HELP!! Charger Failed PA Inspection!

[acelondon]

1974 Charger SE 318 2bbl, 727 Auto, 8 1/2 rear with 3.23(i think) gears. Front disc, rear drums.

Reasons:

Brake system needs replaced, everything but the master cyl(6 mo old)
Rear Leaf Springs and shackles are junk.

I can handle brakes, and i can find the parts, but the springs and shackles are proving elusive. What should i use? (links please?)

Anybody have these? can i make them work on my car?
http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?part=SUM-BK1329

[craigandlynda]

where in pennsylvania?

[acelondon]

15317, McMurray, 20 some miles south of pittsburgh

[Chryco Psycho]

ESpo & Mopar have the leaf spring sets

[Mike DC]

How the F can they declare your leaf springs  inadequate?  Either the back bumper is off the ground or it isn't. 

[Chryco Psycho]

move away from PA ?

[mally69]

move away from PA ?

   I live in PA and there are shops around that give people a line of crap. Do yourself a HUGE favor and take it some place else to be inspected. More than likely another shop will pass it. Unless your shackles  and springs are actually about to break off then they would be correct and need to be replaced.. I think those guys are just stringing you along. 

[craigandlynda]

i used to live in pennsylvania- and i used to have an inspection station...to fail leaf springs, they would have to have broken leaves, be missing clips, or be bent backwards, or be so weak the tail is lower than the front...another reason to fail them is that the rubber in the shackles is gone...and those long rear shackle kits they sell in discount auto parts stores ARE junk; some inspectors might fail your car because of them...

i was pretty much "by the book" on inspections...and i think pennsylvania has the strictest in the nation...i used to have some real "bombs" come in for inspection, and it was frustrating to fail a car for serious deficiencies, only to have the guy down the road slap a sticker on the same car, having done nothing to correct problems...(how would you like to have some guy with bad brakes or steering components, lose control and slide head-on into you ar your family?)

here in northern minnesota, we have no vehicle inspection...no emissions check either...but if a cop sees an unsafe condition, you get stopped...we don't have the population density, (or the percentage of dummies in our population) that they do in pennsylvania....the only thing we seem to have here is a rust problem...especially w plowtrucks....

[Hondo66charger]

Why don't you just put Antique plates on it and you wont need inspection..  I would address the safety issues of course but at least you wont need some inspection sticker every year .

Moast of us who have antique plates keep our cars in good enough shape that  there wouldnt be any issues that shuld fail an inspection but it is a hassle. I would imagine that where you live they will probbaly try to force the emissions sticker on your car soon also. With antique plates it just doesnt matter. the only drawback is the limited use of the vehicle. If tis your only transportation then you have a problem that needs resolved quickly if you want to continue using the car  however if its your cruiser  you can eliminate a bunch of crap  no new registration every year, you can insure your car for  replacement valuse relatively cheap compared to  the average  collision and compn fees. andbest of all no inspection.

[acelondon]

Antique plates have too many restrictions for me. I bought this car to drive. Its my 2nd car, but still, im gonna drive it when i want to.

Interestingly enough, while measuring for exhaust parts last night, i found a pretty decent hole in the frame that inspection buddy didnt find. I better fix that....


Does anybody sell a Complete brake system? I don't want to buy separate parts if i don't have to.

[375instroke]

Must have looked like this:

[Mike DC]

If I was replacing a lot of the brake system, I wouldn't put all that money & effort into the stock drums.  Take the opportunity to convert to front discs.

[craigandlynda]

375instroke, i would have failed that car for sure...the tail light is out.

[IHATEMYEX]

I HAVE THE PLYMOUTH VERSION OF THAT CAR AND IT'S IN P.A.    I THINK THOSE TRUNKS ARE A LIGHT WEIGHT OPTION. PAT

[THE COLONEL]

Antique plates have too many restrictions for me. I bought this car to drive. Its my 2nd car, but still, im gonna drive it when i want to.

Interestingly enough, while measuring for exhaust parts last night, i found a pretty decent hole in the frame that inspection buddy didnt find. I better fix that....


Does anybody sell a Complete brake system? I don't want to buy separate parts if i don't have to.

I have antique plates on The Colonel, and I have never once been questioned on how much driving I have done.  I can't even remember what the restrictions for miles were, but in one year I have gone to Nashville, Canada, Carlisle, and even all over my area, and I'm sure I went over what they say you can drive.  I wouldn't worry about it.  Inspection is the main reason I wanted to get the antique plate.  I wanted Classic to customize my plate, but even with Classic plates, you need inspections.

[acelondon]

DMV RULES:

"
Classic/Antique:
To qualify for any of these plates, the vehicle must be primarily used for antique exhibitions, parades, and related activities. The vehicle may be driven one day a week for routine transportation use.
"

morons and their laws.

[THE COLONEL]

Yeah, but they don't pay attention to them.  If that's the case, I would have been in trouble by now.

[Winged 1]

 
Look on the bright side...
Every day is your day for a drive...

Eric

[squeakfinder]

DMV RULES:

"
Classic/Antique:
To qualify for any of these plates, the vehicle must be primarily used for antique exhibitions, parades, and related activities. The vehicle may be driven one day a week for routine transportation use.
"

morons and their laws.

       Well,
                Every time I drive my Charger it's an "antique exhibition".   

                Or maybee I should roll my window down and wave at people as I drive by.

                elbow elbow wrist wrist

[PA Dodger]

Like Colonel said, don't worry about it. I live in PA and have an antique plate. Never a problem.  The "routine transportation" thing becomes an issue if they see you with bags of mulch and shrubs hanging out of the trunk of your Charger. I got my plate so I didn't need to do the yearly registration/inspection thing anymore. Well worth it IMHO.
Dan

[1970440RT]

Sorry, I just saw this thread. 

If you are still having some problems, let me know.  I live in Bridgeville and know a few good local shops that can help you out.

[375instroke]

DMV RULES:

"
Classic/Antique:
To qualify for any of these plates, the vehicle must be primarily used for antique exhibitions, parades, and related activities. The vehicle may be driven one day a week for routine transportation use.
"

morons and their laws.

So just keep the speeding tickets down to one or less every seven days.

[Plumcrazy]

Yeah, but they don't pay attention to them.  If that's the case, I would have been in trouble by now.

Same here.

[acelondon]

got my car classed Antique by my insurance, but AAA said the state takes about 2 months to get the plates to me!

i could have it passin inspection in 2 months!
screw that!

I'm calling my State Representative.
He can get anything done in about a day, if he thinks you'll vote for him.

sorry about the Zombie Thread.