sometimes if the car hasn't been driven in some time the tension arms for the torsion bars rust in place. just because you loosened the bolt doesn't mean you released the tension on them. maybe check that.
also i just removed a torsion bar to replace the starter and had to loosen the nut in the suspension pic to get the are to release enough to reinstall the bar.
another simple thing that is sometimes forgotten is the clip at the rear of the bar. did you remove them? i don't think they will hold the bars in that good but you never know.
just tossing those ideas at you.