body adjustment

[71SATELITE]

Put the tape measure to the car today some thing didn't seem right. Came up with these measurement at centers of wheel wells. Driver front 25-1/2" driver rear 23", passenger front 24-3/4 and passenger rear 24. How do I correct this, my car is a 71 Sat 4 door with rear air shocks in good shape. Only 75K on the car every thing is still pretty tight. The car has 5 spring rear leafs they ride good and seem to be in good shape. The front is stock as far as I know. Any know how on how to adjust this would be great, I have never tackled anyhing like this before. I'm trying to get a nice flat ride height, or at least have the rear a little higher than the front. Thanks.

[tuffbird]

Easily done...at least for the fronts...

There is a lower control arm that has the torsion bar running into it. Where the two meet...you'll find a bolt hanging down in the lower arm. This is the height adjuster for the front. There is one on either side so you can take your tape measure and measure from the center of the hub to the lip of the fender well...adjust appropriately on each side until you match the specs.

For the rear, this is a bit more tricky since there are no good ways to adjust. You might simply get by with working the fronts though.

[71SATELITE]

Thanks you make it sound to easy. I noticed when I smacked the go pedal yesterday the left front seemed jump up. I know for fact I'm not pulling wheels on the land yacht but do you think by leveling this car out that it might aid in the take off.

[71SATELITE]

Forgot to ask how high should the front end be for a 71 B-body.

[sbuc72]

when i had my 72 Charger, i had the front end jacked up like 2inches, it made for great curb crawling, and wicked burn outs (more weight transfer to the rear). but it does look kinda funny if its 2" higher then the rear

.sbuc72

[71383bee]

If I remember the 71 shop manual says to properly adjust the front suspension you must measure the differefernce in height between the lower ball joint and the bottom of the lower control arm by where it pivots on the K member. The difference between these two measurements is about 1 to 1.5 inches. Measuring to body parts is not the best because you can not garuntee that the parts (fenders, valance, bumpers...etc) are hung exactly even on both sides of the car. To adjust just crank in or out on the torsion bar adjustment bolt on the lower control arm. Be sure to jounce the jar a couple of times after adjusting. Sometimes a little ride will help.

[tuffbird]

True there 71Bee...I set mine to fenders only because I know that with the car resting on blocks on an even surface the fenders sit at the same measurement...but I suppose any body flex could throw it off. Guess I need to go back and re-measure again...hehe

[72Challenger]

Since no one has mentioned this yet...

DO NOT attempt to adjust the torsion bars with any weight on the front wheels. Jack up the front end so there is no load whatsoever on the bars.

[tlh101]

Service manual states front end hieght is 1 5/8" + or- 1/8". This is differance in height from ball joint to floor, and control arm bottom surface at pivot point to floor. Car needs to be on level ground to adjust.

[71383bee]

Thanks tlh101!

That was the reference that I was after.

72 challenger,

I don't remember that in the shop manual and I adjusted mine in the garage. It was a little hard to turn the adjustment bolt...maybe that was why. I do remember that the manual said to have a near full tank of gas and to have the spare in the trunk as well while doing the adjustment.