Im currently tearing the front suspension appart on my '70 dodge coronet. Trying to figure out how to remove the torsion bar. The shop manual references a special tool, but have had no luck locating one. Any help would be greatly appreciated, thanks.

There is the clip in the back. And you have to take the load off the lower contol arm by loosening the bolts under it. I assume the car is on jack stands or jack so there is no weight on the front suspension. I took the clips out of my 69 roadrunner with a needle nose pliers. Then I was able to wiggle the torsions bars out of the lower control arms with some effort. You can use a vise grips on the bar if you are replacing them.

and remove the nut holding the inner end of the LCA to the K Frame then whack for forward side of the LCA towards the rear...this will move the t bar back a bit. Now whack the LCA forward...at this point you should be able to finish sliding the t bar rearward and out.

good info

If you are talking about the tool that is used to drive out the bar you can buy one from Mancin's. I bought one and it works great. A lot better than trying to use vise grips.

Raul

i bought the tool but didn't have the room to use it with my headers. I was chucking the old bars so I just went the vice-grip route. If you plan on re-using the bar I've seen pics posted here using a bicycle handlebar fork - very clever I thought.

I went to the hard ware store it was closer than a bike shop. and I got a U-bolt clamp for holding and clamping cable together. works great and it was alot cheaper than a goose neck from the bike shop.

I just get the rear clips lose, front nut off, all pressure off and use a big pry bar between the lower control arm and K frame and just push it all out .

I plan on reusing the bar so i dont want to damage it. Not even sure where i would be able to get a new one anyway besides here. I'll try hammering the front and see if i can wiggle it loose. thanks

I made a tool out of 2x4's, scrap metal and bolts:

I'm removing my torsion bars right now (never done it before). I loosened the adjusting bolt in the lower control arm to the point that the "bracket" (not sure what you call it) that goes the bolt goes through is loose. That is all I need to do (just loosen it until that bracket moves) correct, I don't need to completely remove that bolt right?

Joe

Yup, if the block that the bolt threads into is loose you are good to go.

I used an old school bmx stem just because I had one lying around. I'm not sure if I originated the idea or not. They work good and the edges are already chamfered so you don't have to worry about putting any marks into the t-bar if it happens to slip a little.

Thanks Neil. I have the clips removed and the bolts loose with the car's suspension hanging free but the torsion bars still seem tight. I know they can be that way sometimes but wanted to make sure I had done what needed to be done before trying to remove them.

Thanks, Joe

I took a pair of vice grips and welded 2 pieces of angle iron to them, its listed here, in the Tech archives... Tech Archives

I've used it a few times with great success and it was made with stuff I alredy had.

Butch

I bought the tool and it was still a fight, these things rust in place and they will take a lot of pounding to get moving..
Try some PB blaster and let it soak for a while.
Here is a photo of the hammer, tool and the number 1 son whamming apart the steering column.

I jack up the front end, remove the clips at the rear,take the adj bolts/blocks completely out of there(them out makes it easier when going back together) remove wheels/tires & front LCA nuts & as mentioned tap the LCA rearward a bit then tap it back forward to get the bar started coming loose. Never had a problem with a tight one IF I have all the load/binding taken care of. EDIT & I thought my garage was disorganized. I feel better now