I just bought my 2003 Durango R/T. I put new tires, General Grabber HTS in the stock size P275-60/R17. I also put on new Monroe Reflex shocks today. The upper and lower ball joints have recently been replaced and I aligned it when I did the tires.
My problem is that it doesn't handle as well as I hoped. I've read many reviews where they praise the handling and control for a SUV of this size.
When I hit a corner, the body rolls quite a bit and if I push it, it will plow ahead(understeer).
The only things I can think of is lowering and sway bars. I am not too hot on lowering an AWD vehicle. Maybe an inch or two, but not slammed. Can you safely lower an AWD and how? Maybe spacers and U bolts for the leaf and loosed the torsion bars in front. Can you get 1-2" from the torsions?

Hotchkis make a sway bar kit for $500, but that's a little rich right now. Plus it includes a 7/8" rear bar, and since I have the R/T, I already have 7/8. Maybe theirs is stiffer, I don't know. My front is 1 1/4" and the Hotchkis is 1 7/16". Would that make a big difference?
I am considering all new sway bar polyurethane bushings and links. The problem is that is about $150 and I am still not happy, none of it is reusable with the Hotchkis kit.

Any advice?

 

Shouldn't be sloppy.

If you really want to lower, you can crank the fronts down 1.5" max and you are fine. With that said, lowering isn't needed.

Hotchkis work well.

IndyD

 

Replace the bushings with a Polyurethane kit and install a set of new Edelbrock IAS shocks and that thing will handle like a Porsche. I loved my set! The way they work is to help eliminate all body roll and provide a great performance handling both on and off road. Right now it's buy 3 get one free until July 31'st. So if you get them today you'll make a great deal!

 

Well I put new Monroe Reflex shocks on earlier in the week, so the Edlebrocks aren't happening.
I am deciding if poly bushings would be good, or wait until I can do the whole Hotchkis kit. Anybody put polyurethane bushings and felt it worth it? Who sells them?

 

Energy Suspension: https://dodgeforum.com/forum/1st-gen...ent-parts.html

 

I was looking at it today, and it seemed the front sits a little higher than the rear by about 1/2 - 1". I jacked it up and backed off the torsion bars by 4 turns. I lowered and gave it a bounce. It doesn't really look different, but I haven't driven it yet.
Is there a number of turns to height ratio?

 

When raising the height by 2in with the torsion bars is about 8turns. 4 turns=1in approximately

 

Yes, 4 turns per inch height adjustment.

Problem is when you touch them you change the ride height and thus you change camber calibration.

 

+1 hydra, 4 turns = 1 inch and every time you touch the t-bars you need to get the truck aligned or else you will wear the tires very badly.