Challenger Stocker front suspension advice

[Larry Hill]

that's the bars I would start with, you should be able to adjust ride height with preload and control extension with shocks. I sure hope the frame is tied together and is very stiff. Now all there is to do is listen to the car and give it what it wants.

Almost forgot get the toe correct through the full range of travel,
it tells you how to do it in the "Big Book"

Hope this helps

[GallopinGhost]

Frame is tied with 2"x3" tubing, 8 point cage. Thanks, I'll take a look at the "big book" info.....I seem to remember reading about something on the upper control arm.......

[rickseeman]

As Jim B said, with todays suspensions it may not be necessary. Ask whoever is going to do your rear suspension before chasing torsion bars.

[GallopinGhost]

Rick, I'll be putting in a caltrac setup in the back, and I'll go with whatever Calvert or a knowledgeable distributor recommends. Thinking more about this, it seems to me you would want the most stored energy in the front suspension. If it's more than you need, you'd deal with it using shocks. Just thinking out loud here, I'm no expert. So what has more stored energy ? a stiff bar, twisted (1) turn, or a weaker bar, twisted (2) turns.........

Probably clean the grease off the stock ones and start there for now

[Jim B]

For conversation purposes since a torsion bar is simply a coil spring that happens to be straight there is more stored energy in a thinner diameter with more twist (lower spring rate). Follow John's recommendations as to front spring and shock and then let the car tell you what it wants. I would guess he'll recommend something on the order of a stock 6 cyl bar.FYI if the front springs are way too low in spring rate the car may have a tendancy to wheelstand that the shock can't overcome. Don't overthink your initial setup..remember the KISS principle (Keep It Simple Stupid!!) LOL

[GallopinGhost]

Jim, I like simple. I'm moving on to the next gray area ! I'll start off with the bars that came with the car, and keep my eyes open to the next looser oem bar. Interestedly, mopar performance only makes the heavier bars now. thanks !

[Jim Storms]

We run the 383 combo SS in our challenger with that factory 318 bars in and energy suspension components, it works perfectly, I would think the 2"x 3" frame connectors are a bit heavy, caltracs an good shocks will be the key on how that car works, as Larry touched on let it fly an start tuneing from there.

[GallopinGhost]

Yeah, nothing light about the connectors or cage, should be stiff enough though. I'll be getting a set of the 318 bars to swap out if needed. Got a good game plan now for the front end, thanks all for the help.

[Larry Hill]

Go get 'em and have fun!

[GallopinGhost]

Will do ! Plenty of work still to do, but I'll be there.