Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Torsion Bar reinstall battle #2688099
08/15/19 04:03 PM
08/15/19 04:03 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 20,723
A collage of whims
topside Offline OP
Too Many Posts
topside  Offline OP
Too Many Posts

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 20,723
A collage of whims
New MP bars, OEM lower arms, undamaged chassis.
Bump stop out, arm at full droop, all per FSM.
Even disconnected sway bar, shock, loosened strut rod & arm pivot nuts.
Bar goes maybe 1/3 into the hex on the arm, then pretty much stops.
Cleaned hexes, messed with floor jacks to line up hexes (prevent nose droop), clocking looks OK...
The hex on the arm end of the bar actually tapers larger.
The rear hex is consistent, and the bar passes through the rear hex without much effort.
Turning the bar around end-for-end, still only goes into the LCA 1/3.
Fascinating, or another word that starts with F...

Re: Torsion Bar reinstall battle [Re: topside] #2688121
08/15/19 04:34 PM
08/15/19 04:34 PM
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 7,363
Iowa
burdar Offline
Owen's Dad
burdar  Offline
Owen's Dad

Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 7,363
Iowa
If you have everything apart/loosened that much already, maybe just remove the LCA all together and see if the bar slides in then.

Re: Torsion Bar reinstall battle [Re: topside] #2688125
08/15/19 04:38 PM
08/15/19 04:38 PM
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 3,277
West Coast, USA
jbc426 Offline
master
jbc426  Offline
master

Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 3,277
West Coast, USA
I had to sand off the powder coating on my hex's to get the bars to go in. Be sure to grease the ends to slow down corrosion.


1970 Plymouth 'Cuda #'s 440-6(block in storage)currently 493" 6 pack, Shaker, 5 speed Passon, 4.10's
1968 Plymouth Barracuda Convertible 408 Magnum EFI with 4 speed automatic overdrive, 3800 stall lock-up converter and 4.30's (closest thing to an automatic 5 speed going)
Re: Torsion Bar reinstall battle [Re: topside] #2688133
08/15/19 05:03 PM
08/15/19 05:03 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,094
central texas
K
krautrock Offline
top fuel
krautrock  Offline
top fuel
K

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,094
central texas
i usually use a wooden dowel or something to tap the bar from the rear to get it seated into the socket in the LCA...

Re: Torsion Bar reinstall battle [Re: topside] #2688139
08/15/19 05:18 PM
08/15/19 05:18 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 30,989
Oregon
A
AndyF Offline
I Win
AndyF  Offline
I Win
A

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 30,989
Oregon
Not an unusual problem, especially with used parts. Sometimes torsion bars are bowed which makes them more difficult to align. I assume you checked the obvious and have the L and R side torsion bars on the correct side of the car. If you have the lower pivot nuts loose then just go ahead and tap on the LCA pivot stud to unseat the taper so you can wiggle the arm around a little bit. Once you get them wiggled into position just tap the torsion bar home if you can't do it by hand.

Re: Torsion Bar reinstall battle UPDATE [Re: AndyF] #2688161
08/15/19 06:12 PM
08/15/19 06:12 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 20,723
A collage of whims
topside Offline OP
Too Many Posts
topside  Offline OP
Too Many Posts

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 20,723
A collage of whims
Andy - New MP bars, LCAs & susp previously restored, just changing out some .840 drag bars for .920s.
I think I may have figured it out:
Went to LF, pulled the TB, slid new one in, ended up having to rotate the adj lever down, bingo.
Adj lever was pretty tight even with everything backed off - C-clamp came in handy.
Gonna get back on it after lunch (yikes, it's 3PM) and try that on the RF.

And yeah, on the RF TB, had to sand through some powdercoating and a couple of high spots.

I would suck as a flat-rate wrench !

Last edited by topside; 08/15/19 07:00 PM. Reason: update
Re: Torsion Bar reinstall battle UPDATE [Re: topside] #2688178
08/15/19 07:05 PM
08/15/19 07:05 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 20,723
A collage of whims
topside Offline OP
Too Many Posts
topside  Offline OP
Too Many Posts

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 20,723
A collage of whims
Yup, that was it: rotating the adjustment lever down a hair made the difference.
Last 1/2 inch was easily handled with a dead-blow and a rubber-tipped punch I made.

Re: Torsion Bar reinstall battle UPDATE [Re: topside] #2688182
08/15/19 07:16 PM
08/15/19 07:16 PM
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 4,951
northwest USA
N
NANKET Offline
master
NANKET  Offline
master
N

Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 4,951
northwest USA
What sucks here is the powdercoating. That’s a thickness problem that was never in the equation.

Grease both hex ends or it will make noise.

Re: Torsion Bar reinstall battle UPDATE [Re: topside] #2688187
08/15/19 07:24 PM
08/15/19 07:24 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 30,989
Oregon
A
AndyF Offline
I Win
AndyF  Offline
I Win
A

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 30,989
Oregon
I have a torsion bar socket tool made from a crankshaft bolt that allows me to adjust the position of the socket. With the tool it is easy to rotate the socket into the correct spot. But even then, if the bars are bowed a little bit or have some thick paint or powder coat on them it can be a tap fit.

Re: Torsion Bar reinstall battle UPDATE [Re: NANKET] #2688188
08/15/19 07:24 PM
08/15/19 07:24 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 20,723
A collage of whims
topside Offline OP
Too Many Posts
topside  Offline OP
Too Many Posts

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 20,723
A collage of whims
I did, including the backside of the rear hex per FSM.

Re: Torsion Bar reinstall battle UPDATE [Re: NANKET] #2688203
08/15/19 08:03 PM
08/15/19 08:03 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,575
The Netherlands
BigBlockMopar Offline
master
BigBlockMopar  Offline
master

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,575
The Netherlands
Originally Posted by NANKET
What sucks here is the powdercoating. That’s a thickness problem that was never in the equation.

Grease both hex ends or it will make noise.


How will a constantly tensioned bar be able to make noise?
The grease is to seal the metal from water and outside elements, aided by a rubber seal and a simple nylon cover at the rear anchor.

Re: Torsion Bar reinstall battle UPDATE [Re: BigBlockMopar] #2688208
08/15/19 08:24 PM
08/15/19 08:24 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 32,907
Grand Prairie,Texas
stumpy Offline
I Win
stumpy  Offline
I Win

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 32,907
Grand Prairie,Texas
Tensioned or not there will be flex that can cause noise.

Re: Torsion Bar reinstall battle UPDATE [Re: BigBlockMopar] #2688214
08/15/19 08:40 PM
08/15/19 08:40 PM
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 4,951
northwest USA
N
NANKET Offline
master
NANKET  Offline
master
N

Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 4,951
northwest USA
When you drive the torsion bar and control arm is constantly moving. Also when you go from forward to reverse the control arm moves. Also I installed bars with no grease, but only once. It was very loud.

Ask yourself why would Chrysler put that thick heavy grease in both ends of both bars on every car they made? That’s a lot of time. It was a very necessary step.







Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.1