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Help removing torsion bar
Posted By: 1fastrunner
Help removing torsion bar - 02/09/09 03:44 PM
Trying to get my engine out the bottom, and of course I've already hit a hurdle. I removed the front nuts, rings, and seals from the torsion bar up front. I've taken the load off and removed the back nuts. Am I missing something else, or maybe some tricks? Dumb question, does it come out the front or the back of the lower control arm.
Thanks,
Jim
Posted By: ringo440
Re: Help removing torsion bar - 02/09/09 03:48 PM
The back
Posted By: 1fastrunner
Re: Help removing torsion bar - 02/09/09 03:51 PM
That's what I thought, but it's not budging. I thought for a second I could be wrong, I've been wrong on more obvious things in the past.
Jim
Posted By: 70blackfish
Re: Help removing torsion bar - 02/09/09 03:56 PM
there is a tool that clamps on the torsion bar, make sure the bolt that loads the bar is back all the way off, and the lower control arm nut is really loose. there is also a clip in the rear
Posted By: goldduster318
Re: Help removing torsion bar - 02/09/09 03:58 PM
when i removed mine, I unbolted the lower control arm and the wedged it and the torsion bar back. It then came out of the back of the sockets (since the clips were removed) and from there on was extremely easy to get out.
Posted By: 1fastrunner
Re: Help removing torsion bar - 02/09/09 04:01 PM
I didn't see a clip. I took off the load, and removed the nut completely from the lower control arm end. Maybe the clip is the problem. Can you please explain?
Jim
Look for one of those clips against the back of the torsion bar where it will slide out.
Posted By: stumpy
Re: Help removing torsion bar - 02/09/09 04:09 PM
Look at the back end of the bar in that recessed area there will be a wire clip that fits in a slot. You need to remove it. You may have to clean out the recess to see it.
Posted By: 1fastrunner
Re: Help removing torsion bar - 02/09/09 04:25 PM
When you say the back of the torsion bar, is it by the boot near the radiator (front)?
I did get the bar to rotate.
Jim
No - out the back of the K-frame by the trans. Look in the holes, remove them with pliers, then slide the bars out the same way.
Posted By: 68RRFlyer
Re: Help removing torsion bar - 02/09/09 04:30 PM
Put your head under the car aft of the trans crossmember (where the driveshaft enters the trans). Look forward at the backside of the transmission crossmember and you'll see two big cylindrical studs about 3" in diameter sticking out towards you. You're now looking at the backside of the torsion bar mounts on the crossmember. There is a small "C" clip that you'd need to remove as pictured in the above post photos located in a recess inside that mount. It's usually greasy and dirty. Remove that clip and scoop out all the grease you can. Sometimes the old grease and crud makes it hard to wiggle out.
Not trying to be a smart-alec, but that's the best way to describe where you're not looking!
Cheers
Posted By: 1fastrunner
Re: Help removing torsion bar - 02/09/09 05:24 PM
If this is what you're talking about, I don't see a clip inside?
Jim
Posted By: OzHemi
Re: Help removing torsion bar - 02/09/09 05:40 PM
Could be the clips are missing...just scrape around with a screwdriver to make sure (through the junk) incase the edge of the clips happened to break off. But that is the right spot for them. Just inside the edge of the socket you should be able to feel the groove the clip goes into.
Posted By: OzHemi
Re: Help removing torsion bar - 02/09/09 05:44 PM
BTW...could just be that the bars are stuck..I've been lucky that ones I have done have come out easy. I usually just use a bar to pry back abit on the lower control arm (between the arm and K frame, to force it towards the rear) and that is enough to get the torsion bar loose from it's spot and it then slides out. I would try that (you already mentioned having the lower control arm nut off, so that's good) and see if sliding it back abit will break the crud free and get the bar loose.
If you slide it back abit and it still feels tight you'll need a tool to actually knock the bar bar itself.
Posted By: 1fastrunner
Re: Help removing torsion bar - 02/09/09 06:13 PM
I've finally got it to move back to where it's flush at the rear, but it has stopped moving. I try prying the lower control arm next.
Jim
Posted By: nomore65BelvJim
Re: Help removing torsion bar - 02/09/09 06:16 PM
just yank the K forward and the bars will come out either from the T bar x member or the LCA. Never had one give me too much trouble that way.
Posted By: 1fastrunner
Re: Help removing torsion bar - 02/09/09 06:30 PM
Well, very frustrating to say the least. It seems to be hung up either on the lca or at the rear. It's moving the lca back when I try to hit the bar back. I can wedge a pry bar between the k frame and the lca, but it does me no good.
Jim
Posted By: 70blackfish
Re: Help removing torsion bar - 02/09/09 06:43 PM
go to the hardware store and get a cable clamp and use it as a clamping tool and the use a hammer to slide it back and out.
Posted By: RaiderLefty
Re: Help removing torsion bar - 02/09/09 06:48 PM
I used the t-bar removal tool from JustSuspension and it worked great. My bars would not budge an inch prior to trying this tool.
Simply clamp around the bar and hit it with a small sledge. After a couple good whacks the bar should break free and slide right out.
Posted By: 1fastrunner
Re: Help removing torsion bar - 02/09/09 06:48 PM
A cable clamp is what? All I see is a plastic thing for wrapping up cords.
Jim
Posted By: 1fastrunner
Re: Help removing torsion bar - 02/09/09 06:49 PM
Now I see what you're talking about. What size would I need?
Jim
Posted By: 1fastrunner
Re: Help removing torsion bar - 02/09/09 08:49 PM
It's free in the back, but hung up in the LCA. I can push the LCA away from the k frame, and it moves freely out the back, but it comes back when released. How can I free it up from the LCA?
Jim
Posted By: stumpy
Re: Help removing torsion bar - 02/09/09 08:53 PM
Did you remove the upper a arm bump stop to allow the suspension to drop all the way down? I take it you removed the adjuster bolts.
Posted By: JohnRR
Re: Help removing torsion bar - 02/09/09 08:54 PM
Quote:
It's free in the back, but hung up in the LCA. I can push the LCA away from the k frame, and it moves freely out the back, but it comes back when released. How can I free it up from the LCA?
Jim
It's stuck with old cruddy grease and/or rust in the control arm socket , push the part back out of the way and drop out the engine trans then pull the parts out of the car so you can work on them OR buy or make a removal tool that clamps to the bar and won't knick up the surface , bolt the LCA back in place and beat it out of the control arm .
Posted By: 1fastrunner
Re: Help removing torsion bar - 02/09/09 09:00 PM
The bump stop was never there, and the tension bolt has been loosened.
Jim
Posted By: stumpy
Re: Help removing torsion bar - 02/09/09 09:35 PM
Removing it will allow a little more movement which may be all you need.
Posted By: JM67RT
Re: Help removing torsion bar - 02/09/09 10:00 PM
I just went through the same issue. I whacked on the tool for a week and couldn't get it to budge. Tried everything and still no luck. My buddy came over Saturday and gave it a shot with my sledge, still no good. He then got his handheld sledge that was about the same weight as mine but with a longer handle. After a few whacks it came loose. Use the biggest BFH you can find!
Posted By: HemiStan
Re: Help removing torsion bar - 02/10/09 12:17 AM
Jim,
Try this before you go completely crazy:
Using a floor jack, lift up on the lower control arm at the wheel hub. Just a little bit. Once you find the "perfect" spot that releases all tension on the torsion bar, you may be able to literally pull it straight out with just your hands!
You may have to go up/down in little increments to get the lower control arm in the perfect spot to get the torsion bar to slide out.
Stan
Posted By: 1fastrunner
Re: Help removing torsion bar - 02/10/09 12:38 AM
I already tried that a little, but I'll try again tomorrow. I've soaked everything for the night, my upper ball joints are also contributing to my "Torsion" headache. I think the drivers side is good to go, it's the passenger side that's giving me fits. It goes through the back alright, but is getting hung up somewhere through the LCA. I am ready to go crazy! I needed some sense of accomplishment today, so I did some other things. I disconnected my speedo cable, backup switch, and my clutch linkage. Tomorrow's another day.
Jim
Posted By: pushbutton
Re: Help removing torsion bar - 02/10/09 04:20 AM
If you haven't already tried this, hit the socket on the lca that the torsion bar slips in with a large hammer several times. This has worked for me.
Posted By: 440challenger
Re: Help removing torsion bar - 02/10/09 01:36 PM
Mine were rusted in, i had to cut them out. They dont cut to easily!!
Posted By: 1fastrunner
Re: Help removing torsion bar - 02/11/09 01:24 AM
Finally some good news, I got one out and the other very close. I can rock it back and forth with a vise grip and a towel around it by hand. It's getting hung up on the back where it's supposed to come out. I can feel a slight metal ridge in a couple spots. I need to find a way to gring out some of the metal around the opening. This celebration will be brief, my other ongoing mission is the upper ball joints. I'm trying to borrow a impact driver, and hopefully my wimpy compressor will be up to the job. Thanks, for all your tips and suggestions, I'm not sure which one did it, and maybe even a combination. Now I need to find a way to get this PB Blaster oder off me.
Jim
Posted By: stumpy
Re: Help removing torsion bar - 02/11/09 02:52 AM
There should be no resaon to grind anything. Are you sure you're not feeliung the clip?
Posted By: OzHemi
Re: Help removing torsion bar - 02/11/09 02:55 AM
Quote:
Now I need to find a way to get this PB Blaster oder off me.
Spill some used gear oil on yourself... you will never smell the PB again.. 
Posted By: 1fastrunner
Re: Help removing torsion bar - 02/11/09 02:56 AM
No clip, it seems at one time it had been removed and possibly hammered in. I'm guessing the hammer may have missed the mark and pushed some metal in the way. i can feel a slight lip in two places with my finger.
Jim
Posted By: JohnRR
Re: Help removing torsion bar - 02/11/09 02:58 AM
Quote:
Finally some good news, I got one out and the other very close. I can rock it back and forth with a vise grip and a towel around it by hand. It's getting hung up on the back where it's supposed to come out. I can feel a slight metal ridge in a couple spots. I need to find a way to gring out some of the metal around the opening. This celebration will be brief, my other ongoing mission is the upper ball joints. I'm trying to borrow a impact driver, and hopefully my wimpy compressor will be up to the job. Thanks, for all your tips and suggestions, I'm not sure which one did it, and maybe even a combination. Now I need to find a way to get this PB Blaster oder off me.
Jim
You made it sound like it was stuck in the LCA ?????
Pull the nut off the pivot shaft on the LCA , stick a prybar between the LCA and the K frame and pry it back , if the clip is out itshould come out. The ridge you are feeling is the ridge that keeps the clip in place DO NOT GRIND it out .
Posted By: 1fastrunner
Re: Help removing torsion bar - 02/11/09 03:01 AM
I'll have a look tomorrow after work.
Thanks,
Jim