Thanks for your input! For years I've been looking at all the aftermarket systems out there and "IF" I was to swap out the stock set up I think the RMS front set up is the only aftermarket set up I'd look at.
I'm quite happy playing with in the "stock" parts bins to come up with a better handling solution. I'm pretty happy with the results from what I've come up with so far , and with not really a lot of money spent also. I've spent about $1000 on my front end and IMO vastly improved over stock. That being said I'm no "expert" I just enjoy the challenge of getting the most out of the stock design. Im sure it will be a constant evolution and they are "never done" that just what we tell our wives to keep them happy!

The one and only alter k I've touched had a broken weld at that tie rod sleeve that is welded to the steering arm. In other higher end systems they use dropped steering arms to eliminate that problem. The smaller than stock wheel bearings are also a little puzzling to me. But then again, I'm sure its fine for most.

That purple Dart is bad ass.

Not sure what you need to hear to feel safe about your purchase. Usage and mileage certainly are factors and if your car is not a daily driver and you live in an area where roads are decently maintained, you may never have any issues.

If its any consolation, there are strut suspensions out that that do not have the magic 16" load spread on the control arms and they manage to absorb a fair amount of abuse along with daily usage. While they can and do occasionally fail, it certainly has some mitigating factors, such as maintanence, and is typically not a major newsworthy item. Is that to say the AlterK is all that, I dont' know. I've never used one. But it isn't a huge bane to reliability either.

IMO, a lot of the benefit of these aftermarket suspensions comes in a few key areas; reduced weight, improved precision, greater adjustability and match spring/shock rates to the application.

To address these; you can reduce weight in the nose of the car in more economical ways than replacing the entire suspension. Fiberglass cost about $10 a pound to loose weight with. An Alterk costs you around $50 a pound.

Improved precision is often times comparing used original or partially rebuilt systems to an entirely brand new conversion. I would epxect all new everything to have better precision than original. Will a R&P maintain that precision for longer than a recirculating ball gear box, probably. But I also doubt most of these cars are accumulating that many miles any more to make a fair comparison a decade later.

Greater adjustability is a benefit that is not as easily obtained with stock parts. The factory mopar design does have limitations, but can usually show sizeable improvements with a few key pieces being changed out. If you drive in an environment that necessitates rapid changes to spring and shock rates or slight variations in geometric changes, then the aftermarket set ups do have a considerable advantage. However, this tends to be highly contested competitive environments where a lot of this vintage of mopar do not play.

Finally is the matching of spring/shock rates to the application. This is, IMO, the biggest benefit of these systems as you have the designers or technical staff designating what peices play well together. Contrast this to your average street enthusiast who tends to buy the biggest this and the cheapest that and munges them all together and then its easy to see why things don't perform well and along the way the car has lost a fair amount of reliability and comfort as well as performance. If you can understand how all the peices work together and where to compromise and where to splurge to get the matched set up to ahcieve the proper rates sets and percentages, it is entirely possible for a 40 year old design to match a modern design in performance and comfort. But, not everyone can pull that rabbit out of the hat and if thats the case, you may be better served by having someone else figure it all out for you.

Thank you TC@HP2 for this very helpful and insightful response. As mentioned before there are many good solutions depending on the circumstances. I will approach use of my new system the same way I approach any repair or upgrade: with restrained enthusiasm.

Hard knock U

If you cannot get a stock based Mopar suspension to handle better than a Camry you are still not in a position to comment on it regardless of how high or deep it's piled.

While I do agree with the above comment, it is sorta harsh to post for all to see.
Handling dynamics are complicated. For example: A mediocre handling car with good, form fitting seats can make a car feel pretty good. A car with lots of body roll but a super tight steering gear can also give good feel. If the OP is happy with his choice, why bash him? You will not change his mind. If he is spending his money and not anyone elses, I'm okay with that.

Come on, he's a shill for the Altercation setup. Comes in here dinging the stock suspension while totally displaying his complete ignorance (I am being nice here and assuming it's ignorance and not a deliberate attempt to sell the altercation) and expects us to treat him nice?

Really?

In the handling forum?

Where people her know how to outhandle a Camry, know how to drive a handling car and know how to do it for less than the supposed thousands of dollars he spent only to be unable to outhandle a Camry?

Really?

Mr PiledHigherandDeeper can take a flying fark as far as I am concerned and I am not impressed by any company that tries this crap to sell their stuff.

I won't comment on the AlterKtion vs. OE type Mopar stuff, but the handling like a new Camry comment is not completely unfounded.

Hotchkis loaded up a 67 coronet full of their suspension parts and compared it against the slalom times of several new vehicles.

http://www.hotrod.com/techarticles/chassis/hrdp_0909_mopar_suspension_bolt_ons/viewall.html

After the full Hotchkis install, and with a pro driver in the seat, the slalom times equaled those of a 2001 Honda Accord.
- New cars handle pretty great, comparatively.

It's sad but true, a new Camry SE runs low 14's in the 1/4 and pulls over .8g on the skid and stops in under 120 feet . Those are good numbers and you would need to have lot's of set up time into an old car to put a beating on one on a road track or autocross.

Give me $23,200 [msrp for a camry]and I will give you an A body that eats Camry's with ease. Pick your poison Alterkation or torsion bars, I don't care.

The mopar action dig on the alterkation was poor at best and a twist for sure. The comment about the 200 million mph daytona was out of context as well as any car with a million point cage or the proper stiffening will handle fine with the stock mopar torsion bars. I built a big fat heavy 1970 Charger RT that runs Thunder Road on hemi torsion bars and springs and does it really really well.
How the heck did i do that??? Don't believe me? June 25th Watkins Glen...see for yourself.

I looked hard on line for pics of the 200 million mph wing car suspension etc and there are none to be found. They have kept quite a lid on the details of that car. A BIG lid! If I was an expert like Rick claims to be and I asked those guys what they were using for suspension and they gave that glib answer I would be looking quite hard at the car and not taken their word as gospel. I would also have some facts to back up my words

Lot's of hot air from some of you guys...

If ive ever seen a post thats beating a dead horse, aot of the ones concerning the alterk unit is one of them.

Wont get into a rant, but the people who have them seem to have no issues. I see it as no different then a preference over a Big Block, Small Block, and since these castings are 40 years old why not a new gen hemi?

For 5 years ive been beating mine on a reg bassis, from -26 to 94 degrees (yes at -26, only our carbed vehicles would start). Snow and rain. Some of this has been on harsh dirt mountain roads.

When I got my unit I cleaned it, etch primed it, sealed and then put a good top coat and then clear, it cleans up as new even today.

Weather a stock, modified stock, RMS or XV unt, ect....if the owner is happy imo thats all that matters.

Toss this topic in with the wheel spacers, welded k members, it cant work, it wont work into a golden 5 gallon bucket and some would complain it should of been a copper bucket.

In fact, I can't recall seeing a torsion bar suspension on ANY race car that takes corners in the last 25 years. If it is so f-ing good, you would think someone would use it...