front end rebuild & sway bars???? ** UPDATE***

[HITMAN 149]

hey guys...
i know this topic has been discussed in length.... different threads....
but just curious who went with who as far as companies? 
i'm doing a poly/graphite front end rebuild  & a front & rear sway bar.... all 3 places are within @$100 of each other, give or take a couple bucks..not a huge difference btwn the 3.

Performance Suspensions....     PST.....   or   Just Suspensions....
are the 3 that i came up with.
thanks....
-JOHN

[tan top]

P S T   went with their super poly front end  kit  plus a pitman arm & rear leaf spring bushes  . their g- max sway bars front 1-1/8" & 3/4"rear plus KYB shocks.

www.magnumhp.com     for heavy duty strut rods ,  t ,bar adjusters ,  lower control arm reenforcement plates  & pivot bolts .

mopar performance  , for  1" torsion bars & HEMI leaf springs ,  but i think i am going to change springs , as i think they have sagged while  my charger has been sitting .   

when i bought all this stuff it was not available in one place .  i think just suspension do all the stuff now .  except the MP parts

[chargercraig]

I just finished  my entire suspension on my 68. I did the front and rear including the rear sway bar. I used P-S-T for everthing except the disc brake conversion for that I used the right stuff. The sold me the ssbc brake kit which I highly recomend over the other kit thats out there. Its the only brake kit that will properly mount with a front sway bar. If I had it to do all over again I would not use P-S-T. They sent me three leaf springs and will not pick up the extra one after several requests (want it, its yours). There Technical advice was poor. The same manufacturer products can be found at other companies for less $$. Example; addco sway bars. They sent the wrong torsion bar dust cover and did not have the proper one available. Anyhow, take your time, do your reseach and GOOD LUCK.
Craig

[BLAM]

I found that the kits didn't meet my requirements.  I did not want poly all around.  I went with a mix of Moog and Poly parts.  Adjustable upper arms.  Sway bar up front not in the back.  I find sway bars in the back to be dangerous with high tourque engined cars with posi rears!!  I also welded seems on the K-Frame, boxed in the LCAs, and used C-Body tie rod adjusters.  Those parts were never designed for the loads that modern tires impart on the front suspension.

I have an excel spread sheet that describes my front end / suspension build in detail for my 68 Charger R/T 4spd.  If you would like a copy of the sheet forward me your email and I will send it to you.

[GTX]

I found that the kits didn't meet my requirements.  I did not want poly all around.  I went with a mix of Moog and Poly parts.

Mix of Moog and PST poly parts for me on both the GTX and Charger!

[Lifsgrt]

I used a SSBC manual disc brake conversion for my 69 R/T SE Charger to replace the power 11"x3" front drum setup.  It came with a Wilwood proportioning valve and I've put larger wheel cylinders on the rear to reduce tendency for rear brakes to lock before the front brakes.  I'm still not completely satisfied with my braking and am looking into a hydroboost setup.  This 3900lb car is hard to stop from higher speeds currently.  I did buy the base front disc pads from SSBC, although they tried to sell me the upgrade.  Maybe I should've listened.  In retrospect, I wish I'd have gone with the larger (at least 12.19" disc) and significantly lighter Wilwood front disc conversion.  I've seen the discussion that this kit has no rubber boots on the pistons and might allow more moisture past the caliper pistons, but I rarely drive this car in the rain anyway, and I would've liked better braking.
If you're planning to use stock upper control arms, I'd highly recommend the Moog offset upper control arm bushings to allow you to dial in more caster.  This allows the "no feel" stock power steering to center a little better when coming out of turns and handle better at higher speeds.
Finally, I installed a larger (don't recall size, would have to measure) Addco front sway bar.  I had been using the stock 440 R/T piece with poly bushings installed on the end links and the frame mounts. This "improved" bar is bigger and heavier, mounts further forward, my tires rub the bar at full turn lock, and the car handles no better at all.  I'll be removing this bar and going back to the original piece.  If anyone can comment on the G-machine bar (or any other that works much better than the original), please let me know.   I plan to add a rear bar in the future which should be a major gain in performance, and would like to combine that with an excellent improvement for the front.

[bill440rt]

I'm doing my suspensions right now as well on my '69, perfect timing.

Front end: Poly kit from Performance Suspension Components, seemed to be the most complete for the money. Just Suspension I think was the most expensive. PSC kit came with idler arm. Upgraded to 11/16" tie rod ends with aluminum sleeves. Aluminum strut rods. Hotchkis front sway bar kit. KYB shocks.

Rear susension: MP repro leaf springs, Mancini rear shackles with poly bushings, KYB shocks, Hotchkis rear sway bar kit.

[HITMAN 149]

hey guys....
yea i leaning towards the PST kit...they seem to have the best deal.
thanks!!!!!

[Lifsgrt]

bill440rt, where did you get the Hotchkis sway bars?  I just spoke with Hotchkis and they said they no longer offer the Charger parts.  I bought a larger Addco front bar for my 69 440 car to replace the stocker and I'm disappointed with it.  I'd also like to hear how well it works for you, and if you are comparing it to a stock piece or none.  Please advise, thanks

[HITMAN 149]

hey life.....(not to speak for bill, but......)
i emailed hotchkis a week or so ago....they don't make em anymore!!!!!!! i was gonna go w/  addco bars.... but performance suspension had a whole front end kit with front & rear "G" bars incl....so i'll keep ya posted later on after it all gets put on?!?!?!?
-john

[bill440rt]

Yes, this is true, they have been disco'd by Hotchkis. They only had a few sets left when I ordered.

HOWEVER, I just ran across this eBay auction yesterday. It may be the last set around:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=002&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&viewitem=&item=120087860143&rd=1&rd=1


Keep in mind, these are designed to fit '68-69 Chargers & b-bodies ONLY. They will NOT work with a '70-style K-member. They also will NOT work with a K-member with a Hemi skidplate. So... if you have a '68-69 Charger with a STANDARD K-member, they will work.

[HITMAN 149]

hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

[HITMAN 149]

i ordered my front end pkg (stage I kit) from performance suspensions the other day!!!  complete poly/graph front end, w/ heavy duty tie rods, front & rear sway bars, and kyb gas shocks all around!!!  $778 to my door!!! should be here 5-7 days!!!!!!! NICE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[The70RT]

i ordered my front end pkg (stage I kit) from performance suspensions the other day!!!  complete poly/graph front end, w/ heavy duty tie rods, front & rear sway bars, and kyb gas shocks all around!!!  $778 to my door!!! should be here 5-7 days!!!!!!! NICE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hey ...is the kit as expected? Have you installed it and if so.......?? THANKS

[HITMAN 149]

car is still at the shop, my buddy has been a lil busy, but he said it all looks really good!!!! so far!!! the driver side front ssbc calipers are on & the KYB shock looks all good!!! i'll have to stop by on monday to scope out any more progress!!! i'll take pics if there is any more progress!!!

[2harleyriders]

I just got my PST kit the other day.  I have all the parts out of the bags and organized on the living room floor.  Waiting for the weather to get warm again. I will post some pics later this week.

[2harleyriders]

First pics ever posted