Mitsibushui Challenger

[MARKx4]

I am looking at buying a challenger around a 1999 to 2003 model. I am just wondering if they come with rear LSD and is it any good. I am only going to use it as a tourer no hard stuff and can i fit 31s to it also would i need any diff gears for 31s? Can you get a front air locker for these models for some added security off road?

Any other info you can give me on the cahllenger would be great.

Thanks

Mark

[pickle]

Howdy Mark.
Of course between 1999 and 2003 Mitsubishi changed components in the Challengers. Basically from August 2000 they put rear coil springs instead of leaf springs, changed transmissions and had minor cosmetic changes. Most models from 2001 on has LSD diff as standard but earlier ones missed out. 31's should fine but anything bigger will require a lift. Front and rear ARB lockers are available for Challengers but they are reasonably capable with just the LSD fitted. Challengers are reasonably capable vehicles in the bush and don't really have any reliability issues. Fuel economy is not too bad but of course that depends on the "pedal to the metal' factor. Search around on the 4wd forums and you will find out how reliable they are. Good luck with your purchase!
Dave

[RO8M]

x2 to all he said. I love mine, i just got a new set of 31x10.5r15, and any speed difference is not noticeable. I should have gone 32s.

Great car. LSD is excellent.

[MARKx4]

Thanks for the replys, Im gald you can get air lockers for them. Sence they have rear LSD i wolud only get a locker in the front. I am interested in the challenger because i want something different then the pajero even though you can pick one up cheaper the the challenger.

[sheps]

the earlier leaf spring models had LSD but it came as an option with ABS and
cruse control, the easiest way to reconise an LSD equipped car is they also got two tone paint.
this one is a 1999 leaf model and it has LSD, ABS and cruse. all factory. not
many have it as it was originally a almost $4000 option.

[sheps]

challenger flex

[MARKx4]

Thanks for that, i didnt relise they come with leaf rear suspension. I will be wanting to get a coil rear challenger, if i want leaf rears ill get a triton.

[sheps]

i have had both a coil and a leaf challenger. guess which one i still have.
(hint the older one)

[RO8M]

Huh. Mine is a 98 with two tone (you can see that)- has lsd and cruise, but ABS: don't think so...

Check my flex... (obviously before the 31" ATZ 5 rib tyres went on...)
(i think i have heavy-duty rear springs... they are about a 2" lift allegedly. Doesn't help with flex, but helps a lot with ride height and load-carrying)

I should also say that the rear sway bar is disconnected in both these pics (very easy to do, can do it while the stauns are going), and in the 2nd one, the front sway bar is also removed, actually. i took it right off just to make sure it didn't bend the mounting brackets.

Actually, does anyone else disconnect their front sway bar? have they made it easier for themselves at all? How?

[sheps]

Huh. Mine is a 98 with two tone (you can see that)- has lsd and cruise, but ABS: don't think so...

]

well there ya go. Mitsubishi told me it was the one package. i wonder if i can get
a refund, after all i have only had it for ten years. and i don't like the abs
i ended up keeping the older car as it better suited to towing and the coil car
was to harsh when empty.

[RO8M]

Huh. Mine is a 98 with two tone (you can see that)- has lsd and cruise, but ABS: don't think so...

well there ya go. Mitsubishi told me it was the one package. i wonder if i can get
a refund, after all i have only had it for ten years. and i don't like the abs
i ended up keeping the older car as it better suited to towing and the coil car
was to harsh when empty.

Huh. Seems like maybe they had one that had it already..?
Again, I'm not totally sure about the abs, but it's raining here now, so maybe I'll try it out today... This is a leafy 98, remember, so things might have changed by the time you got your coily...

[fritzelhund]

NEW NAMES .. I love it !!!! Leafy and Coily.. don't they sound like a couple of unshaven drinking partners.
My coily continues to surprise and delight. A recent wheel alignment and replacement of roll bar bushes has made it smoother and less "jiggly" through the steering wheel.
It was necessary to have longer bolts installed at the upper wishbone anchor points to ease shims into place..all work was done through the wheel arches rather than diving down into the engine space.
Be aware that leafies have only 15 inch wheels as did earlier Pajeros..265/70/15 tyres are a bit less available than the later 16 inch size fitted to coilies..... as a highway user that doesn't worry me, but may be a consideration for others.
I don't know which rear suspension has more standard articulation but my coily isn't over endowed with wheel travel. In toughness terms I suspect the leafy may be more practical just in the simplicity of shackle rubber replacements as the coily has many more movement bushes in trailing arms etc.
10 litres/100 ks on the highway driven gently and 15 when towing a 14 foot pop top van is really quite good for a vehicle with the aerodynamics of a fridge.. and built like a real truck underneath.

[sheps]

Huh. Mine is a 98 with two tone (you can see that)- has lsd and cruise, but ABS: don't think so...

well there ya go. Mitsubishi told me it was the one package. i wonder if i can get
a refund, after all i have only had it for ten years. and i don't like the abs
i ended up keeping the older car as it better suited to towing and the coil car
was to harsh when empty.

Huh. Seems like maybe they had one that had it already..?
Again, I'm not totally sure about the abs, but it's raining here now, so maybe I'll try it out today... This is a leafy 98, remember, so things might have changed by the time you got your coily...

mine is a 99 leafy. if you have a square box with a stack of brake lines
coming out of it in fount of the brake master cyl, then you have abs.
or try to stop on a muddy track.

[sheps]

colies and leafies are sierra models but they fit challengers as well.
coilies have the leaf mounting points still welded on the chassis.

[fritzelhund]

OOPS Some coilies have 15 inch wheels but about post 02 they were 16 inch... mine is a 2001 ( sold in 2002 ) LS. Being an LS it has leather seats ( no great benefit ) but has ABS and LSD as standard as well as fripperies like chromed mirrors woodgrain plastic and tweeters .....
This LSD behaves itself very well on wet blacktop...unlike the LSD in my Jackaroo that would lose traction momentarily on wet roads before regaining it split seconds later...and a cause a little heart beat event as it did so..but it was only on 205 section tyres.
Look around..the Challengers seem to have held together really well..you'll hardly ever see a really rough one..maybe the result of gentle lives...
I read many reviews on the net of personal experiences.. and most were positive along the lines of "I'd have another one any time"... and I have to add to that call. At the time of my purchase there just wasn't a low K Jackaroo to be found. Mine is .. being an LS also an auto. The gearbox is a super little effort for my use.. totally unobtrusive, but liking to kickdown to 3rd too readily when towing ..and so relying on revs instead of torque...I really can't labour this engine with the auto box. Happy hunting.

[RO8M]

Some good info here.

rumours that there is a new Charlie coming out some time this year, and if so, i'm going to be a lotto subscriber for a little while... The dream would be to get a new one and keep it pretty std for daily use, and SAS the current one... How cool would that be?

New one looks sweet, imo.

Here or here but to try to find any new news on this is a bit like pulling teeth.

[sheps]

Some good info here.

rumours that there is a new Charlie coming out some time this year, and if so, i'm going to be a lotto subscriber for a little while... The dream would be to get a new one and keep it pretty std for daily use, and SAS the current one... How cool would that be?

New one looks sweet, imo.

Here or here but to try to find any new news on this is a bit like pulling teeth.

the dealer in Darwin told me that the diesel was going to be released
in Australia. i will get it if that is the case. i believe that Aussie is the
only country that doesn't get the diesel now.

[sheps]

i can also email the workshop manual if anyone needs it.

[RO8M]

Digging up an old thread...

The new Challenger looks very narce.

-Front and rear Coil (instead of the torsion bar front and leaves then coils)
-Only Diesel?
- STANDARD REAR DIFF LOCK!!

http://mitsubishi-motors.com.au/pages/h ... cover.aspx

[scrubber3]

[/quote]
the dealer in Darwin told me that the diesel was going to be released
in Australia. i will get it if that is the case. i believe that Aussie is the
only country that doesn't get the diesel now.[/quote]

Here in the USA we have no diesel mitsus. It is ashamed as well. Yanks for the most part don't beleive in anything but gasoline.

[TasMatt]

I ordered one of the new Challangers. Will get it in February. It's going to replace my LR Disco.

Matt