Torsion bar Tweaks and Bumpstop Gaps...

[RO8M]

Hey Folks. '98 Challenger, bought with 2" lift in the rear (extra leaf), and this weekend i thought, "Well, why not bump up the front also?"

So I got out the tape, spanners and sockets, and set to it. Measured to start, to find the base. Measured both sides, and lo and behold, left is sitting higher than right by 25-20mm. Settle the car, park it on the flat, measure again, same result. Ok...

So jump on the creeper, and roll under. Huh, that'd be why. Someone has jacked up one side and not the other. Left droop rubber is just touching the bump stop, with a gap of about 15 on the right. K then. So i wound up the right to match. Equalise both sides, sorted.

Question 1: Should they really by touching the droop stop, or should i have a bit of a gap? I could shave some rubber off, i reckon, 'cos the CVs look fine still.

Q 2: This will most likely have at least contributed to the pull to the left, yeah? And the wear on the inside of the front left tyre?

Thanks in advance for your opinions.

[-Scott-]

Briefly:

Yes, you should have a gap. I have this figure in my head about 22mm top and bottom for "factory" ride height, so 15mm clearance is about the "legal" 2/3rd travel requirement. AFAIK there is nothing in any regulation prohibiting "adjustment" of stops.

Lack of droop gap will create a nasty ride (suspension can't drop into pot holes, so the car does) and yes, you need a PROPER wheel alignment performed after the crank. This typically involves shims and longer bolts. A 15 minute "toe adjustment" can't compensate.

Good luck,

Scott