Torssion bar rust

what do you think about the heavy pitting on this torsion bar is it junk ? it is a big block 1974 charger . Bar is 43 and 9/16 long number 660r 470 stamped below it . Is it a break waiting to happen ? just do not have 450 for new ones . firm feel seems to be the only place that has them. thanks

Considering the $$ it would take to replace that, I would not call it junk. If you have the budget and it bothers you. Replace it.

I would make a mild attempt at polishing that bar, then painting it. Will it break? Looks easy to answer yes but I've had 20 to 30 daily driver's that had rusted bars, in fact rusted everything and none of them broke. In fact on the 1st few I even had vise grip marks too and again, none of mine broke. Think of how many cars out there that have some rust on their coil springs, if it's only surface rust, they don't break either.

Not saying I've never seen it. I drove tow truck for 5 years, I saw it all but the broken springs were on neglected cars with about 97% more rust than your bar.

I'd replace it. Not saying it will break, but no guarantees that it won't. I rebuilt the front end on a '57 Coronet a couple of years ago. One torsion bar was badly pitted at one end. I had the customer buy a new pair. They were expensive (about $600), but I could not have given him any kind of guarantee otherwise.

I have the original 6 cylinder bars in my 64 Belvedere racecar. The left bar was really pitted after sand blasting, worse than yours. 7 years and over 630 passes later its still fine. Car wheelies on every pass. Run it
Doug

Run it and don't look back. You can always find one if you need it. I would clean it and paint it. In Michigan back in the day these were rusted in no time and never failed for rust. Springs break because they can. When who knows. The junk on the market now days may fail before your old one would.

I'd be worried if you had gouges or nicks as they are stress risers. Some will argue that a pit is a stress riser also but with your case I'd heavily bead blast the bars to remove any corrosion and soften the profiles. Then I'd prime, paint, enjoy.

I have only seen 1 bar ever break and that was on a C-body. I used to clamp vise grips on them and beat them out with a hammer and still never broke one.

No, I don't do it like that anymore.

if it were mine, i would use steel shot to blast it with.
just my opinion, your results will vary.

If you have access to a shot peener, this would be a good move. I would recommend glass beading it first to make sure there is no corrosion left.

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