Author Topic: PST sway bars and control arms for my 71 Challenger  (Read 953 times)

Offline Sly_drums

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PST sway bars and control arms for my 71 Challenger
« on: September 27, 2016 - 07:41:26 AM »
Hello, I'd like to improve the handling of my 71 Challenger.

I currently only have a stock front sway bar on my 71 Challenger (with new bushings installed) and no bar in the rear. My car was a 383 car from the factory and has 24.5 mm (0,96 inch) torsion bars, I do have Koni shocks in the front and KYB in the back. Car handles decently at low speed but when it comes to corners it's not very efficient and I can feel it's not tight enough, also with the rear axle moving a bit...

I came through the PST website and noticed the G-Max and Pro-Touring front and rear sway bars. Any experience with them ? Which may I choose ?

What to think of the PST OEM upper control arms too ? They are cheap and interesting too (ball joint and all the rubber parts look a bit worn out on my car too).

Thanks !




Offline dfrazz

  • 1970 Cuda - 1968 Charger
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Re: PST sway bars and control arms for my 71 Challenger
« Reply #1 on: September 27, 2016 - 08:46:02 AM »
I have the G-Max front sway bar on my '68 Charger and its big but really helps control that beast.  I went with Hotchkis front and rear sways, t-bars, and shocks on my Cuda and the thing corners like its on rails.  I would also add subframe connectors, either homemade or US Cartools or someone else.  The Hotchkis ones hang low and some guys do not like them. 
« Last Edit: September 27, 2016 - 08:51:50 AM by dfrazz »

Offline Mopar Mitch

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Re: PST sway bars and control arms for my 71 Challenger
« Reply #2 on: September 27, 2016 - 12:31:00 PM »
Sly -- you'll really want to upgrade the overall suspension... stiffer TBs, leafs, change the upper control arms/bushings to get better alignment specs (positive caster with a little negative camber) etc, to make the best at harder driving (cornering, etc).

On my Challenger I have custom 1.25" front and 1.0' rear sway bars, 1.24" diam TBs, 225# fiberglass mono-leafs (5" free uncompressed arch), Koni adjustable shocks (double-adjust in the near future, such as QA1 or Viking, etc).   HANDLES ON RAILS!
Autocross/road racers go in deeper... and come out harder!

See  MOPAR ACTION MAGAZINE, AUGUST 2006 ISSUE for featured article and details on my autocross T/A.

Offline Sly_drums

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Re: PST sway bars and control arms for my 71 Challenger
« Reply #3 on: September 28, 2016 - 02:34:44 AM »
Sounds good ! Thank you for your input.
What do you advise to do about the axle moving a bit laterally ? Traction bars ?

Offline HP2

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Re: PST sway bars and control arms for my 71 Challenger
« Reply #4 on: September 28, 2016 - 11:26:45 AM »
Traction bars won't do diddly for that. Are you certain the rear is moving? Does it have witness marks where the tire has tagged or something like that is it simply the feeling of not being tight? Can you expand a bit on this feeling and conditions it occurs under.

In the handling world, we actually try to make the rear not feel so tight, so I'd say we have a perception/terminology hurdle right out of the gate. Tight=understeer=nose of car won't go where its pointed.  Loose=oversteer=rear of the car won't follow the nose.