Category Archives: How to

Information that will teach you how to build, fix, work on or repair your Challenger

Petty’s Rear strut tower brace – unboxing and installation

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Received my Petty’s Garage rear strut brace and wanted to do a unboxing and installing post.

Before we get into the unboxing and installation part of this post, let me take a minute to talk about the service and speed of delivery I’ve received over the years purchasing from Petty’s Garage.  While I’ve been very pleased at their service in the past, this part was ordered by my wife on Dec 21rd (Friday before the Christmas holiday) as a Christmas present.   I was not expecting this to come in until after the new year. However I received a UPS notice that my package from Petty’s Garage was going to be delivered on Friday Dec 28th.  I’ll be honest with you, I really think these guys are Santa and his elves or they have licensed Santa’s exceptional delivery protocols. I am amazed at how quickly these guys and custom paint a part and have it at my door step in under 5 working days.

On to the unboxing:

As always the product came well packaged and wrapped with all the extra hardware safely tucked into it’s own packaging

_DSC4826** My only complaint is they must use the heaviest type tape to help hold the pad wrapping in place.  I had problems cutting it with a brand new razor blade.  You really want to be careful with cutting this TOP SECRET NASCAR approved packaging tape, making sure you don’t scratch your freshly painted brace.

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The best way to get under your car

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As soon as I brought my Challenger home I’ve been wanting an easier way to get under the car for things like maintenance, oil changes and inspections. I’ve gone back and forth but have always wanted a good set of Race Ramps. The only drawback is, these are on the pricey side.  Oh but they are well worth it!

I’ve decided to go with the RR-XT-2 67 Inch 2 piece race ramps.  These are a two piece design, meaning that once the car is in place and the wheels are chocked you can remove the ramp part so you have better access under the car.

Check out the new article I just posted under Garage, entitled Race Ramps for more information

Next mod – Better Brakes

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Next mod, much better brakes without breaking the bank.

Our stock RT Challengers have a front rotor of 13.6 diameter and 1.10 thick but the SRT rotor is 14.2 diameter and 1.26 thick.  The backs rotors are 12.625 diameter and .875 thick and the SRT rotor 13.75 diameter and 1.10 thick.

Now with a very inexpensive adapter kit you can put SRT rotors on the front and Charger Police package adapters to accommodate larger rotors on the back for an all around better braking experience for about the same price to replace your rotors at your local brake shop.

With that said, the two main pieces are the adapters to fit our stock calipers to the larger and thicker rotors. So far I’ve ordered the two brackets:

Front: Serious Metal front kit (adapters only) Note they are an Canadian company thus exchange rates applyRear: Mopar Part # 5175065AB (Charger Police Package)

Once these parts arrive, I’ll order the brake pads (2005 Corvette pads #PGM731),  SRT rotors (slotted and dimpled) for the front and Charger (slotted and dimpled) rotors for the back

I’ll do a step by step installation guide when all the parts arrive.

Service Manuals for 2009-2010 Challengers

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UPDATE:
A simply work around (you have to do this every time you run the manual) is  to simply run it under  developer mode, IE7,  in any newer version of IE

Open the manual’s .\html\default.htm in IE
Click on f12 or click the sprocket in the upper right hand corner then select  F12 Developer tools
When the window opens at the bottom of IE, select

Mode
–Document Mode -> 7
–User agent string -> Internet Explorer 7

It will now allow you to select year, model and engine to begin the owners manual and continue on as you where using the old version of IE.

Have not found a way to make it open by default, as setting the compatibility mode in the meta tag does not work, thus you have to do this every time you use the manual.

The biggest complaint I have in regards to owning my Challenger was the lack of a reasonably prices service manual. That is, if you could find one at all.  Currently the only service manual listed for sale to the general public, is for the 2009 year which does cover the 2010s.  Ban news for 2011+ owners as there still does not seem to be a manual for your years. I’ve searched and could not find anything for the current models.  Dodge is surly lacking in this area, for current Challenger owners.

Below you will find my findings, a small review and a few links to purchase your own Service Manual. That’s if you own a 2009-2010 Challenger.

If anyone does have a link to where you can purchase current versions of the 2011+ manuals please send me a link/information via our contact us form at the top of this page.

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