ride height

[sleepychallenger]

can anyone tell me what the factory ride heights (each wheel well) for my challenger?

[HP2]

Factory ride height is not determined at the wheel well, lip, or rocker as variations in tire size could have them all over the place. The factory service manuals designated the ride height using the lower control arm. The lower control arm pivot on the K frame should be 1/2" higher than the stud that hold the lower ball joint assy to the control arm.  Now, if you set it that way, you will notice that your car has a distinctive nose up attitude, that most people don't want. The Performance Chassis manuals suggest setting ride height so that the car has a nose down attitude of 1.5 degrees.

[sleepychallenger]

to me, mine rides way to low in the front. i need to replace the springs in the rear, as they are 38 years old, but the front just seems excessivly low. does anyone have any pics of the cars at factory ride height?

HP2, do you have any pics to show me the areas that you are talking about. from what i gather, you say that the point where the lower control arm connects to the K frame should be 1/2" higer than the top of the lower ball joint stud?

[HP2]

I'll see if I can find something to point out the reference points.

[HP2]

Reference points of measure. They should be made form the floor to the designated points.

[HP2]

List of specs. For an E body, carline B & J, the height is set at 1 1/8 inches. This means the measurement A at the adjusting blade from the preceding picture, should be 1 1/8" higher than measurement B at the ball joint. To mock up this height, you can always use a floor jack in the middle of the K frame to simulate the height change. spec is +/-  1/8". You can also see the antiquated alignment specs they recommended for these cars as well.

[sleepychallenger]

thank you. that will definately help

[TreeFrog]

This is an area of interest. 

a lot of it gets to personal taste, unless you want factory.

I personal don't care for the even front to back look, makes it look like its 4-wheel drive or the whole car has been raised up.

I like the front end a bit lower, but not TOO much...I am going to have to work on mine as well, but I want to replace the drums on the front before I get too woried.

[sleepychallenger]

This is an area of interest. 

a lot of it gets to personal taste, unless you want factory.

I personal don't care for the even front to back look, makes it look like its 4-wheel drive or the whole car has been raised up.

I like the front end a bit lower, but not TOO much...I am going to have to work on mine as well, but I want to replace the drums on the front before I get too woried.

i want it almost level, right now the roof of my car is about where the roof of the newer vettes are. i dont like being that low

[TreeFrog]

I like the low, had a Fire Bird ... it was low and handled like a dream, would suck down on the road... great feel.

my Challenegr and my wifes both sit low... actualy so low that with my floor jack if you have a front tire go flat you can not get the jack under the car...

[sleepychallenger]

actualy so low that with my floor jack if you have a front tire go flat you can not get the jack under the car...

mine is like that with the lifts at the shop, i have to lift the on the fenders to get the car high enough to get the lift arms under there

[TreeFrog]

yep almost takes two people, one to lift the fender one to shove the jack under....

I put a used tire on my wifes a year ago, as I let the car down the old tire blew  I barely got the jack under before it was too low.

[cowboy]

 

[BadJoey]

Thanks for this topic . I was wondering how to set my front end . All I could think of was the same distance between the upper arm and the stop bumper and the lower arm and the stop bumper putting things in the middle .,

[IMNCARN82]

i use a low-profile floor jack. 1 1/2" off the ground at the nose. i can get it under the front spoiler.  Thanks for the great info!