Excessive suspension travel

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cpojohn3

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Jun 26, 2004
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Middleburg, Florida
OK, I need some help. I have a 72 Dart, 318, standard supension. My problem is, the right front bottoms out against the lower control arm bumper over just about any bump I hit. All new bushings, shocks, ball joints, etc. Even installed big block torsion bars. The front is set just below ride height (approx 1/2 inch). As I ride down the road the right front travels much more than the left front. Even worse when I have a passenger, which goes without saying. I did replace the new lower control arm bushing just in case I messed it up during the initial installation. I restored the car about 2 1/2 years ago so there is new paint top and bottom. The reason I added that tid bit of info is because there is no evidence of cracked paint where body panels are moving because of a cracked frame. I am at my wits end. Anybody out there have any ideas. Thanks
 
Are both torsion bars adjusted evenly? Is there a chance the adjuster for that side has less load on it than the other side?
 
You'll need to let both torsion bars all the way off and check the rear springs. To try and explain.... When one rear spring goes down to opposite front corner goes up. So if the left rear spring is down the right front torsion bar would carry no load.
 
I'm wonderin' if you have it lowered a lot more than you think? Or are those CHINESE "big block" bars?
 
Thanks for all the replies. All very good ideas. I forgot to mention I have new Mopar rear springs. I have tried setting the front at stock height with the same results. Other than making it look like a gasser I am at a loss. When I adjust the bars I am on a surface plate and I measure where the book told me to. The bars could be Chinese but i had the same issue with old bars. My head is sore from beating it against the wall.
 
are the bars installed on the correct side of the car? you know, the L and R on the end of the bars...
 
Also check that both bars are the same rate.

I have seen where somebody puts a /6 bar on 1 side and a big block bar on the other.
 
Where are you measuring from, to get 1/2" that doesn't seem to change things?
Bottom of front torsion bar holder should be 7/8" higher than lower ball joint. About 7 turns on the bar from slack.
 
Have not had a chance to look at the areas mentioned in the last few suggestions. I am playing nurse to my wife that had surgery. Hopefully I can look over/recheck everything this weekend. I really do appreciate all the suggestions and knowledge being shared. Once I check/inspect everything I will post the results.
 
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