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Veteran
Posts: 150
 
Location: Fargo, ND | I am frustrated with the ride in my Firesweep. Everything has been replaced in the front end. I have the KYB shocks in it. The car sits at stock height, although I haven't measured to see if it's pinpoint on the factory specs. Problem is there is little to no travel. If you push down on the front bumper, the car barely moves. I have a '65 Polara that's been in the family since new and over the years I have had the torsionn bars up and down on it quite a few times between stock and lowered and never had the front as tight as the Firesweep. When I restored the Firesweep, I expected it to ride like I thought a DeSoto would (or at least a Dodge frame) and the front end just doesn't have any give. It feels like my old Jeep Wagoneer. Anyone have any suggestions? |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 383
Location: Colorado Springs, Colorado | Are you sure the t-bars are indexed correctly? what number are they? 951/952 or 956/957 (aka the heavy duty taxi/police bars)? |
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Expert
Posts: 2325
Location: Chestertown, NY ( near Lake George) | If any front suspension components are frozen this can happen, such as when removing the control arms, then tightening them with the wheels hanging, this preloads the bushings and can stiffen up the ft end. They should be tightened at ride height, but check the T' bars as mentioned first. Also gas shocks can stiffen up the suspension some. |
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Exner Expert 10K+
Posts: 15108
Location: bishop, ca | Chris has the P/N's mixed up.
The standard T/bars were 950/951.
The 'Normal' HD bars (for the Custom Royals; they were standard on the Royals & Coronets & on the 57-58 Furys) were 952/953
Got the 952/953's installed on my CRL and they are very-stiff-enough!
The optional HD bars for the Coronets & Royals, but standard on the Export/taxi models and the D501 'race cars' were the 956/957 'rock-crushers'.
Get your car 'up' and take a look at the ends of the T/bars, to confirm their P/N's.
Edited by d500neil 2012-05-04 3:56 PM
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Veteran
Posts: 150
Location: Fargo, ND | Thanks. I will get under the car and take a look at the numbers as soon as I can. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 383
Location: Colorado Springs, Colorado | Neil I thought the 952/953's were standard on all the 1958 v-8 cars?, My plymouth has the 52/53's as did my 57 coronet 4dr with the 325. I would love a set of "rock crushers" these cars are very undersprung with modern tires, these plus gas shocks and it should handle a lot better  Yes, i know i'm sick, but then i plan to autocross my plymouth when i'm done, just because i can.
Edited by Chrispy 2012-05-04 8:35 PM
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Exner Expert 10K+
Posts: 15108
Location: bishop, ca | It is confusing; If an LP-1 got a V/8 engine, it came standard with the 950/951 bars.
1957 CRL's got the 950/951's because they came OEM with sway bars, that the other
models did not have available to them.
As you say, the 952/953 (HD CRL) bars were standard-equipment bars on the 1957/58 V/8
models that did not have sway bars on them (which included all of the 58 Dodges).
The 956/957 rock-crushers were the optional HD bars for the cars that got the 952/953 bars
on them as standard equipment.
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Expert
Posts: 2245
Location: Netherlands | Need some more information...
Everything has been replaced in the front end.
Was it good before this?
Problem is there is little to no travel.
Does it feel like a mechanical 'stop', or just stiff?
If you push down on the front bumper, the car barely moves.
What happens if 2 people push it down?
Take some pics of the suspension, maybe something stands out.
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Veteran
Posts: 150
Location: Fargo, ND | I have replaced the center link, A-arm bushings, inner and outer tie rod ends, ball joints, idler arm and shocks. When I got the car it had no engine, tranny or steering column. When I first rebuilt the car I put in the center link and new (cheap) shocks. The car has always, since I've had it, been stiff in front. A couple years ago I put KYB shocks on it and bushings in the A-arms. A month ago, I replaced the rest of the parts. If I raise the front end (torsion bars), it may relieve some of the stiffness, but the car would look dumb with the front end up. There is nothing binding, it is just stiff (tight) when you push down on the front fenders. |
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Veteran
Posts: 150
Location: Fargo, ND | I pulled out the KYB shocks this weekend and replaced them with a cheap set of shocks that I had purchased years ago for the Polara. The Firesweep now rides much better and even steers better. The KYBs were apprently so tight I had very little travel. |
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Expert
Posts: 2535
Location: Perth Australia | Good info here
So KYB shocks may not be such a good thing
Maybe the ones you got were for a 4x4 or something?
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Expert
Posts: 2325
Location: Chestertown, NY ( near Lake George) | Got em on my 55 and 59, no issues, those may just have been bound up for some reason. |
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Expert
Posts: 1810
Location: Under the X in Texas | That is the first complaint I have EVER heard about KYBs. Of course "ride quality" is also a matter of personal taste. My grandmother drove Buicks and they didn't have KYBs either. |
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Member
Posts: 11
| Ha! We'll let me second that. I had KYB shocks on my 67 Chrysler 300 and I didn't like them either. Better than the worn out old shocks that were on my car? YES! Did they restore the ride and handling I remember for Mopars back in the day? NO! I would say; if you have NO choice the KYB's are acceptable.
Here's my experience.
The suspension on my 67 300 was totally rebuilt using upgraded components from both Firm Feel and Just Suspension. Besides all new ball joints, bushings and jounce bumpers I had much thicker torsion bars and front AND rear antisway bars. I installed KYB shocks. The ride was quite stiff and you couldn't even JOUNCE the car for a shock absorber test when at rest. BUT and this is a BIG BUT to me, my car bottomed on driveway cuts into gas stations, speed bumps no matter how slow I drove over them and intersections that were uneven where two roads crossed (taken at moderate speeds). NONE of my modern cars bottomed under any of those conditions.
AND I remember from back in the day; MOPARS DIDn't bottom!!!! So something was wrong. I replaced the KYB's with Bilsteins I purchased from Firm Feel. They were WAY more expensive; but what a difference!!
I was a bit skeptical when they were first installed because now I could jounce the car where as it was practicall unjounceable with the KYB's. BUT, I drove the car under the same conditons and in the same places it bottomed before; NO more bottoming! So the Bilsteins deliver a good ride with the handling we expect from these cars. |
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Regular
Posts: 83
Location: Aurora, Co | Something that might be worth while to look into. Monroe Sensatrack front Shocks for an 80 Corvette. I replaced a set of generic over the counter shocks for a Ford Pick Up with these bad boys & what a difference. The price wasn't bad either $32 each at any Part Store. The Ride was much firmer with no secondary rebound on Dips & Humps. I plan to replace the Coil Springs with HD models from Springs & Things. Followed by a 56 Imperial Sway Bar. 1/3 thicker that stock Desoto. I also plan to AutoCross the big girl just cause I can. LAter. Colorado Firedome |
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Expert
Posts: 1373
Location: central Illinois | ColoradoFiredome - 2012-06-04 5:25 PM
Something that might be worth while to look into. Monroe Sensatrack front Shocks for an 80 Corvette. I replaced a set of generic over the counter shocks for a Ford Pick Up with these bad boys & what a difference. The price wasn't bad either $32 each at any Part Store. The Ride was much firmer with no secondary rebound on Dips & Humps. I plan to replace the Coil Springs with HD models from Springs & Things. Followed by a 56 Imperial Sway Bar. 1/3 thicker that stock Desoto. I also plan to AutoCross the big girl just cause I can. LAter. Colorado Firedome
How did you figure the shocks from an 80 corvette would be appropriate for you DeSoto? I'm trying to compare overall extended and collapsed traits and wondering where you found a chart or charts to use. |
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Regular
Posts: 83
Location: Aurora, Co | b5rt -- Well, wish I could claim I came up with the idea but I got it from the Forward Look Mail List. Sam Stradler had made mention of the Corvette shocks when others were going on about KYBs. I checked my O'Reilly's & they had a pair on the shelf. I have plenty of Shock Travel & the compression is pretty stiff. Especially compared to the Ford Pick Up shocks which were completely worn out. THe ride is stiffer but not harsh. I'm a bit of a Road Racer so I like that. I plan to replace the Front Coils with HDs from Springs & Things & add a 56 Imperial Sway Bar. It's about 30% stiffer than stock Firedome & it bolts right up to the DeSoto Brackets. The HD Coils can be had in Stock Height, -1" & -2" with 135 LB additional deflection over stock springs. When we're done, I'm going to try out AutoCross. I'm sure she won't perform like the 88 VW Cabriolet but it'll be a gas anyway. IM me for Sam's e-mail address if you are interested. Later R.T> |
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Expert
Posts: 2732
Location: northern germany | i never heard ANY complaints about kyb shocks before. i actually hate everything asian/japanese but i love the kybs and they are very long lasting too! i had factory oriflow heavy duty shocks in good condition and from what i remember (years ago) the ride/handling improved noticeable with less body lean. and you can run them upside down. |
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Stiff Ride
