Suspension upgrades

[msbaugh]

Stock spindles are fine. I'd recommend talking to Dick at Firm Feel about shock options. If you have a stock ride height, you need to make sure you have adequate travel in your shocks. The RCDs were designed for cars that were dropped a couple of inches, so they will not have the travel to match your stock travel.

They dynamic struts are good for avoiding alignment changes during hard braking. They are nice, but not a must have unless your hitting road courses, IMO. Tie rod ends and steering pieces to correct bump steer are certainly needed. This is one of the bigger problems with mopar suspensions. Tubular arms are similar to struts in that they yield results for cars that are pushed hard. If you can get adequete caster/camber numbers with your stock pieces, the tubular units aren't going to show a big improvement.

Do you have any idea what the fully compressed/extended lengths are on the bilstein rcd's? With that info I could figure out if my car can handle them. I just can't find it anywhere.

[brads70]

I thought the RCD Bilsteins were available in 2 varieties, lowered and stock?

They are I just checked Hotchkis web site.
http://www.hotchkis.net/search.html?Make=13&Model=1247&SubmitForm=Search

[msbaugh]

http://www.racecardynamics.com/classics/indexhr/products/stock%20applications/mopar.htm

OK I found some numbers! 

[brads70]

http://www.racecardynamics.com/classics/indexhr/products/stock%20applications/mopar.htm

OK I found some numbers! 

There ya go! 

[msbaugh]

Can someone help me? It's easy, I know but I'm stupid. All of these measurements are eye to eye on the rear shocks.

My shocks now are 22-1/2" long fully extended. (with the back fully jacked up)
That matches the bilsteins extended length.
On the ground at ride height my shocks are about 16" long with no air in them (air shocks)
I can raise that a few inches if I put air in them but it doesn't hold
The fully compressed length of the bilsteins are 14"

Where do you imagine the length would be sitting flat installed with the bilsteins if I swapped. I want to make sure I have enough travel If I switch them out

Educate me please!

[brads70]

Can someone help me? It's easy, I know but I'm stupid. All of these measurements are eye to eye on the rear shocks.

My shocks now are 22-1/2" long fully extended. (with the back fully jacked up)
That matches the bilsteins extended length.
On the ground at ride height my shocks are about 16" long with no air in them (air shocks)
I can raise that a few inches if I put air in them but it doesn't hold
The fully compressed length of the bilsteins are 14"

Where do you imagine the length would be sitting flat installed with the bilsteins if I swapped. I want to make sure I have enough travel If I switch them out

Another thing to add, I took the shocks I have now

Take the rear shocks off and measure the eye to eye sitting on the ground. Regular shocks won't affect ride height, air shocks will.

[msbaugh]

Take the rear shocks off and measure the eye to eye sitting on the ground. Regular shocks won't affect ride height, air shocks will.

The distance with them off is the same as them on with no air in them so 16" eye to eye

[brads70]

The distance with them off is the same as them on with no air in them so 16" eye to eye

I think I would want 3" of travel min? You said compressed lenght of the RCD's is 14"? Is that the regular lenght or lowered versions?

[msbaugh]

I think I would want 3" of travel min? You said compressed lenght of the RCD's is 14"? Is that the regular lenght or lowered versions?

The rear shocks are the same regardless. only the front shocks have lowered/stock height length shocks.  I don't know how much travel I'll have with the bilsteins becasue I'm not sure where the ride height length will be after I put them on

[brads70]

The rear shocks are the same regardless. only the front shocks have lowered/stock height length shocks.  I don't know how much travel I'll have with the bilsteins becasue I'm not sure where the ride height length will be after I put them on

Ride height will be the same, the shocks won't effect that.

[msbaugh]

So from eye to eye at ride height the length is 16" shocks removed. the compressed length of the bilsteins is 14", I guess I need a shorter shock to get the compressed travel...

[brads70]

So from eye to eye at ride height the length is 16" shocks removed. the compressed length of the bilsteins is 14", I guess I need a shorter shock to get the compressed travel...

Yes by the math I would agree. Is your car lowered more than most? How much room do you have till it hits the pinion snubber sitting at ride height?