Author Topic: Are my torsion bars shot?  (Read 1997 times)

Offline AMXguy

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Are my torsion bars shot?
« on: January 26, 2007 - 07:41:35 PM »
One side on my 70 Challenger ride hight adjuster bolt is about half way on the threads but the other side is almost all the way in to get the proper hight. do torsion bars get that bad or is it off one notch? or can it be of a notch? there's no rust or damage at all so it's either the bar or the way it's installed.  thanks
1970 R/T SE Challenger
 1970 Superbee
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Offline Bullitt-

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Re: Are my torsion bars shot?
« Reply #1 on: January 26, 2007 - 07:54:15 PM »
I have heard of someone replacing a torsion bar with the wrong side and having a problem of this nature, I doubt that it could be installed off a notch. I have a good dirvers side if you need a small block replacement.
Wade  73 Rallye 340..'77 Millennium Falcon...13 R/T Classic   Huntsville, AL
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Offline JayBee

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Re: Are my torsion bars shot?
« Reply #2 on: January 27, 2007 - 09:21:53 AM »
Mine were once installed in the wrong sides and no amount of adjusting ever got any front end height until they were switched back correctly. You should be able to see an "L" and "R" stamped into them too.
John

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Offline 1970hemicuda

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Re: Are my torsion bars shot?
« Reply #3 on: January 27, 2007 - 11:33:33 PM »
 :iagree:

Offline Chryco Psycho

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Re: Are my torsion bars shot?
« Reply #4 on: January 28, 2007 - 12:08:10 AM »
you may have 2 of the L or R side bars in the car

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Offline TreeFrog

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Re: Are my torsion bars shot?
« Reply #5 on: February 05, 2007 - 11:42:13 AM »
1 where on the bar is the stamp located?

2 how much trouble are they to replace?
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Offline Chryco Psycho

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Re: Are my torsion bars shot?
« Reply #6 on: February 05, 2007 - 06:34:42 PM »
the #s are on the end of the T bars , they are not hard to replace basically undo the adjuster , undo the LCA pivot nut in the fron tof the K frame & pry the LCA & tbar out together after removing the rear retainer clip in the rear hub , slide in a different bar with the suspension dropped as low as possible & tighten the ajuster & replace to rear clip & retighten the LCA pivot

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Offline HP2

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Re: Are my torsion bars shot?
« Reply #7 on: February 06, 2007 - 09:14:08 PM »
I'd agree that you should check the ends behind the retaining clip to see if you have two lefts or two rights. Despite what Iv'e seen posted in some of the other topics here, you cannot put a torsion bar in a partial turn off or backwards. It only matters for left and right.

Also, YES, torsion bars do wear out. They are simply a big spring made of metal that is straight instead of coiled. Metal fatigues with use and odds are not many of us can account for how our cars have been used for 30+ years. It is well worth the effort, and expense now, to upgrade to new bars, and I'd recoemmed a step up in rate as well. .96 for small blocks with 1.0 for big blocks. This will put your muscle back into a respectable wheel rate that is not too harsh but makes them feel much more like a super car than just something with a big engine. Heck, most modern Hondas have better spring rates than muscle cars did in the day, and certainly better than after 30 years of use.