Hotchkis or Bilstein shocks

cudaracer said
So I went with Bilstein (non adjustable) shocks on my e-body to replace my KYB's.

My cuda has original 0.91" torsion front with all new joints and bushings replaced on a small block with 89K miles. Rear had new leafs at some point, 5 stack, but I am not sure how to tell spring rate or anything. I think rear might be a bit stiffer than factory. Again, I have no idea how to tell. Any advice?

My KYB's created a harsh riding feel, with what I was told is far too much dampening with my factory rates. The Bilsteins are now much more compliant. Car feels a bit softer overall actually with a good cruising ride feel, minus the buck-boarding I was experiencing. I think I made the right choice. Price was $295 from an e-bay site. Service was great, and delivered in 3 days.

So here is my question to the expert pool of FABO, for my next upgrade:

Do I tackle new front torsions first, or add a better front stabilizer bar?
I am leaning toward the torsion bars, and I think I am going with 0.96" as I am worried that 1.03" is too firm. Any thoughts or experiences on this subject? I know most here are A or B body, but I really appreciate the wealth of knowledge here.

And if stabilizers are suggested as a next upgrade, do I just go with PST?

Thanks all

E-body torsion bars are softer for a given diameter than A-body torsion bars. The Ebody bars are longer. Plus they're typically (not always) heavier cars. I run 1.12" torsion bars on both my duster and my challenger. Both small block cars. The Ebody 1.12" bars have a 270 lb/in rate, the Abody 1.12" bars have a 300 lb/in rate.

1.03" a-body bars aren't too stiff for the street at all, and the Ebody version will be softer than that. With the bilsteins you won't have any problems, I run bilsteins on my Challenger with those 1.12" firm feel bars and it rides great. After putting the 1.12's on my Duster I've considered going to 1.18's on the challenger.

I would do the sway bars at the same time front and rear. Even more so on an e-body, they usually need more rear bar than a-bodies do.