Torsion Bars

[Stucat]

Where the Hell has Hotchis gone? Looks like Another One Bites The Dust. Toooo bad. So I had HSS 19367 torsion bars on BO for 8 months. They where 1.1 dia and 41" long for a 69 Charger. Any suggestions on another quality torsion bar? Is 1.3 dia a big difference? as the 1.1 dia was in the whole kit from Hocthis. And was setup for a 2" lower ride hight, as where the rear leaf springs where. Thanks for any info.

 

[ckessel]

BAC, Firm Feel, Sway Away, PST. Both BAC and PST are sponsors here. BAC, Peter Bergman, is a major league Mopar guy too.

 

[j-c-c-62]

Yes, 1.1 to 1.3 is a huge difference, not sure where you are starting from. 1.3" would only be for big tires, on track, with a heavier car. Actually, I don't even know if you can even fit 1.3" in a b body hex

 

[Stucat]

Thanks found the Safeway and PB, They both have 1.14 and 1.08.Right in the middle of the 1.1. I guess the 1.08 is the closest to the 1.1 only .020 smaller. thanks again

 

[j-c-c-62]

Thanks found the Safeway and PB, They both have 1.14 and 1.08.Right in the middle of the 1.1. I guess the 1.08 is the closest to the 1.1 only .020 smaller. thanks again

Slow down here, and check your math.

 

[Stucat]

Just checking , aren't those 1.1 and 1.08 the OD dem of the bars?

 

[Encswsm]

Where the Hell has Hotchis gone? Looks like Another One Bites The Dust. Toooo bad. So I had HSS 19367 torsion bars on BO for 8 months. They where 1.1 dia and 41" long for a 69 Charger. Any suggestions on another quality torsion bar? Is 1.3 dia a big difference? as the 1.1 dia was in the whole kit from Hocthis. And was setup for a 2" lower ride hight, as where the rear leaf springs where. Thanks for any info.

I ordered some stuff from Hotchkis the first of last month. When I didn't hear anything I tried calling and got the never ending Phone transfer circle jerk. So I sent an email telling them their customer service sucked and to cancel my order. I sent my email on January 31st and on Feb 5, I got a response from Jonathan Hatfield from Hotchkis saying they were implementing a new system causing delays and they wouldn't be up to speed for 4 to 6 weeks! Holy Cow what company can afford to totally turn off all customer service for two or three months? WoW! I don't even work in a customer service organization and we couldn't go months without producing anything. Crazy! and what company brings in a new system before making sure it will work... Dumb. I would be afraid of any warrantee items with that company.

 

[Don Frelier]

I put the PST bars on my 66 last summer.
So far very happy with them.

 

[Rennkafer]

Ordered a set from Hotchkis (through Summit) last September, with a ship date of January. January comes and the date changes to March. I call Summit, ask them what's up and I'm not happy, they tell me they can't help supplier issues. I talk to Bergman, they can get me torsion bars. Go to Summit to cancel the order to find they canceled it without my requesting it. Ordered from Bergman, had them in a week and a half.

 

[Stucat]

What size bars did you order? I had ordered that 2" lowering kit from Hotckis the bars they sell with that kit are a 1.1.

 

[Rennkafer]

What size bars did you order? I had ordered that 2" lowering kit from Hotckis the bars they sell with that kit are a 1.1.

Bergman are 1.14" and are made by Sway A Way

 

[68 Sport Satellite]

I've decided to go to larger diameter torsion bars in my big block 68 Satellite. Car has aluminum heads and other aluminum goodies and weighs around 3800 lb.
Currently running 1.00" diameter from Firm Feel along with Bilstein shocks. They do pretty well, but I'm noticing the front engine weight could be more controlled. I can feel the weight of the motor when driving and feel like larger torsion bars would let the shocks work more effectively.

I'm trying to decide between 1.06 or 1.12. Many say bigger is better. I'm not convinced 1.03 is big enough for my car. I think 1.12 is my limit for 99.9% street driving on poorly maintained roads.
I was all set to order again from Firm Feel as they seem to offer many different diameters including 1.06 and 1.12, but I've read countless recent stories of customers experiencing very long delivery times and I don't want to wait 3-6 mo for delivery. Their products are good though.

The other options:
- Hotchkis: They carry 1.10" diameter. Excellent quality, I'm running their front sway bar and rear leafs. Super expensive.
- PST: They offer 1.03" diameter. Never ran their products, but others report good quality and prices and James from PST is very active here and provides good customer service.
- Bergman: They offer 1.14" diameter from Sway A Way. Might be a bit too big for my use. Color is red instead of black. Sway A Way site also shows B body 1.08" bars, but would need to buy direct. Have had good experience with the Borgeson PS I bought through Bergman.

Does any supplier other than Firm Feel offer quality torsion bars in a 1.06" - 1.12" size besides the spendy Hotchkis and have decent lead times?

 

[Cranky]

I've decided to go to larger diameter torsion bars in my big block 68 Satellite. Car has aluminum heads and other aluminum goodies and weighs around 3800 lb.
Currently running 1.00" diameter from Firm Feel along with Bilstein shocks. They do pretty well, but I'm noticing the front engine weight could be more controlled. I can feel the weight of the motor when driving and feel like larger torsion bars would let the shocks work more effectively.

I'm trying to decide between 1.06 or 1.12. Many say bigger is better. I'm not convinced 1.03 is big enough for my car. I think 1.12 is my limit for 99.9% street driving on poorly maintained roads.
I was all set to order again from Firm Feel as they seem to offer many different diameters including 1.06 and 1.12, but I've read countless recent stories of customers experiencing very long delivery times and I don't want to wait 3-6 mo for delivery. Their products are good though.

The other options:
- Hotchkis: They carry 1.10" diameter. Excellent quality, I'm running their front sway bar and rear leafs. Super expensive.
- PST: They offer 1.03" diameter. Never ran their products, but others report good quality and prices and James from PST is very active here and provides good customer service.
- Bergman: They offer 1.14" diameter from Sway A Way. Might be a bit too big for my use. Color is red instead of black. Sway A Way site also shows B body 1.08" bars, but would need to buy direct. Have had good experience with the Borgeson PS I bought through Bergman.

Does any supplier other than Firm Feel offer quality torsion bars in a 1.06" - 1.12" size besides the spendy Hotchkis and have decent lead times?

What shocks do you have on the front? Springs are controlled by the shocks and not vice versa. I'm thinking you could use a stiffer shock and not a bigger spring.

 

[j-c-c-62]

I've decided to go to larger diameter torsion bars in my big block 68 Satellite. Car has aluminum heads and other aluminum goodies and weighs around 3800 lb.
Currently running 1.00" diameter from Firm Feel along with Bilstein shocks. They do pretty well, but I'm noticing the front engine weight could be more controlled. I can feel the weight of the motor when driving and feel like larger torsion bars would let the shocks work more effectively.

I'm trying to decide between 1.06 or 1.12. Many say bigger is better. I'm not convinced 1.03 is big enough for my car. I think 1.12 is my limit for 99.9% street driving on poorly maintained roads.
I was all set to order again from Firm Feel as they seem to offer many different diameters including 1.06 and 1.12, but I've read countless recent stories of customers experiencing very long delivery times and I don't want to wait 3-6 mo for delivery. Their products are good though.

The other options:
- Hotchkis: They carry 1.10" diameter. Excellent quality, I'm running their front sway bar and rear leafs. Super expensive.
- PST: They offer 1.03" diameter. Never ran their products, but others report good quality and prices and James from PST is very active here and provides good customer service.
- Bergman: They offer 1.14" diameter from Sway A Way. Might be a bit too big for my use. Color is red instead of black. Sway A Way site also shows B body 1.08" bars, but would need to buy direct. Have had good experience with the Borgeson PS I bought through Bergman.

Does any supplier other than Firm Feel offer quality torsion bars in a 1.06" - 1.12" size besides the spendy Hotchkis and have decent lead times?

What tires/wheels?
You are on the right path IMO.
Not knowing any more, I'm leaning 1.06 towards 1.08-1.10". 1.14" is a big step. I personally don't pay much attention to which of the above-mentioned vendors is chosen.

 

[68 Sport Satellite]

What shocks do you have on the front? Springs are controlled by the shocks and not vice versa. I'm thinking you could use a stiffer shock and not a bigger spring.

Bilstein shocks tuned by Hotchkis all 4 corners.

 

[68 Sport Satellite]

I just got off the phone with Firm Feel. Gordon answered the phone right away when I called. They have torsion bars in stock! So I ordered a set of 1.06 bars and they'll ship today. Happy day! So not everything is currently at a long lead time with Firm Feel. Excellent customer service and we had a fun chat.

He did say if anyone is needing a sway bar they're currently at about a 2mo lead time.

 

[j-c-c-62]

Please follow-up with your impression/results.

 

[68 Sport Satellite]

will do. Not sure when I'll have them installed, but I'm hoping sometime in the next month or so. I'm juggling other priorities, but trying to make it happen before the early May West Coast Mopar spring fling and Willow Springs track day.