Author Topic: 72 Challenger front Suspension  (Read 5602 times)

Offline TreeFrog

  • Resident
  • *****
  • Posts: 2848
  • Can Ya HEMI Now! If you can't dodge it Ram it!
    • TreeFrog
72 Challenger front Suspension
« on: February 05, 2007 - 07:42:45 AM »
OK, the car was abough with the front fender almost on the wheel...

I put new shocks on this weekend...and well no change.  I see nothing wrong with the torsion bar, but the front Strut rod IS bent.

The car sits so low you can not lift the car up by grabbing the fender...most of the time you can move or rock a car by doing this...

I know the rubber bumper is missing, but that should not be it...

I know that the adjustment screw and the seat it screws up to have a serious gap between them...

it looks like the car could have been strapped to a trailer (by the strut) and they over tightened it.

and ideas, help, signs, images?
« Last Edit: February 06, 2007 - 10:48:01 AM by TreeFrog »
65 Satellite     361 Ruby Red Poly
72 Challenger    360 Top Banana     
73 Challenger    340 Triple Black
87 Dodge Ram     318 Blue
88 Dodge Ram     360 Grey (+)
04 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited 4.7L Pewter Met.




Offline Bullitt-

  • Permanent Resident
  • *******
  • Posts: 12167
  • Better Things To Come Member Since 2/16/06
Re: 72 Challenger fron Suspension
« Reply #1 on: February 05, 2007 - 08:35:19 AM »
This is a Wild Guess, but I could see that an impact could drive the torsion bar back breaking the little spring clip that goes in the cross member socket & let the bar loose from the socket that keeps it from rotating. If you find this to be the case I would be concerned that the lower control arm and the K-frame mount may be jacked up too.
Wade  73 Rallye 340..'77 Millennium Falcon...13 R/T Classic   Huntsville, AL
Screwed by Photobucket!

Offline TreeFrog

  • Resident
  • *****
  • Posts: 2848
  • Can Ya HEMI Now! If you can't dodge it Ram it!
    • TreeFrog
Re: 72 Challenger fron Suspension
« Reply #2 on: February 05, 2007 - 08:45:52 AM »
there is no sign of impact, wreck, damage, etc....

anyone got a pic or diagram that might help here?
« Last Edit: February 05, 2007 - 10:49:11 AM by TreeFrog »
65 Satellite     361 Ruby Red Poly
72 Challenger    360 Top Banana     
73 Challenger    340 Triple Black
87 Dodge Ram     318 Blue
88 Dodge Ram     360 Grey (+)
04 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited 4.7L Pewter Met.

Offline Chryco Psycho

  • Administrator
  • C-C.com Guru
  • *****
  • Posts: 36620
  • 70 Challenger R/T SE 70 tube Chassis Cuda now sold
Re: 72 Challenger fron Suspension
« Reply #3 on: February 05, 2007 - 12:48:34 PM »
so the adjustment screw has a big gap to the lever connected to the Torsiion bar ?
 
if os you need to adjust the screw to raise the car turn the screw clockwise from below

Challenger - You`ll wish You Hadn`t

Offline heminut

  • Resident
  • *****
  • Posts: 2023
  • owner of the poor man's Hemi Cuda
Re: 72 Challenger fron Suspension
« Reply #4 on: February 05, 2007 - 12:54:03 PM »
OK, the car was abough with the front fender almost on the wheel...

I put new shocks on this weekend...and well no change. 

Shocks do not support any of the weight of the car, they are merely an oscillation damping device.
1970 5.7 Hemi Cuda

Offline TreeFrog

  • Resident
  • *****
  • Posts: 2848
  • Can Ya HEMI Now! If you can't dodge it Ram it!
    • TreeFrog
Re: 72 Challenger fron Suspension
« Reply #5 on: February 05, 2007 - 01:43:30 PM »
so the adjustment screw has a big gap to the lever connected to the Torsiion bar ?
 
if os you need to adjust the screw to raise the car turn the screw clockwise from below

OK, but it is already matching the pass side, to screw it up I am not sure there are enough threads...
65 Satellite     361 Ruby Red Poly
72 Challenger    360 Top Banana     
73 Challenger    340 Triple Black
87 Dodge Ram     318 Blue
88 Dodge Ram     360 Grey (+)
04 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited 4.7L Pewter Met.

Offline Super Blue 72

  • Permanent Resident
  • *******
  • Posts: 12711
  • "Big 'n Little" Member since 8/9/05
    • Phil's Super Blue '72
Re: 72 Challenger fron Suspension
« Reply #6 on: February 05, 2007 - 02:09:02 PM »
Here's a pic if it helps the situation any.  Like Chryco says, turn in the adjuster screw and see what happens.  Make sure that the adjuster bolt is not stripped.

« Last Edit: February 05, 2007 - 02:14:02 PM by Super Blue 72 »
1972 Dodge Challenger Rallye 340, AT, Code TB3=Super Blue, SBD=8/17/1971.  Yes, a Rallye without the fender louvers from the factory because of the body side molding option.

Pic #2 and 3 of my ARII 1/24 scale model car 

Phil in New England-Massachusetts  Always thank God for what you have!

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/456046/1972-dodge-challenger

Offline TreeFrog

  • Resident
  • *****
  • Posts: 2848
  • Can Ya HEMI Now! If you can't dodge it Ram it!
    • TreeFrog
Re: 72 Challenger fron Suspension
« Reply #7 on: February 06, 2007 - 10:47:08 AM »
if replacing with an old/original do I need any bushings/grommets/etc....
65 Satellite     361 Ruby Red Poly
72 Challenger    360 Top Banana     
73 Challenger    340 Triple Black
87 Dodge Ram     318 Blue
88 Dodge Ram     360 Grey (+)
04 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited 4.7L Pewter Met.

Offline Mopar73340

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 1130
Re: 72 Challenger fron Suspension
« Reply #8 on: February 06, 2007 - 02:11:40 PM »
OK, but it is already matching the pass side, to screw it up I am not sure there are enough threads...

If thats the case it sounds as though you need to loosten the bolt and pull the t-bar and rotate it 1 notch to bring the adjuster colser to the top of the bolt and then tighten it. Sounds as though soneone installed the t-bar incorrectly.   :dunno:
73-Challenger 340 727/GearVendors Auto
73-Challenger 408 Pistol-Grip 5-speed

Offline TreeFrog

  • Resident
  • *****
  • Posts: 2848
  • Can Ya HEMI Now! If you can't dodge it Ram it!
    • TreeFrog
Re: 72 Challenger front Suspension
« Reply #9 on: February 06, 2007 - 02:19:19 PM »
sorry!

the Torsion bar is broken.  This is the real problem.

What I thought I had asked was about bushings or grommets for the T-Bars.
65 Satellite     361 Ruby Red Poly
72 Challenger    360 Top Banana     
73 Challenger    340 Triple Black
87 Dodge Ram     318 Blue
88 Dodge Ram     360 Grey (+)
04 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited 4.7L Pewter Met.

Offline HP2

  • Resident
  • *****
  • Posts: 4478
Re: 72 Challenger front Suspension
« Reply #10 on: February 07, 2007 - 04:41:37 AM »
sorry!

the Torsion bar is broken.  This is the real problem.

What I thought I had asked was about bushings or grommets for the T-Bars.

That would do it.

The only bushing directly related to the torsion bar is the lower control arm pivot bushing. These wear out with age and can cause shimmies and shakes when driving, and will prevent the car from holding an alignment. If you have had yours replaced anytime in the last ten years or so, they are probably fine, otherwise it would be a good idea to replace these when you replace your torsion bars. It would also be a good time to step up the size of your bars as well.

Offline TreeFrog

  • Resident
  • *****
  • Posts: 2848
  • Can Ya HEMI Now! If you can't dodge it Ram it!
    • TreeFrog
Re: 72 Challenger front Suspension
« Reply #11 on: March 05, 2007 - 12:36:19 PM »
Got my Tortion Bar this past Sat.
(A good frined just happend to have one lieing around)
he said we would try and get it in this week ...whoo hoo! :cooldancing:
65 Satellite     361 Ruby Red Poly
72 Challenger    360 Top Banana     
73 Challenger    340 Triple Black
87 Dodge Ram     318 Blue
88 Dodge Ram     360 Grey (+)
04 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited 4.7L Pewter Met.

Offline Chryco Psycho

  • Administrator
  • C-C.com Guru
  • *****
  • Posts: 36620
  • 70 Challenger R/T SE 70 tube Chassis Cuda now sold
Re: 72 Challenger front Suspension
« Reply #12 on: March 05, 2007 - 11:43:17 PM »
When installing the T bar make sure the LCA is as low as possible with the adjuster all the way down to line the T bar into the sockets correctly 

Challenger - You`ll wish You Hadn`t

Offline TreeFrog

  • Resident
  • *****
  • Posts: 2848
  • Can Ya HEMI Now! If you can't dodge it Ram it!
    • TreeFrog
Re: 72 Challenger front Suspension
« Reply #13 on: March 08, 2007 - 10:50:05 AM »
When installing the T bar make sure the LCA is as low as possible with the adjuster all the way down to line the T bar into the sockets correctly 

OK got me...what is an LCA?
65 Satellite     361 Ruby Red Poly
72 Challenger    360 Top Banana     
73 Challenger    340 Triple Black
87 Dodge Ram     318 Blue
88 Dodge Ram     360 Grey (+)
04 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited 4.7L Pewter Met.

Offline HP2

  • Resident
  • *****
  • Posts: 4478
Re: 72 Challenger front Suspension
« Reply #14 on: March 08, 2007 - 11:21:00 AM »
Lower Control Arm