Torsion bars

[browndevil]

I am currently rebuilding my front suspension on my Challenger and am not sure whether to replace my torsion bars or not. Do they wear out from metal fatigue? Does one generally replace them when doing the suspension? They look fine and still have paint on most of them once I wiped the undercoat off. This is a job I only want to do once  so if I should replace them I want to do it now.

I measured the bars and they are about .092 in diameter. I f I replace them should I go with the same size or larger (383 automatic car)?


Thanks in advance for your time.

Michael

[brads70]

With a big block I would go to a minimum of 1" PST has 1.03" bars on sale now? I think your meant .920" not .092"
I have 1" bars on mine now ride is good ( not harsh) but I wished I would have gotten 1.060" (440/727)

[_Russ_]

I've got 1.030" from PST on mine - car is also a 383/727 combo.

I got no complaints!

[burdar]

Replacing them depends on what you are planning to do with the car.  Is it nessesary....NO.  They don't generally wear out.  As long as they don't have any deep scratches in them, you can reuse them.  If there are some deep scratches, that becomes a stress point and the bar will break at that spot.

Since it's a big block, they are pretty nose heavy.  Upgrading the bars might be a good idea if you aren't doing a stock restoration.