Raising the rear of a '68 Charger

[1968ChargerGuy]

I've replaced the springs with new ones a year ago and I'm using normal shocks. I've added a sound system which includes a subwoofer box and 4 10" subs. The weight from this has the inner venders bottoming out on normal bumps in the road. What is the best way to raise the backend to prevent this from happening? Thanks for any suggestions.

[Draco]

 There are a couple ways to help your problem. 1st if there is a spring shop in your area take your springs to them and have a leaf added, This will add strength, but I would not go full length ply maybe one under 2nd leaf have fit it in. Should add about a 80 to 100 lb. more to springs. 2nd if you have no spring shop and you still have your old springs, pull them apart and cut the 2nd ply to fit between 2nd and 3rd ply. You may need a longer center bolt. It should only raise the rear about an inch. You can add the 3rd leaf with the main leaf still in place,  but after removing the ubolts put a c- clamp on the spring before loosening center bolt, spring is under pressure. Then loosen c-clamp. Use reverse order to put back together.

[1968ChargerGuy]

Good to know. Thank you.

[Kern Dog]

Many times, the NEW springs are Chinese made with materials that are inferior to the original steel. If you have your old springs, I'd have them re-arched at a spring shop. The new springs look nice and fresh but the metal is not as strong. I have read from many where their car sags a few years after installing "new" springs.

Please do NOT use extended spring shackles at the rear.

[1968ChargerGuy]

I purchased the Mopar OEM springs but it sags way too much.

[Kern Dog]

The Mopar Performance springs are not American made. I recall them being made in either Mexico, India or China.

[Draco]

Adding a ply is your best bet, Having them rearched will raise the car but won't give any more strength.

[Shlep 68]

i used a shackle kit for 25 bucks helps some

[CB Freshness]

Pics of the set up

[Kern Dog]

No, don't do that. Shackles are like a bad toupee, a shitty suit, a cheap set of dentures and a salami taped to your thigh.

[Mike DC]

       


What is "cheap" last year is "retro" next year.  

Shackles don't always look bad.  Depends on the car.

[RamZCharger]

Raised mine with shackles, custom built with a crush sleeve, cost less than repoped stock.  You don't even see them unless you crawl under the car, and I think they look pretty good.

[John_Kunkel]

Extended shackles shout "hillbilly",     do it right with re-arching or added leafs.

[Mike DC]

[Godsmack635]

I went with a new set of air shocks on mine.  I am running about 70 psi to get the stance I want.  Looks great and doesn't change the ride all that much.  I think the local tire shop with parts and install was around $300 if I remember right.  Good luck

[Draco]

Air shocks are not a good move. The shock frame mounting hangers are not designed to support the weight of the car. They will break the lower shock stud and egg shape the top bolt holes. I worked at a spring shop for 6 years back in the day and had seen many problems with air shocks. Plus it will make the car ride like shit. Most spring shops will add a leaf and re-arch the springs for a little more then the cost of  air shocks. And what happens when your out for a long cruse and the shocks fail, you and your tires are screwed.

[Kern Dog]

Air shocks? Really???

[MoparRocks]

Oddly enough, I was looking at this on my 71. My other toy is a 92 Jeep Wrangler that has gone thru numerous changes over the years. One change I have made on the Jeep a few times is shackles. I happen to have a set of 1.25" Boomerang lift shackles floating around from M.O.R.E.  since they are Jeep shackles they are super beefy, with a center cross bolt and sleeve. And wouldn't you know it, the 71 has the same 2.5" wide leaf springs as the YJ. I went ahead and freshened up the paint on them and was planning to toss them on the Charger tomorrow to give it a nice rake. The springs in it look pretty damn flat at this point and since they are boomers I can't see them causing too much damage to the springs.

[One mopar]

If doesn't work I have mine not being put to good work I've Ben planning on swapping them for airbags and a 3 link I'm making mine into a autox / road/ trans am / daily driver car and I allredy concoured mine with more lift ( 1-3 inches) so I can use bigger mud tires off a jeep in the winter just my   

[JR]

You've got to post pics of your setup one Mopar.

An autoX/daily driver/air bagged/lifted to fit mud tires from a Jeep combination would be very unusual to see.

[One mopar]

Well not at the same time but that was funny lol 😂 to read. basically mud tires I can buy are cheaper for the winter in the back the front is set up like skis and I used to drive a jeep 2006 rubicon tire size is 265 65 16s I don't know of smaller cooper muds that are cheaper. the rest of the time I'm running sport tires kinda like seeing the miss running and tying to get her clothing wet or fall in the snow. I'd do have jeep rims on it right now but 245 40 17 with summer tires. If someone can direct me to where build threads go and I gotta fix my computer I don't how the post pics from my phone I will post some including used the big jeep tires for experiment to what might fit. I'm just trying to helpful I've had enough headache with mine 

[HPP]

I allredy concoured mine with more lift ( 1-3 inches) so I can use bigger mud tires off a jeep in the winter just my   

Uhhhh....

[One mopar]

Well I'm not making it a steet freek gasser or a stink bug with N 50 biases ply tires . What's your suggestion for the wintertime I get a lot of snow on my driveway and muds are the only tires that I've gotten stuck once the all seasons are guaranteed to get stuck and this was in the jeep 

[BDF]

 

[MoparRocks]

I'm trying to figure out why he had shackles on a 2006 Wrangler.

Haven't gotten the shackles slung under the Charger yet as I have been u able to find 4 friggin 1/2" grade 8 bolts the right size anywhere. Waiting on a set to be delivered so I can sling the shackles in. Unreal. Home Depot was sold out of the size I needed. Dixieline didn't have anything over grade 2, hell even Ace hardware didn't have the right length.

[HPP]

What's your suggestion for the wintertime I get a lot of snow on my driveway and muds are the only tires that I've gotten stuck once the all seasons are guaranteed to get stuck and this was in the jeep 

If you got stuck in a 4wd Jeep, no tire is going to get your Charger through it. Also, mud tires are not snow tires. Snow tires are designed for freezing temps with a lot of biting edges and full depth siping, mud tires have high lug to void ratios to move material out of them with no sipes . They are two different animals, but purpose built snow tires are not always cheap, and I get the impression budget is an issue, plus there is the whole hassle of swapping tires or having a spare set of rims in the garage year round.

I'm trying to figure out why he had shackles on a 2006 Wrangler.

Haven't gotten the shackles slung under the Charger yet as I have been u able to find 4 friggin 1/2" grade 8 bolts the right size anywhere. Waiting on a set to be delivered so I can sling the shackles in. Unreal. Home Depot was sold out of the size I needed. Dixieline didn't have anything over grade 2, hell even Ace hardware didn't have the right length.

I don't think he said he has shackles under his wrangler but was saying if his wrangler got stuck, he needs mud tires under his charger. I think... Kinda hard to follow the logic entirely.

I question whether the factory shackles were grade 8 hardware. 5 maybe, if that. They were a pressed in stud in the original shackles. But, if you want grade 8 hardware try here; https://www.mcmaster.com/

[MoparRocks]

Oh I'm sure they aren't grade 8 from the factory. But no way in hell im using anything less. I tend to overdo it when it comes to that sort of thing. It's a hold over from the years spent building up my Wrangler. If it's worth doing, it's worth overdoing. And suspension, roll cages, or other high stress parts get nothing less than grade 8 in my garage. I got the ones I ordered in today so I'll get the boomers on on my next day off.

[HPP]

Oh I'm sure they aren't grade 8 from the factory. But no way in hell im using anything less. I tend to overdo it when it comes to that sort of thing. It's a hold over from the years spent building up my Wrangler. If it's worth doing, it's worth overdoing. And suspension, roll cages, or other high stress parts get nothing less than grade 8 in my garage. I got the ones I ordered in today so I'll get the boomers on on my next day off.

Common approach and nothing wrong with it for most guys. With my involvement in rules restricted racing efforts, I've always examined the need for maximum durability against inspection cycles, weight gains, and costs and found that in many cases, there are areas I can use smaller and lighter parts without detriment in select areas. Yes there are still places where such compromises won't be examined, but in general for my cars, they are reviewed.

[One mopar]

Thanks ok so the jeep was all pretty much stock    The springs are original to the car but I had and fixed at Triple-A truck springs in slc Utah mite be where u can get grade 8 bolts or fastenal. My rims are 18s but I'd love 17sx8 I've never had real snow tires so I don't know the difference between the two tires. Yes you are right I am on a tight budget rite now basically I had to downsize from a good paying job which is win I bought it to minimum wage and apartment ( all the rules like no engine rebuilding in the driveway or no unlicensed cars ) so it makes it way harder to build up nice but I'm trying for now and thanks for being welcoming.

Mopar rocks I'm the same way with my car the brakes are race car good 😊