Dodge Charger (LX) 2006 - Present Suspension Lower or Drop
To start things off,
Since there is no good place on a charger to put jackstands, we used two factory jacks to raise the front end. From there, we removed the wheels and started to unbolt the upper control arms.
Remove the lower shock mounts, and upper shock mounts.
Then, remove the end links from the sways. If you are just doing springs, you may have to remove the lower end of the sways to be able to lower the rig to get the strut out. Once the struts were out we ran them over to a tire shop to get the old springs removed, and the new ones put on. In the meantime, while the shop was loading the springs, we came back and started the front sway bar.
Once both sides struts are removed and end links taken of, the front bar comes off super easy. Simply remove the two heatshields, then the retaining bracket holding the bar to the frame.
old strut
Front sway brackets
Old sway compared to the hotchkis sway
New sway in the mounts
Once the sway was in, we called and the struts were ready.
New strut.
Once we got them back, we noticed that they didn't orient the lower shock mounts the right direction... so we had to turn the strut by mounting it to the upper mounts then twisting the lower mount so it turned to the right orientation. Once we had them situated, we had to take the strut back out, and stick them in from the front of the wheel well, up into the upper mounts, then press HARD down on the lower arm area, to get it low enough to getinto the lower shock mount. Once it was there we were able to snug fit all the bolts.
Once the strut was in, we reconnected the end links.
New sways with the heatsheilds back on.
and the front was pretty much completed. Once everything is back on the car, tighten all the end inks, shock mounts(except the top) and reconnect the upper control arms. Then put the wheels back on.
Now on to the rears.
This is what we were worried about. To install sways and springs, you not only need to remove the end links, and shocks, but literally lower the rear cradle of the car away from the frame. This is pretty scary. It took two factory jacks, and two rolling jacks to do this easily.
Slide a jack under the lower control arm. Then take the wheels off, and undo the upper shock mounts. then loosen the lower shock mounts and remove the shock. Then take off the end links of the rear sways. Also remove the brake line mount from the body so when the cradle drops it's not hanging off the brake line. Once everything is loose, Unbolt the cradle from the car..(this is the scary part) then slowly lower the jack..... The rear cradle will fall out letting you get to the spring and pull it out. This also allows access to the rear sway mounts. Once the cradle is lowered on one side, repeat it on the other side... Once that is done, the entire rear cradle is is sitting on a jack under the car.
Once the cradle is down, and the springs are removed, Unbolt the sway bar from the mounts and work the sway bar out to one side. It's kind of like a puzzle getting the sway bar out. Once thats out, load up the new one and fish it back through the way you pulled it out. Snugly tighten the new mounts and proceed to reinstall the rear springs.
Take the new springs and attack the rubber stoppers and put them back in the car from bottom to top.. You'll have to really press down on the lower arms to get the new springs in. Once they are in, re-install the shocks from the top mounts, then the lower mounts.
Once the shocks are installed, raise the cradle up and reattach it to the car. This was where we thought we would have issues getting the rear re-aligned. Luckily it went right back up to where it came from and we were totally square once we go all four bolts back on. Once they are tight, Fully tighten all the end links, shock mounts and sway mounts. and your pretty much done.
make sure all it tight and re-install the wheels and lower the car.
Your done!
And the final results is:
References
http://www.chargerforumz.com/showthread.php?t=31702