm after is mainly the tighter feel and response than the original is going to give me.
I only plan on general driving- no drag/ no racing, so alot of what you have recommended might be overkill for my situation.

What would be the easiest/ cost effective moves I could make that would make a difference- based on my intended driving habits?

Thanks for all the advice!!

~Chuck

Easy. Just a bit less than "72 Challenger" (Hans) suggested in the first reply.

1. Upgrade the suspension with larger spring rates. The easy option is to order a set of Hemi springs and front sway bar.

2. Add a rear sway bar.

3. Replace all the rubber suspension bushes with poly. If you cannot or will not do that then at the very least replace the rear spring bushes and the LCA strut to K-frame bushes with poly. Make sure all the rest of the bushes are in good order.

4. Invest in some good shock absorbers. The cheap option is to buy the the KYB Gas-a-Just shocks as they are only about $70 a pair. But they are not adjustable as the name suggests.

5. Mopar power steering is not clever. Fit a manual box with a slightly higher ratio than stock. It will feel heavy at low speeds but on the winding roads will feel great.

6. Fit the torque boxes to the 4 corners of the chassis that the 440, 426 and all convertibles came with as stock. If you also fit chassis connectors you will feel really the difference. The car will feel a lot tighter.

I am not sure which order i would put all these in. Maybe chassis first. But each will show improvements.

Excellent suggestions Dave, if I might add, the Eddies IAS shocks are self adjusting,(ricor valve), as edelbrock suggests, they work as advertised smooth yet tight on the open roads, loose and compliant on the wallows or potholes as hillbillys call em. And the best is only about 200.00 for all four!

Thanks Eddie. I might eventually swap over to them as they sound like a better design.
Didn't realise they were so cheap.

Sorry Dave I was a little off, 75.99 for a single shock at Mancini Racing. So a set of four would be around 300.00, which for the technology, isnt too bad.