1973 Charger suspension, brakes, and steering rebuilds

[Paul G]

Finished the last of the work today and went for a drive. The car needs a complete restoration. I am starting on the bottom and working my way up. It took about a week to disassemble the suspension, brakes, and steering. About 4 months to recondition and reassemble. 

I used all poly body and suspension bushing parts from Rock Auto, Energy Suspension stuff. Steering parts are all Moog from Rock Auto except the steering gear box, it is a reman from Car Quest which is now Advance Auto. Brakes from NAPA. Everything wearable is new.

This is before I started the rebuild, just got the junk to run and put some CL wheels and tires on it.


Under side of the car before rebuild.





This is now with all new parts.








The engine compartment before.



Engine compartment after





New grille installed

[Paul G]

I could not find new rear sway bar bushings at all. Energy Suspensions recommended some generic bushings that I had to make work. Had to drill out the spot welds on the end links to get them apart. Made a half round plate and welded it to the top section of the end link. That held the new poly bushing in place. Used the same generic bar bushings that came with mounting straps, mounted the bar to the frame with those. Had to make a shim pack to put between the bar bushing and the frame. Bar was not aligned under the end link without the shims.

[pro451bee]

Nice work , the before and after is stunning. How do you like the  ride now?

[Paul G]

The ride is very firm with the poly bushings. I wanted the car to handle better and it does. The factory built in a smoother ride than previous generations by using the rubber body mounts. Switching to poly body mounts negated 75% of that, the KYB shocks took away the other 25%.

[moto916]

Looks Great!  Question;  In the second photo, at the rear of the leaf springs, are those steel plates used to raise the ride height?  Are they store bought or home made?  Just curious,thanks!

[Paul G]

Looks Great!  Question;  In the second photo, at the rear of the leaf springs, are those steel plates used to raise the ride height?  Are they store bought or home made?  Just curious,thanks!

Those are extended length shackles. Store bought garbage. Used to regain ride height in a worn out leaf spring, or raise the rear for big tire clearance.

[moto916]

Thanks for the response! Good luck with the car!!

[chapel40]

Ive always used air shocks to restore rid height. It works great and is adjustable.

[chapel40]

Looks great, I like the car!!