Torsion Bar ?

[pb24]

I'm getting ready to start collecting the parts I need for my front end rebuild on my 68 Charger. My question is do the torsion bars wear out after 40 years of service do they lose their spring strength. My car has a 383 engine if I was going to replace them do the bars for 440 engine work better or is it to stiff. Do you guys recommend replacing the bars or use the old ones.

[gordo1968charger]

i replaced mine with 0.96 ones,made a big difference and they  are cheap as chips,not really worth putting the old ones back in.

[Mike DC]

 
Agreed. 

The old ones DO wear out over time, just like leaf springs.  They're adjustable for height, but that's not a great solution compared to just replacing them.  (Cranking up the height on worn-out torsion bars is kinda like putting longer shackes onto worn-out rear leaf springs.  It's a band-aid, but it still doesn't fix the core problem.  The springs have just gotten too soft.) 

If you've still got 40-year-old original torsion bars in the car and you're gonna be yanking the front end apart anyway, then definitely replace the bars too.

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The factory torsion bar sizes: 

0.88" --  most basic stock b-bodies, including 318 and slant-6
0.90" --  318/383 Chargers
0.92" --  440 & Hemi R/Ts. 

These days, all the factory's front spring rates are viewed as being a little too soft in retrospect. 
(And for anything other than drag launches, the factory's rear leaf spring rates are viewed as being a little too HARD in retrospect.) 

The 0.96" replacement torsion bars are a good compromise for a BB car.  A bit stiffer than stock in the corners, but not really enough to worsen the car's ride over bumps in any noticeable way over stock yet.

 

[pb24]

Who makes a good replacement set of torsion bars? I know Mopar performance sells them also firmfeel also makes a replacement set. What do you guys recommend.

[gordo1968charger]

i used mopar ones about $250 from year one

[Nacho-RT74]

something to 73/74 ?

[doctorpimp]

something to 73/74 ?

PST sells them for 73/74.

[73chgrSE]

do they have a website?

[pb24]

http://www.p-s-t.com/

[FLG]

I think the bars at FirmFeel are a bit cheaper then the ones that PST sells.

[Nacho-RT74]

I definitelly got from Firmfeel.... 1.06". $295 shipped to Fl