What did you do to your Challenger today?

[old Jack]

Hmm the weight /handling issues is why I was considering the Smartbar .

Even with a Smartbar, heavy LT tyres and full set of Bushskinz the factory front suspension struggled for the first 28,000kms before I changed the front suspension.

With Bilstien struts and std duty raised Lovells coils I got a 25mm lift over factory height, but 90,000km later, 3 strut failures, I am looking at changing the setup again. About 1/3 of my kms are at GVM and off the bitumen so my suspension gets a really hard time.

OJ.

[Ent]

The Challenger's suspension is optimised for shopping trolley duty so even with just a simple Mitsubishi diff bash plate it would "collapse" when attempting to gently roll over rocks thus lot of potential impact damage.

The front end is Triton so you have plenty of options. One issue you will strike with most after market suspension places is they have not a clue on the front EBH their solution will generate. More than a few places have reversed or even removed the droop stops in order to get some downward travel as they have gone too high. The CVs on the Challenger/Triton normally are not an issue but doing this and get ready for a three CV weekend. After market CVs are not as strong as factory originals, but factory ones are very expensive.

The best solution is something like the Drummond Motor Sport one. Their setup can be adjusted to raise the front a maximum of 3" which is excessive but you can settle on much less. Mine was put on from 15,000km, and has been raised steadily to deal with additional bashplates, steel bullbar and winch. They also do two spring options. One for standard and one for bullbar/winch setup. They recommended even with standard front to go with the heavier spring rate as the Challenger/Triton springs are too weak. I did and was very happy with that choice. Now, fully loaded on the front they are still brilliant at 95,000kms.

It was a big price tag and lot of soul searching on spring rates to use but one of the best modifications I have done to my Challenger. You have almost a racing grade setup that resists fade and gives long life. You only have to look at the quality of construction and any other setup looks underdone.

The ability to trim the front means you can fit drawers, long range tank, second spare, etc to the rear and re-trim the vehicle. Even setup for a long trip as mule and when back re-trim for commuter duty. The benefit is not only excellent ride and handling but also great flexibility in setup. I would not bother with the extra to have the ability to adjust the rebound and go for the cheaper fix setting. But Drummond would be far better to make their own recommendation on that aspect.

Frankly, I have found more than a few suspension experts "wanting" and found with Drummond and Kings you have true experts. Though Drummonds can be a little hard work if you want to ask too many questions. Basically, they know what they are doing and expect you to accept that.

[ilikeachallenge]

Drummond Motorsport set up

The Challenger's suspension is optimised for shopping trolley duty so even with just a simple Mitsubishi diff bash plate it would "collapse" when attempting to gently roll over rocks thus lot of potential impact damage.

The front end is Triton so you have plenty of options. One issue you will strike with most after market suspension places is they have not a clue on the front EBH their solution will generate. More than a few places have reversed or even removed the droop stops in order to get some downward travel as they have gone too high. The CVs on the Challenger/Triton normally are not an issue but doing this and get ready for a three CV weekend. After market CVs are not as strong as factory originals, but factory ones are very expensive.

The best solution is something like the Drummond Motor Sport one. Their setup can be adjusted to raise the front a maximum of 3" which is excessive but you can settle on much less. Mine was put on from 15,000km, and has been raised steadily to deal with additional bashplates, steel bullbar and winch. They also do two spring options. One for standard and one for bullbar/winch setup. They recommended even with standard front to go with the heavier spring rate as the Challenger/Triton springs are too weak. I did and was very happy with that choice. Now, fully loaded on the front they are still brilliant at 95,000kms.

It was a big price tag and lot of soul searching on spring rates to use but one of the best modifications I have done to my Challenger. You have almost a racing grade setup that resists fade and gives long life. You only have to look at the quality of construction and any other setup looks underdone.

The ability to trim the front means you can fit drawers, long range tank, second spare, etc to the rear and re-trim the vehicle. Even setup for a long trip as mule and when back re-trim for commuter duty. The benefit is not only excellent ride and handling but also great flexibility in setup. I would not bother with the extra to have the ability to adjust the rebound and go for the cheaper fix setting. But Drummond would be far better to make their own recommendation on that aspect.

Frankly, I have found more than a few suspension experts "wanting" and found with Drummond and Kings you have true experts. Though Drummonds can be a little hard work if you want to ask too many questions. Basically, they know what they are doing and expect you to accept that.

Hi Ent I rang Drummond Motorsport to enquire about some front struts but they had no info or specs at all and then he realised you must have bought them from a dealer in Tassie.Do you have any part numbers or specs on your front set up you are happy to share.thanks in advance

[Ent]

Oh boy. This experience does not surprise me. No I brought direct from DMS. Jamie Drummond is the person to speak to. Tell him yours is a PC Challenger which has the same front setup as the same year Triton. Mention he sold a pair two years back to a Tasmanian and he recommended that I go with the 600lb heavy duty spring rather than the standard 400lb one. Also mention he tried to do the rear ones but the dampeners' compressed length was too long so that did not work. He developed the setup for his brother's Triton.

The trouble is the Challenger is a very rare vehicle compared to the Triton and order takers are not up to speed. He might mutter something about me (probably not flattering) but tell him I have found the front setup he recommended excellent and am happy to recommend it. If possible get a picture of his face when you mention this.

I will attempt to find a part number (may not even be one) but me thinks they are thinking Triton not Challenger. Their Triton rear ended spring and dampener package is something truly special but that is for leaf springs so definitely will not suit the Challenger.

DMS can be a little hard work, but so are most places that started as racing workshops. They are experts at their trade and tend to think people that they deal with are racing teams with huge knowledge and egos. Once you slow them down they are very good, just need to hunt out the right person. I have spent most of my time with specialist places pointing out the Challenger from the front doors forward is a top of the line Triton. The rear is unique to the Challenger, though it shares many things from the first coil sprung Pajero and the PA Challenger.

Indeed, Mitsubishi is a master of reusing components, but also shocking at having a standard parts book. I kid you not, they actually do need your VIN as model number in Mitsubishi world has not great standing. This Mitsubishi confusion means many after market suppliers find the Challenger just too much hard work so say "no can not help" when actually they can.

[paj747]

More additions added TJM Airtek Snorkel, 9inch LED Spotties and fogs added the bullbar...


Still more to come

[Michaelj15]

More additions added TJM Airtek Snorkel, 9inch LED Spotties and fogs added the bullbar...


Still more to come

Looks sick! have to get it offroad soon!?

[littleriver]

Indeed, Mitsubishi is a master of reusing components, but also shocking at having a standard parts book. I kid you not, they actually do need your VIN as model number in Mitsubishi world has not great standing. This Mitsubishi confusion means many after market suppliers find the Challenger just too much hard work so say "no can not help" when actually they can.

Have had similar experience over the yrs with ours ... major reason is the sales of the challenger was that of no comparison to the Tritons' - so even for us to get a exhaust at the time was not worth their bother ... even though it was merely a slight modification at the rear tail pipe

Persist and you may get things done but may have to pay the extra for it ....

Most part numbers will start with a MN (meaning triton) that fit on the challenger ...

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[paj747]

Looks sick! have to get it offload soon!?

Definitely

[chudatkin]

Hi all,

Relatively new to this forum still but loving all the knowledge that has been shared by others, so great to be able to tap into this info having just bought my first 4wd (been looking for the right one for almost two years now).

So not technically "today" but I recently took delivery of my Challenger, 2011 XLS with about 62,000kms on the clock (hoping to have it for a while..). Pretty stock set-up at the moment but it did come with a Hayman Reece towbar set-up which is a bonus. I've put on some Rhino Rack bars and roof cage in readiness for Christmas road trip/ camping adventure with the family. Also got an Munji EGR delete kit on the way to help look after the engine and hopefully improve with slow take-offs.

As you'd expect, I've got a bit of a wish list brewing... Recovery boards, compressor and snatching gear are top of the list... Gonna powder coat (black) the factory alloys and sidesteps early next year with new rubber when current H/Ts wear out (gonna use it for beach work and National Park tracks mostly, nothing too hectic so should be okay to wait). Fridge/ dual-battery set-up/ drawers (when I have cash), suspension upgrade/ snorkel and possibly an MCC bull bar (eventually..). Yikes, I'm getting way ahead of myself...

So glad to have the new rig after such a long search though, was considering a Delica for a while as well as a few other makes/ models but the Challenger seemed to be the best value around considering how well equiped they are.

Here's a pic for you, will keep you posted as changes happen...

[Michaelj15]

Installed Hayman Reese Towbar. Also got the wiring sorted! pretty happy how it turned out. $80 for second hand towbar & $220 for wiring + install!

[irsa76]

Fitted both sets of my Hella lights. Keeping an eye on the temp gauge though. Will probably put something better there and move them onto the roofrack.

Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

[littleriver]

very nice ... let there be light ...

what are the output's Watts of the lights ?

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[irsa76]

Not much, they're 55w. Because they're H2 globes that's pretty much as good as it gets with them.

[scott1482]

Fitted both sets of my Hella lights. Keeping an eye on the temp gauge though. Will probably put something better there and move them onto the roofrack.

Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

Just wondering as I have a set of roo lights I’ve been tossing up about putting on a nudge bar or similar but seen i tow a caravan I don’t want to block any air flow to the radiator, ac and intercooler, may I ask why did you choose driving lights over a LED light bar that’s why I haven’t fit my lights thought light bar would be better so it doesn’t block air flow

[irsa76]

I had these in the shed, I'll probably pull them off soon and go for a single pair of lights. Have a couple of ideas for any possible cooling issues, which I need to grab an ultra gauge to check.