Mr. Charger, meet Mr. Center Divider. Pics (56k beware)

[Wakko]

Last week, the day before leaving for Dukesfest, I was really sick and in a really really angry mood.  In my ignorant and altered (medicated) state of mind I was haulin booty down the road when some moron in a Mercedes cut me off and stopped.  I slammed on the brakes and avoided him by about a foot.  Unfortunately I jumped the center median in the process.  It could have been ALOT worse, and I take partial responsibility for driving fast in the first place.  I came a foot from hitting the Benz and about another foot from hitting a metal signpost.  I lost two front tires, at least one new Vector (the other one needs to be checked) and the lower piece of the driver's side spindle.  There doesn't appear to be any damage anywhere else in the car, but I'm taking the opportunity to replace the entire steering system (there was a good 1/8 turn worth of play in the wheel, not safe at all) and do some suspension work.  The crash occurred in front of my Charger buddy's neighborhood and my tow truck driver buddy brought the car over to his house for the work to be done.   Considering I have no seatbelts, if I'd have hit the Benz it would have been alot scarier for me AND the Charger.






This is the driver's side wheel.  Impact with curb was maybe 20 mph






I was concerned about the suspension due to the driver's wheel looking a bit cambered (Found out after this pic that the wheel wasn't on that tight, so that might have contributed to the look) and here's what I found when I pulled the steering linkage off:




Lesson of the day, don't let your state of mind control how you're driving.  Granted I wasn't driving crazy, just quickly, and not even THAT quickly (maybe 60-65) but I easily could have hurt myself, the car or someone else.  Ironically, I usually drive the Charger really slowly anyway.  Oh well.

[TeeWJay426]

WOW.... considering how that could have turned out, I'd say both you and the Charger should consider yourselves VERY lucky!

[Doc74]

Holy cow 

How unlucky this may be, you are so damn lucky, I don't think anyone has to tell you what might have happened. I'm glad to see nobody got hurt, the charger can be fixed. Maybe you can return the vector and tell them it just buckled on the driveway 
You may have been going too fast, it's not supersonic speed really and there's some long tracks there. Apart from the underpants soiling experience, how did the charger do under serious stress ? If you can recall that half second where the other half is getting your life flashed before your eyes.

[Wakko]

It did horribly.  I think only the front wheels locked up (the tread picture shows how chewed up the front tires are) and the steering was worn out so it was uncontrollable.  I've never had the car over 70-75 due to the front end.  Obviously that will be replaced now along with the brakes as I get this car in a safer state.

[DodgeChargerNeeded]

Wow that makes me cringe because that is the spitting image of my car other than the wheels. If you need help getting a couple other wheels I have a few sets. Let me know.

[PocketThunder]

  

Might be time to add disc brakes on the front also.   

[Wakko]

Wish I could, but I'm extremely short on cash right now.  Dukefest was expensive for two people and I just ordered a thousand dollar assault rifle for work.  Aren't the disc brake conversions around 800?

[Mefirst]

Damn, that was close... Im happy it didint end up worse than it did..

/Tom

[Doc74]

Ok you did cross just about the dirtiest patch on the road so that's no help but you definitely tried to do a stoppie there.
Either the rear brakes need adjusting or renewing.
As for front discs, don't even doubt it even if it costs a million, it's your life and that of others we're talking about...not to mention ruining a perfectly good charger...j/k 

They are that pricey and more but there's always the option of a and e body conversions which is much cheaper but alas also more hassle. But it's brakes, you can't cut any corners there.
I'd talk to Nycmille, he has done just about the best vintage to modern transfer you can do without having to give up the looks, on the contrary.
If anyone knows what needs to be done to make it stable it'll be him me thinks.

Btw, crashed or not, it looks great Wakko, awesome ride you got. Now you can tell people it survived a jump 

[4402tuff4u]

Good thing you didn't have incoming traffic at the time! You probably would of done major damage to the Charger, yourself and the other vehicle's occupant(s) too. Glad you and your GL are ok Wakko. This might be a blessing in disguise to upgrade your front end's suspension! I know when I finish my restoration, before I buy myself red lines tires and rims, I'm investing in a set of Baer disk brakes first.  

[Arthu®]

Oops that was close, could have been way worse. And drum brakes

Arthur

[Wakko]

The large front drums aren't so bad for the style of driving I usually do.  Part of the problem is that my rear axle seals started leaking and the rear brakes are coated in grease.  I had them apart two weeks ago and cleaned them out and cleaned the vent tube, hoping it was that.  It wasn't, so before the car goes back on the road I will have to pull the axles again and find out why the new seals are leaking already.  I need to install some sort of restraint system (thinking five points and a roll bar) too, so the whole budget has to be thought of.  Since I want to redo the front brakes already, maybe the scarebird system won't be that much more.  I'll do some reasearch in the appropriate section.

[4402tuff4u]

There's a little pipe like tube on the first picture laying there by the curb, that's not something out of the Charger right?

[greenpigs]

 

Might be time to add disc brakes on the front also.   

Might be time to read the previous posts.

[Wakko]

No, it's a PVC marker that attaches to the curbs around here to show where they are.  Lotsa old folks ridin' up on curbs.  I took it out and it scuffed my bumper and hood, but the hood polished out.  Other than that, zero body damage. 

[4402tuff4u]

No, I'm talking about the first picture. Go staright down from the woman crossing the street. See the little tube? looks like a brake line or vent line

[greenpigs]

I see it, looks like the vent tube that attaches to the filler neck, doubt that is what it is. Piece of fuel  line...Better look under it good.

[Wakko]

oh, good catch.  Nope, not from my car.  Still runs just fine...but my Dixie horns won't work!

[Just 6T9 CHGR]

Sorry for your misfortune Wakko....looks like an easy mechanical fix.

Who's skid marks are those in the pic thats a far away view with your car not in the pic?   Yours as well as the ones over the divider?

Man was the other guy at a dead stop that you had to brake so hard from 60 mph???

[tan top]

you was lucky ,glad to hear know one was injured ,  could of been worse

[PocketThunder]

 

Might be time to add disc brakes on the front also.   

Might be time to read the previous posts.

:scope:He didnt say he was putting in disc brakes, only that he was going to replace the brakes...  they sure look like drums to me.

[Sinister68]

...Considering I have no seatbelts...

No seatbelts?      

I didn't even know you could get a late 60's car inspected without seatbelts?    Thanks like playing Russian Roulette unnecessarily.

You're important to the forum, Wakko -- Install some 'belts!!! 

[Wakko]

Sinister, we don't have inspections in Florida.  The car didn't come with belts when I got it and since I'm invincible and never make mistakes, I never installed them.   The only question now is whether to do lap belts or a roll bar with five point.  I like the idea of five point "Oh, sorry [insert female name here], let me show you how to buckle that right in the middle of your cleavage."

[Sinister68]

Sinister, we don't have inspections in Florida...

Wow! Didn't know that.  How does Florida keep unsafe vehicles off the road?

[Wakko]

They don't.  It's up to the cops to write 316.610 "unsafe equipment" tickets.     I think I'm the only one in the county that does.  I saw some dude yesterday driving a jacked up truck with a bulge in one tire so bad it was exposing the steel belts.  He was surprised when I pulled him over for it too.

[THE CHARGER PUNK]

hahaha

[70charginglizard]

Damn. That sucks.
You must be really sick over this one and a bit rattled I'm sure.
Good luck on the repair and I think everyone is right. Time for a brake upgrade. I've got to consider the same on mine. 

[mikepmcs]

the rustang in the first pic has me baffled, is that just somone who stopped after the incident.
Real nice car by the way, sorry for the added expense, but now it will be even better looking after you do that front end with all that new shiny stuff
v/r
Mike

[Wakko]

The dude in the Moosewang is my local Charger buddy.  My cell phone was broken and I couldn't call him, but he happened to come by 15 minutes later anyway, so it worked out well.  Car's at his house right now. 

[bull]

At least there wasn't any body damage, and what you did damage is easily replaced. As far as the expense of getting disc brakes, I'd say you can't afford to not get them.

[Mike DC]

 
Heck, you're lucky the car didn't get totalled & people hurt or killed.  I mean, ANYTHING involving 65 mph and a curb is serious trouble.

-----------------------------------------------------------

Well, I guess we've got ourselves a real-world durability test of the new reproduction AR Vectors. 

Sure they bent & cracked, but on the other hand I think it could have been a lot worse.  They didn't crack in half at the bolt circle & fall off the car or anything.

 

[Wakko]

I was only doing about 20 when I hit the curb, didn't you see the skidmarks?     The wheels didn't crack either, just bent. 

[Todd Wilson]

   Considering I have no seatbelts, if I'd have hit the Benz it would have been alot scarier for me AND the Charger.

[

I thought it was the law to wear your seatbelt? Did you get a ticket for no seatbelts?  I believe that car is supposed to have seatbelts??


Todd

[Wakko]

Yes it's the law.  Of course I didn't get a ticket.  And yes it's the law for the car to have seatbelts.  It's also the law to abide by the speed limit.

[BigBlackDodge]

Forget the brake upgrade................it's time for an underwear upgrade!     .marks!

Glad ya made it through okay and nobody got hurt.


BBD

[dodge freak]

When I drive I am very careful next to a graud rail or anything else that is next to me that I can't go. Shoulders are fine you can always drive on it to avoid hitting something even the grass is fine with me. Its sad but sometimes when you are speeding somebody trys to cut you off. They call it road rage now but its always been like that. The law is not much help either but now of days its not as bad with 70 mph speed limits and people know now that there is something like road rage were somebody has a fit if they think somebody else is not driving "right". Its still very hard to proof that somebody cuts you off because they are in a rage. Like I said try to speed only when you have another "lane" you can go in to even if its not really a lane. When there is no place to go drive very careful. Yes sometimes  its not so easy to do. Different roads are better than others. Glad YOU are ok, and the car too but  YOU is the big one. Hope the police did not try to say that you were the one driving " bad". but they don't like hotrods even when they are driving slow.

[mikepmcs]

I think wakko is law enforcement, that's why he didn't get slammed on the belt thing.  I'm all for it.

[dodge freak]

I am all for helmets not seat belts but now of days you look like a nut wearing one, even the police don't wear them anymore

[rare69]

willwood front disc conversion and disc brake booster,master cylinder and new proportion valve.$800.00 probably worth less than your life! or your car.glad every body is ok.

[dodge freak]

I might be a speed nut but I would not drive a car without disk brakes in front. I don't care if you are a cop or what ever if you kill somebody while you are driving you have big trouble on your hands.

[TruckDriver]

Geez Ian! First the GN, now the Charger. Least your okay  

[General_01]

Ian. I think the SSBC club buy is an ongoing thing and I paid $650 plus shipping for the a156 kit for the front. I know you are low on moolah right now, but just wanted to let you know. After all was said and done last year, putting disc brakes on the car was the best money I spent.

[ChargerHound69]

Wow!!

I am glad to hear you are alright Wakko.  That is one to remember for along time.

[RallyeMike]

I'm glad to hear you or nobody else got hurt. Cars are fixable.

Medicated, speeding, oiled down rear brakes, no seat belts, and you won't drive the car over 70 because the steering is so bad ? Sounds to me like the accident just finally found a place to happen.... 

[Old Moparz]

Glad it wasn't any worse Wakko, & I hope you do the upgrades. Last summer when I put my friend's Superbird into the guide rail, it turned out to be mechanical brake failure as well as bias ply tires, air shocks & old technology. He now has new brakes & radials, as well as tossing the air shocks in favor of something more modern. The car was fixed & is almost ready now, but I haven't seen it yet.

[4402tuff4u]

Glad it wasn't any worse Wakko, & I hope you do the upgrades. Last summer when I put my friend's Superbird into the guide rail, it turned out to be mechanical brake failure as well as bias ply tires, air shocks & old technology. He now has new brakes & radials, as well as tossing the air shocks in favor of something more modern. The car was fixed & is almost ready now, but I haven't seen it yet.

Bob, is he going to let you drive it again? Let me say, do you want to drive it again?

[Wakko]

I'd be terrified to drive that car.    Even though it doesn't appear to be your fault, you still feel compelled to feel guilty.   

[RT DAVE]

They don't.  It's up to the cops to write 316.610 "unsafe equipment" tickets.     I think I'm the only one in the county that does.  I saw some dude yesterday driving a jacked up truck with a bulge in one tire so bad it was exposing the steel belts.  He was surprised when I pulled him over for it too.

That's awful ballsy of you given you don't have seatbelts in your own car.   

Glad to hear you're okay.   Get some seatbelts! 

[Old Moparz]

Bob, is he going to let you drive it again? Let me say, do you want to drive it again?

I never actually discussed it with him, but he does know it wasn't driver error once the mechanic found a caliper problem. Although I can't help feeling I am partially to blame for it since the driver is supposed to have total control at all times. Heavy traffic & an idiot in front of me who decided to stop on the interstate didn't help, but there was plenty of distance between us & him. I would drive it if he's okay with it, but I sure as hell know I'll be more nervous than before.

I'd be terrified to drive that car.    Even though it doesn't appear to be your fault, you still feel compelled to feel guilty.   

Very true, but with the new equipment it should be a different car now & safer.

[Brock Samson]

 Whew!..   


  you are SO lucky you didn't go head on into oncomming traffic...

A lesson in why brakes are so important, Front Disc Brakes are a fine upgrade for every vehicle... well worth it Whakko! I'll bet you agree...
Drums only have one good stop in them once they heat up, after that, triple your stopping distances... I'd bet discs. improve your stopping power and approx shorten stopping distances (10% though i don't know how to qualify that exactly besides seat of the pants feel).


Oldparts, that S.B. looks jacked up in back, why are the leafs showing so much?..

That had to be an awful feeling...
worse would be hurting someone.
peace.

[Charger Aficionado]

I went over some curbs in my first '69...  Fun stuff...  My alloys actually Cracked bad...

[Lightning]

glad to hear you're ok Wakko.


as for the disk brake idea.   Just grab the front spindles off of a M-body, I know there's plenty of them down near your way, a few wander up here with y'all's liscense plates.   Cheap, quick, and easy.  I can also testify they work great too, hauled my car down from 60 really fast.   It might cost you $150 or so for the full conversion.

[Wakko]

Which is the M body, the Diplomat?  Is everything plug and play?

[Old Moparz]

Oldparts, that S.B. looks jacked up in back, why are the leafs showing so much?..

That had to be an awful feeling...
worse would be hurting someone.
peace.

It had huge tires out back, Mickey Thompson I think, & air shocks to keep it from rubbing. It's the "old school" look my friend likes, so that's what he had on it. If I recall, he has the same set up on his lime 6 pack Superbird too. I'm glad he upgraded.

Dave, what tires & such are on your Road Runner?

[Silver R/T]

ya, it could've been a lot worse. Glad youre OK

[PocketThunder]

Which is the M body, the Diplomat?  Is everything plug and play?

Yes.

http://www.allpar.com/model/dodge-diplomat.html

[472 R/T SE]

Glad no one got hurt. 
Operating such an unsafe ride would make you a hypocrite then right?   
The more I read, the more I thought someone must have stole your account and wrote all that. 

[Drache]

Holy Crap Wakko! When I read the title I thought you had come across an '06 Charger while your patrol, not your '69! 

[Wakko]

I wish.  The only damage to the car is the driver's side lower ball joint and the wheels/tires.  I spoke to my LCB and we decided to go ahead and pull the motor on the car.  Considering it needs brakes, steering, suspension, clutch and an oil leak repaired, it's the sensible thing to do it all at once.  Sucks to have to lose the car for a couple months, but in the long run it'll be better off.  We're also going to shoot the lower half of the engine compartment orange in perparation for future GL treatment.

[Lightning]

Which is the M body, the Diplomat?  Is everything plug and play?

Yes.

http://www.allpar.com/model/dodge-diplomat.html

not just the Diplomat, the Gran Fury, the 5th Avenue, the Mirada, the later Cordoba.....and I think that's it unless you wanta include the F-bodies