Complete front suspension rebuild and some rear also.

[Doug Larsson]

I started on the passenger side I was able to install the torsion bar, lower control arm, strut rod, and the Bilstien shock. My measurements were NOT accurate enough that I sent to PST I was off by and inch on the spacer I said 4" it was 3" and the bolt which I said was 7" was 6" so I just cut the spacer and bought the right length bolt.

 

[Doug Larsson]

I was able to complete quite a bit today . I finished the front sway bar, tie rod, lower ball joint, upper control arm, upper ball joint, spindle, and rotor.

 

[Doug Larsson]

Installed the passenger side caliper onto bleeding the brakes then a alignment. I'm pretty much done I'm not going to install the rear disc brakes till winter time I'll post a new topic on that when I get to installing it. Until then thanks for the likes,comments and advice it's greatly appreciated.

 

[Doug Larsson]

Installed left torsion bar,lower ball joint, lower control arm, tie rod to knuckle and Bilstien front shock. I didn't get to finish the PST sway bar they sent me to long of a bolt and spacer so I made measurements and emailed them what I need. So and FYI if you order a front sway bar from PST for a 1973-74 Dodge Charger you might want to call them about there mid section sway bar kit.

View attachment 771308 View attachment 771310 View attachment 771311

So I wanted to give every one and update on this saga I recieved a new bolt and spacer from PST but they were both still to long which was my error it was hard to get a good length on what I needed. I went to the local hardware store and purchased a 6 " bolt and cut the spacer to 3 " and then every thing fit. Thank you to PST for trying to help it's appreciated. To any one who's thinking of buying after market sway bars or for that matter any after market parts for you 73-74 Charger do some research before buying get your measurements and then talk to the supplier to make sure there parts are the same as your factory parts it will save you alot of time.

 

[Doug Larsson]

Hey Doug, on the PST Swaybar, have you noticed how the bracket that attaches the swaybar to the strut arm hits the k-frame when you push the LCA all the way up until the bump stop makes contact with the k-frame? I am having that issue, will look at it closer today, was wondering if yours was doing the same and if you had to modify it... I even tried reversing the bolts... too close / hits.

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I installed mine complete the other day and don't see any clearance issues as far as going to the bump stop I would think you would have to hit a huge hole to max your suspension out to hit the rubber stop but that's my opinion I can give you and up date once I drive it some. You don't have your strut rod connected to your LCA so I don't know how you can get and accurate account of it hitting every thing is under a load once every thing is together it's hard to say when there's no weight on the parts your putting together.

 

[dodge1972]

Thanks for taking the time to post your progress. I have two 74 chargers. Rebuilding the front end is on my list too.

 

[Doug Larsson]

Brakes blead still have to adjust the height on the front end and tighten top and bottom control arms before taking it up to get it aligned but before that need to put new Bilstien rear shocks on and install rear sway bar. Getting closer

 

[Doug Larsson]

Well I made some headway on it today I had to wrap it up so I wouldn't scratch it all up while feeding it thru my exhaust pipes. Bilstien shocks installed and PST rear sway bar half way done.

 

[Doug Larsson]

Hey Doug, on the PST Swaybar, have you noticed how the bracket that attaches the swaybar to the strut arm hits the k-frame when you push the LCA all the way up until the bump stop makes contact with the k-frame? I am having that issue, will look at it closer today, was wondering if yours was doing the same and if you had to modify it... I even tried reversing the bolts... too close / hits.

View attachment 775007 View attachment 775008

So I was able to get aligned and I was driving it around but I was hearing a noise when I would hit bumps guess what the question you asked about the brackets hitting a K frame . Well I've got witness marks on each side telling me it is because I repainted the k fame before I installed every thing .

 

[Hijinx]

Well I've got witness marks on each side telling me it is because I repainted the k fame before I installed every thing .

By the second picture to me it looks like its hitting. Didn't like it, i returned mine and got a new 1-1/4 inch from firmfeel. Double the cost but seems an overall better design. It connects to the lower control arm (need to drill holes) and not the strut arm. Ignore the letters and arrows i added those to get the torque values from their support, also not my k-frame, their picture from their install guide.

 

[Doug Larsson]

I was able to get the PST front sway bar to work.
I was finally able to take her out for a long drive today did some freeway driving. It drives like a brand new car I'm really surprised how much of a difference I feel from before. This car is 46 years old and the suspension showed it with 151,000 miles on it. The stance though is bad *** this is ho9w I pictured it in my head.
My 3/4 rear sway bar should be here next week

 

[Logan L Zeigler]

Can anyone tell me the bracket I'm missing for my upper control arms

 

[Doug Larsson]

Can anyone tell me the bracket I'm missing for my upper control armsView attachment 951730

This is the part you need

 

[SureGrip]

@Doug Larsson

Hi, I know this thread is very old, but it's one of the only ones I can find that specifically talk about the 74 B-body parts.

Can you explain what is going on in this picture? What are the two metal bars between the sides of the arm? Did you make those, are they part of a kit?

I'll need to do my 74 RR's front suspension but I'm lost on how to get the damn bushing out with the bar in place. Is there another tool to press the bushings out??

Thanks!

 

[Rennkafer]

@Doug Larsson

Hi, I know this thread is very old, but it's one of the only ones I can find that specifically talk about the 74 B-body parts.

Can you explain what is going on in this picture? What are the two metal bars between the sides of the arm? Did you make those, are they part of a kit?

View attachment 1783231

I'll need to do my 74 RR's front suspension but I'm lost on how to get the damn bushing out with the bar in place. Is there another tool to press the bushings out??

Thanks!

Not the OP (I'm also a machinist though)... but I can tell you what's going on there. The bars are put between the ends of the control arm while pressing in new bushings. This prevents the arm from being bent during the pressing operation. I would probably use a piece of tube with a slot cut in it for more complete support, but this method will work if you're careful.