Torsion bar alignment

[Surfmichaels]

Install new 1.14 firm feel bars, when I go to install the bar into the lca the bars are off by a 1/2 to full inch above the Luca socket. I can push the bar down slightly to get the bar to seat but I'm concerned this isn't normal. I couldn't find any threads with a similar issue, anyone have this problem before?

The car had front end damage fixed a long time ago, but everything has lined up ok until now...

[anlauto]

You have to turn the socket where you want it....It looks like the adjust is pointing skyward in that picture...it needs to be pushed down.

Put the adjuster block in the LCA...start the adjuster bolt so the rounded head is just peeking out the top of the block. Push down on the adjuster until it hits the top of the bolt/block....the torsion bar should be pretty close to lining up with the normal weight hanging on it, if not have someone else pry down on the LCA to line up the torsion bar.

The big nut on the front of the LCA pivot needs to be loose.

[burdar]

He's not talking about the hex "clocking".  He's saying the bar is pointing "above" the LCA socket...like the torsion bar x-member is tweeked.

[anlauto]

Wow...too early in the morning I guess....and it took me 20 mins to type that

I would say, pull the bar down, line it up and pound her in

[rUNCHARGER]

Grease it up, line it up and pound it in. Make sure it is lined up properly with the socket before hitting it too hard.

Sheldon

[anlauto]

Looking at his picture, it still isn't "clocked" right.

[Surfmichaels]

Thanks ! I'll look at all that tonight to see if I can get it to work....


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[brads70]

Did you grind off the powder coating on the hex first? They can be really tight if you don't

[Surfmichaels]

Did you grind off the powder coating on the hex first? They can be really tight if you don't

I didn't do that, good thing to know, it's all very snug. I did get the bar to seat but now I'm waiting for a friend who's been helping me build to come look at the clocking, the tbars are his old custom firm feel heavy duty bars. The car will be run as low as I can get away with....

Thanks for all the advice, I'm constantly running into crazy issues on this beast....

[72bluNblu]

Did you grind off the powder coating on the hex first? They can be really tight if you don't

Yeah that's a must with the FFI bars. The powdercoating on the hex ends makes installing the torsion bars a colossal pain.

Um, what's the condition of your LCA pins and bushings? The torsion bars move around some for sure, but they should slide into the LCA without having any real side loading on them. With front end damage to the car at one point I'd be more concerned that the K frame or LCA pin mounts are damaged than the torsion bar crossmember. Have you even inspected the K frame for cracks? That could be a little doom and gloom, if the LCA bushings aren't new they could also be causing the LCA be out of position too and that would be an easier fix. With the torsion bars out of the car it would be a good time to take a look at all of that.

[Surfmichaels]

Sounds like I have a lot of confirmation work to do this weekend. I didnt see any k frame cracks when I welded it up with firm feels kit. The pins are the old pins and the bushings are new poly. I hope based on the history that if anything is wrong it would be the pin...

I was concerned about the side load as I don't want anything to fail on the track,   So I'll start pulling off suspension parts to check. I remember getting the Lca on as a pain so hopefully it's not to much worse when the kframe is bolted in.


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[brads70]

I didn't do that, good thing to know, it's all very snug. I did get the bar to seat but now I'm waiting for a friend who's been helping me build to come look at the clocking, the tbars are his old custom firm feel heavy duty bars. The car will be run as low as I can get away with....

Thanks for all the advice, I'm constantly running into crazy issues on this beast....

Remove the stock lower control arm bump stops and replace them with something shorter like this to get you more suspension travel .
https://www.summitracing.com/int/parts/ens-9-9132g/overview/

https://www.summitracing.com/int/search/brand/energy-suspension/department/chassis-suspension/section/bushings-mounts/part-type/frame-bump-stops/bump-stop-attachment/3-8-16-in-stud?N=400008%2B4294951552%2B4294950452%2B4294922918%2B4294884545&SortBy=BestKeywordMatch&SortOrder=Ascending&retaillocation=int


I agree with 72bluNblu now is a great time to inspect those LCA bushings....