What front end kit is best?

[purple1]

I need to rebuild the front end in my purple Challenger. I bought a kit from PST for the orange car,
but that was years ago. I need everything. I only want to do this once.

Also opinions on poly vs. rubber.

[MEK-Dangerfield]

Dave,
  I have a set of poly bushings that I bought once upon a time. It will be the year 3000 before I get to it(LOL). Anyway, it's yours if you want it.

  Mike

[purple1]

Thanks for the offer Mike, but only if your not going to use them.

I wanted to just do all bushings, ball joints upper and lower, pitman and idler arms, tie rod ends, bumpers, everything all at once. All new tires will also be a must. Then align the car. And the wife has given the OK stamp to buy all the parts


Dave

[Street_Challenged73]

The main spot you do not want Polygraphite bushings would have to be the lower control arms.  The pivot shaft needs to be positively connected to the LCA's, but poly. bushings are unable to offer that like the rubber ones do.  Other than that, the rest should be alright.  I haven't dealt with P-S-T before,  but I'd assume their kits are designed well for a driver. I built my own kit using premium parts from Napa and Mancini Racing, but it definitely took quite the time to get everything together.  All together, I think I paid around $1,300, but that included new HD strut rods, .920 torsion bars, 4 shocks, 11/16" tie rod ends and 1" adjusters, new torsion bar bolts and swivels, TB clips and boots, offset UCA bushings (for greater adjustment on the camber angle), rubber LCA bushings, idler arm, pitman arm, and new LCA pivot shafts.

[purple1]

This is one kit I am looking at.

http://www.p-s-t.com/mopar/mofekpgs.html

It says "Polygraphite lower control arm bushings are not available.
OE type bushings are in kit "

Any others?

[HemiDog]

If you do go poly on the LCA, American Mucscle and Firm Feel make new pivots that will work with them to maintain the positive connection.  That is the way I have my car setup, but I can't comment on the performance yet.  A set of adjustable strut rods would probably help too.

http://www.americanmuscle.biz/parts.lasso
http://www.firmfeel.com

[Plum6Pak]

You can get a super kit at Mancini that pretty much covers everything you are talking about.

http://manciniracing.com

[Chryco Psycho]

I use Energy Suspension poly bushings & Moog ball joints tierods etc
 a cool upgrade is to use C body tierods & adjuster sleeves , they are bigger & fit just the same

[Mopar73340]

I used that kit in my car with no problems except the rubber in one of my LCA bushings was moulded off center. One call and they had another to me. All of the parts fit correctly and was a major improvement in ride and handling over the stock rubber parts.

[mrbill426]

... a cool upgrade is to use C body tierods & adjuster sleeves , they are bigger & fit just the same

Reeeealy?  Good to know, and good timing, we're working the front end issue ourselves right now too. 
Thanks for that 

Any"special" tools needed to change out the upper and lower CA bushings?  Please say there is no need to blow bucks on special tools just to use them once 

[Chryco Psycho]

the lower bushings are relatively easy to change , the uppers need to be pressed out , it can be done in a vice  but i have broken 3 vices do this , the lowers need to be heated weith a propane torch , I use a pickle fork to pry the pin out of the bushing & then pry out the rubber insert laeving the bushings outer shell in place which is needed for the poly bushings   

[Plum6Pak]

Chryco's suggestion using a vice works great, just make sure you use a nice backup piece of pipe or socket that will fit over the upper control arm where you are pressing out the bushing, the whole piece comes out not just the rubber insert, you don't want to bend up the control arm or mess up the new bushing trying to install it. When you get your new bushings you will see what needs to press out. The LCA's are easier to do but you will have a tough time getting the old rubber parts out, heating them works good, anything to get em out without destroying the outer metal bushing. Be sure to use the supplied silicone lubricant on the new LCA bushings, they'll squeak if you don't. Hint, if you are replacing the upper ball joints, leave them on the car to break them loose, you will play hell getting the control arms held down good enough in a vice without gouging them all up! If you have already removed them, just make sure you have them secure or you will be going for the band-aids! (speaking from painful experience) You can buy the upper ball joint socket from Mancini's as well and if you end up buying the super kit, just have em throw in the socket and it's well worth the $30.00 they want for it! Good Luck!

[Street_Challenged73]

I'd agree with Plum6Pak on the UCA bushing remover/installer from Mancini Racing.  A little bit of penetrating oil prior to using the tool is all that's needed to literally just have the old bushings roll right out.

[FY1 RT SE]

Using the correct tool makes it a snap to R&R, about 10 minutes of time.

[FY1 RT SE]

"E" Body sleeves on the left, "C" Body on the right.