Car stance?

[Harlow]

Hey guys, I was wondering what the best (cheapest/not harmful to the car) way to get a nice forward leaning stance. Larger tires on the back or do you change/modify the leaf springs? I've never heard how people do it. It would be great if you could say what you did and then post a picture of the results.

- Scott

[Dave22443]

If you are looking for a cheap and easy way to get a forward looking stance on your Mopar, you picked the right car.  The torsion bar front suspension is easy to adjust with a few turns of a socket and a tape measure.  (I use the tape measure to get the distance from the ground to the lip of the fender to match on both sides).  Just keep in mind, the lower you go, the less suspension travel you have before you bottom out.

Taller tires out back are one way to raise the rear, but the cheapest and easiest way is either with air shocks or booster springs.  Both are easy to install and remove and leave nothing permenant if you decide you want to change back later.  (Back in the day, we also used shackels but I don't like to talk about it) 

Does this help?

[terrible one]

I would suggest only using the bigger tires/ leaf springs with more arc method to raise the rear end of the car as air shocks will damage the shock crossmember and shackles will ruin the leaf springs.

[Dave22443]

Hum... not sure I nessesarily agree with you on the air shocks damaging the shock towers.  I run them on my car and have no problems.  I run 80 PSI in them which gives me the exact amount of clearance I want without causing a harsh ride.  In fact, you would never know I had air shocks on it unless you looked under it.

However, I DO agree that mis-using air shocks can damage the shock towers.  I.e., people see "Maximim Pressure 150 LBS" and they put 150 psi in them.  This has the effect of putting the entire cars weight on the shock towers with very little give.  It causes a very bumpy ride and will stress your towers.

I think its all in how you use them.   

[Mefirst]

If you change the hight of the front end of the car with turning the torsion bars, you also need to check the front tire alignment!

/Tom

[terrible one]

Hum... not sure I nessesarily agree with you on the air shocks damaging the shock towers.  I run them on my car and have no problems.  I run 80 PSI in them which gives me the exact amount of clearance I want without causing a harsh ride.  In fact, you would never know I had air shocks on it unless you looked under it.

However, I DO agree that mis-using air shocks can damage the shock towers.  I.e., people see "Maximim Pressure 150 LBS" and they put 150 psi in them.  This has the effect of putting the entire cars weight on the shock towers with very little give.  It causes a very bumpy ride and will stress your towers.

I think its all in how you use them.   

I'll agree with you there. What I meant was people using the air shocks by filling them up to jack the rear end sky high and slack out the leaf springs, which will, as you said, put all of the cars weight on the upper shock mounts.

[Dave22443]

Yeah, that is a definate no-no 

I also agree with the other points made.  Shackels can wreck your springs and lowering the torsion bars may require a new front end alignment.  But!  He did say "cheapest" 

[Harlow]

Yeah, that is a definate no-no 

I also agree with the other points made.  Shackels can wreck your springs and lowering the torsion bars may require a new front end alignment.  But!  He did say "cheapest" 

well I'm on a limited budget so I'm trying to get the best bang for my buck.

[Dave22443]

Oh yeah, I almost forgot, you requested pictures.  Here's a link to a previous thread of mine that shows a nice shot of the stance.

http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,19526.msg214017.html#msg214017

[GTX]

You could do what some clown did on my car before I got it and weld lower shock mounts on the TOP of the axle.
After that they mounted coil overs so that all of the shock was mounted above the axle and a really firm ride! They also had extended shackles too.
I'd imagine that gave them a real forward stance although one I hope you aren't after.

Oh, they also had fringe hanging from above the windshield too. 

[Charger-Bodie]

if you cant afford springs id go the tire route as i am a firm believer in the dont use air shocks rule [you get a special badge on youre club jacket when you change a shock xmember that was ruined by air shocks] i just wouldnt take the chance 

[Harlow]

A larger wheel out back seems like a better choice for me because I want to buy some soon anyways, the second owner (guy I bought it from) had put 80's bronco wheels on it, they don't look too good Are there any disadvantages for a larger wheel on the back? I would guess that gas mileage is worse?

[bordin34]

City would be worse because the engine needs to work harder, but highway would be better because the big tires give you a lower ratio.

[TripleBlackGator]

This question was asked just recently. Click and behold.
http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,24024.0.html