Holy cow, I didn't realize how long it's been.....looks like my last post was some 9 years ago.....life sure has gotten in the way....

Anyhoo, it's been 32 years since my grandpa and I refurbished my '76 Duster when I was in high school, and 82k miles later, it needs some freshening. Back then, we replaced tie rod ends, shocks, and rear springs, but now that it will be 48 in November, I'm thinking it's time to fully go through the suspension and rebuild it with new bushings, ball joints, etc. I'd also like to upgrade the torsion bars from the slant 6 bars, add sway bars (never came with even a factory front one), new rear springs (the 31 year old replacements have lost some height) and new shocks. while I'm at it, I'm thinking I'd like to upgrade the factory front drums to disc. Not looking to be a super corner carver, just a bit firmer and more stable ride.

I'm wondering what is the consensus on good vendors to buy from for suspension and brake kits? I'm assuming the conversion kits available now with proper height spindles are preferable to sourcing the taller junkyard FMJ spindles. I haven't been out to local junkyards in years to see if you can even find FMJ's anymore or if they've all be crushed. a quick search and it looks like kind of a wide disparity of price points, Western Chassis showing about $500 for a kit, while the Right Stuff it's closer to $1100....I'm thinking for ease of parts a factory style would be preferrable over something like a wilwood setup, I know the wilwoods I had on the rear of my daily driver 5th ave back in the day were a pain, but that was a year round, all weather driver....

any feedback or advice is welcome.

Thanks!

You should be able to get most everything you need from Doctor Diff

I second Dr. Diff, Cass who owns it is outstanding, great customer support.

https://www.doctordiff.com/

Hey Patrick, yeah, it has been a long time. Good to see you're doing well.

I went yarding back in July and didn't find a single F/M/J in both Parts Galore and US Auto Supply. The online catalog though is showing a single Diplomat at the 8 mile location. Who knows if it's there or what's left?

Doctor Diff for brakes and probably Firm Feel for the sway bars. Should be able to get tie rods, ball joints and the other stuff at Rock Auto. I don't think anything is made Stateside anymore unless you find NOS.

Feed back? Ehrenberg is an idiot. That damn article of his is still steering people wrong.

Advice? Read this, a real article with actual testing and not some half-brain opinion based on nothing.

https://www.bigblockdart.com/threads/spindle-comparison.45858/

As for the swap, Doc D

thanks....hard part of going with FMJ/junkyard sourced parts is the fact that they were last made 34 years ago, so not many in yards anymore....

car is a slant6, manual everything, plan on keeping it, maybe mild upgrades to the 6 (thinking 2bbl, maybe a little cam, exhaust either headers or dutra duals, probably milling and porting the head). when I redo the suspension I'd like to get a bit firmer than the stock slant 6 tbars, but am not looking for corner carving, just competent....was looking at the Mancini racing XHD springs for the back https://www.manciniracing.com/maaexhedules1.html for the front, stock BB t-bars (.890?) if I can find them? I see firm feel sells both .880's and .940's....I'm concerned anything bigger than that and ride will get too harsh, especially if I decide to go with 17" rims....

T bar size has been discussed in the handling forum, there are those that claim 1" minimum with no issues regarding ride.

Me? I have .89's in my 65 Cuda, but that choice was made last century, lol.

It's all in the shocks. I upgraded the front bars in my car to 300# (comparable to B body 1.12") and Bilstein shocks. Was running 235-60-15 Radial T/A tires at the time. It handled great and while the ride got harsher it wasn't unbearable or anything. Few years later I swapped the tires out for 245-40-18 Nittos. Ride quality went to absolute pot on semi rough roads. Was bad enough that I was considering going back to 15" tires (I moved and the new house is surrounded by bad roads). Decided to try different shocks on a recommendation and bought a pair of double adjustable Vikings. It's beyond night and day the difference. The front end handles rough patches in the road like my daily driver Equinox does. Not cheap though. Shocks were $230 a piece.

isn't that the truth..





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go atleast 1" bars with good shocks and it will be firm but not harsh. you'll love them.. these cars are so under sprung in stock form it crazy.

dr,diff is a great source. but also reach out to pete at https://bergmanautocraft.com/ . he can steer ya in the tight direction with bars and springs..

back when I did my 5th ave in '05ish, I think I used ESPO Springs n' things.....are they still pretty good to deal with? also, since this isn't planning to be a corner carver, just a fun driver/cruiser, what's the consensus on poly vs. stock rubber? on my M body, IIRC I used poly bushings (although it still used the stock 20 year old transverse T-bar bushings) and it was definitely stiff....and should I maybe look towards the moog problem solver UCA bushings for more caster/camber?

boy, not really paying attention to the hobby beyond maintainence and just driving for the last 10-15 years makes me feel like a newbie all over again

Espo Springs or Springs n things still good

Firmfeel is expensive but good suspension parts.

I've been calling around just about every salvage yard in a 50 mile radius for the tall spindles and possibly 11.75" rotor caliper adapters, and nobody has anything older than mid 90's, most don't have anything older than mid '00's....
was hoping to find some oem parts to save a few $$ and because I presume the repro ones are likely offshored.....

Planning on ordering parts from Rockauto, anyone have any experience with the different brands? Mevotech vs Delphi vs. AC delco vs. Moog for ball joints/bushings? have read some scary things about quality control of newer Moog stuff between here and the FABO board....

BTW, scored some .920" t-bars for a good price, should be a nice upgrade from the stock .850's (40% increase in wheel rate)...right now planning on picking up a hellwig swaybar.

www.car-parts.com is an online boneyard resource, searches all the participating yards in the USA, you can sort by distance.

thanks! damn, nearest one showing up is across lake michigan or in ohio...

Doctor Diff sells those parts repro if your boneyard options don't pan out.

yeah, I know....I'm just a little leery of repro, likely offshore parts vs. OEM parts.....