Duster handling

[Trigger_Andy]

OK, whats the best 'cheap' way to get my Duster handling good again. I plan on fitting pollyurithane bushes in the spring but is there any tip's or tecniques to her handling like she did when she was new, or better?

[Dave-R]

Polly all round and uprated springs and fatter low profile tyres and chassis connectors. Hic!

[Dave-R]

N good shockkkks. Ya bugger

[Pete]

I would put rubber on the front for positive LCA location. Front end re-build kit if required - makes a great difference - and poly on the rear springs and shackles.

[Dave-R]

yeah you had a problem with the LCA poly busing being a loose fit didn't you Pete.
I have to say that mine was a VERY tight fit and I remember now that I actually destroyed one trying to press it in and had to buy another pair.

On inspection after hearing your problem I checked mone and after years of use it is still a tight fit with no play.

There must be variations in the bushes made or in the LCA pivot dimensions or something.

But poly is a must on the LCA struts at least. Even if you use rubber on the LCA pivot and UCA bushes.

Poly bushes on the rear springs helps with body roll a little as the springs are forced to act a little like a rear sway bar as well as helping to keep the axle centered under the car like a panhard rod.

But they are not replacements for a rear sway bar or panhard rod.

I think a good staring point for a Duster is just to fit bigger sway bars front and rear and good shocks along with the poly bushes and fat low profile tyres.

[Anonymous]

Not sure if Dusters come with rear sway bars but on a B Bod, the difference in handling between one that has one and one that does not (like mine) is big.

[Trigger_Andy]

Cheers guy's, I'm gonna have a look on Summit's site and add a few item's to my wishlist

[AllKiller]

The KYB shocks are pretty good value for money

[Trigger_Andy]

Cheers Allkiller, had a look at them. About $44.00 right? Worth getting?

I've got plenty to keep me going with the 340 so this will all be on the back burner but it's good to know what to aim for and get it all sorted in my head first. Summit do a rear 1" swaybar for $150 too!

[Dave-R]

3/4 inch rear bar is plenty enough. You would have to go massive on the front to use that one inch bar.

Remember the basics of handling. Too much spring rate at the rear = oversteer. Too much at the front = understeer.

The opposite way around for too small a spring rate of course.

If you get the spring rates correct your car will corner at very high speeds.

I have mine so that I have very slight understeer because the power at the rear wheels induces oversteer.

[AllKiller]

Cheers Allkiller, had a look at them. About $44.00 right? Worth getting?

!

Andy
Sounds about right, they are very good with my 17" 5 spokes and low profile tyres on the street
and great at the strip at weight transfer with the Fat n skinnies

[Dave-R]

Helpful links.

http://members.aol.com/pwall5/cars/2cudapag.html

http://www.moparmusclemagazine.com/tech ... index.html

[AllKiller]

Remember reading that, that R/T doesnt hang about 440 too

[MilesnMiles]

Andy, my Dart Sport (same as Duster) doesn't even have a anti roll bar. but a combination of KYB gas shocks, rear polybushes, mono-leaf springs and decent rubber really changed the handling. Your rear leafs are likely shagged and replacing mine gave the most significant change.
Other than that, wot Dave, Pete and Steve said!