BANG over a bump!

[koosh]

68 charger almost done (yeah, right)…
first test drive going down the street.
Brand new leaf springs (stock), new front hangers, new shackles, new shocks….
drive over a light-to-moderate road bump—- BANG! sounds like the rear of the car breaking in half! Feels like no suspension, harsh bang. Back home in the driveway parked, bounce the rear of the car, and it acts normal… couple of bounces then stops.
Any ideas where to start on this issue, MUCH appreciated.

 

[70rrclone]

What shocks and springs are on the car. My 70 satellite did that when I had Mopar xhd springs installed. It rode worse than my dually. It went away when I switched to ESPO springs.

 

[koosh]

What shocks and springs are on the car. My 70 satellite did that when I had Mopar xhd springs installed. It rode worse than my dually. It went away when I switched to ESPO springs.

they are new stock leaf springs, KYB gas shocks

 

[70 sublime]

Is the cross member the top of the shocks bolt to in good shape and still welded in properly ?
I had one that started riping apart and would bounce around to make noise over bumps

 

[Kern Dog]

The KYB shocks are the Harbor Freight of shock absorbers. That may not be the problem but they sure aren’t the solution.

 

[koosh]

Is the cross member the top of the shocks bolt to in good shape and still welded in properly ?
I had one that started riping apart and would bounce around to make noise over bumps

Is the cross member the top of the shocks bolt to in good shape and still welded in properly ?
I had one that started riping apart and would bounce around to make noise over bumps

It appears to be fine, albeit it has been re-welded in place

 

[koosh]

The KYB shocks are the Harbor Freight of shock absorbers. That may not be the problem but they sure are. It a solution.

I’m starting to wonder ifvthey are correct length!

 

[koosh]

Im wondering if there is a spec torq number for the upper shock mounts? I tightened enough to see the cross member compressed upon tightening

 

[koosh]

The KYB shocks are the Harbor Freight of shock absorbers. That may not be the problem but they sure are. It a solution.

What are you suggesting for rear shocks?

 

[hunt2elk]

What are you suggesting for rear shocks?

Bilstien shocks are nice. Your rear spring hangers are not overcenter, are they?

 

[70rrclone]

I have KYB on mine now but Bilstiens are in the future. They seem to be the go to shock.

 

[koosh]

Bilstien shocks are nice. Your rear spring hangers are not overcenter, are they?

Bilstien shocks are nice. Your rear spring hangers are not overcenter, are they?

Bilstien shocks are nice. Your rear spring hangers are not overcenter, are they?

Umm, not sure what that means?

 

[rickseeman]

I friend of mines car was doing that and it was the pinion snubber

 

[koosh]

I friend of mines car was doing that and it was the pinion snubber

How did he cure it?

 

[rickseeman]

He re-arched the rear springs.

 

[koosh]

He re-arched the rear springs.

Ugh, i have brand new springs, so i guess i can’t blame them

 

[Lefty71]

Pull the shocks loose and give another run without them. Should at least rule them out, and maybe confirm if they were the wrong length.

 

[koosh]

Pull the shocks loose and give another run without them. Should at least rule them out, and maybe confirm if they were the wrong length.

Ok. Gonna try some things in the morning. Should the shock mount cross member be pinched tight when tightening the upper shock bolts?

 

[BSB67]

What was on it before you changed the springs, shocks and hangers?

 

[68 Sport Satellite]

I friend of mines car was doing that and it was the pinion snubber

Mine did that bang over a bump thing when I swapped out the stock pinion snubber for an adjustable one. I couldn't get the adjustable one far enough away from the floor pan. It was an inch away at rest, but over a bump it went BANG! I put the stock lower height snubber back on and all was good again.