HELP!!! QUICK!!! With Torsion Bar Install on 70 Cuda

[7Dcuda]

Need quick help, my car is stranded at a buddies shop 30 miles away.
 
Tried to install MOPAR Performance .960 torsion bars in my 70 Cuda today but somethings wrong.  I have the car on a 2 post lift so the suspension is in the full rebound position (i.e. fully hanging)  I loosened the adjuster all the way to remove the tension from the torsion bar (in fact, I bought new adjusters so removed the adjusters completely) then removed the old torsion bars.  No problems so far.

I installed the MOPAR bar marked for the Left side in the left position and the bar marked for the right side in the right position.

Problem is, when I installed the new adjuster back in to the lower control arm, the lever that has the indent in it, that the adjuster bolt rounded end fits in to, is positioned all the way up.  So when I screw the adjuster bolt all the way in till it bottoms out the end of the adjuster bolt is still about a 1/4" away from being in the indent in the lever.....so there is no torsion/tension on the torsion bars/control arms at all.  WTF?

What did I do wrong??  I'm guessing it has to do with the positioning of the lever prior to inserting the torsion bar into the front hex socket on the lower control arm.  I have the Factory Service Manual and it doesn't say anything about that when it tells you how to install the torsion bar.

Quick assistance would be GREATLY APPRECIATED!!     




   

[Beekeeper]

I've done many sets of bars and never had a problem. It sounds as though it just isn't clocked or indexed into the right spot before putting tension on the adjuster. I seem to recall when I put my last set in that I positioned the adjuster lever so that it was about level with the top of the lower control arm. Just enough for the bolt and stop to be in place but the bolt is backed out nearly all the way. From what I recall, this allowed the hex holes in the lower arm to line up with the other hex hole in the trans cross member. Once in place, the bolt was tightened and if you indexed it right, you should start putting tension on the bar right away even with the suspension hanging down. Once the car was lowered onto the ground, it applied more tension.

[Beekeeper]

Took a quick photo of a driver side arm I have out for my current project. Basically, with the suspension hanging down, you're trying to index the lever inside the lower control arm to get as much "bite" as you can and still have the adjusting hardware in place. If you do it right, once the bar is in place, you should not have to screw the bolt in very far before you get significant torque load on the bar. It's gets even more of coarse once it's back on the ground.

[7Dcuda]

I've done many sets of bars and never had a problem. It sounds as though it just isn't clocked or indexed into the right spot before putting tension on the adjuster. I seem to recall when I put my last set in that I positioned the adjuster lever so that it was about level with the top of the lower control arm. Just enough for the bolt and stop to be in place but the bolt is backed out nearly all the way. From what I recall, this allowed the hex holes in the lower arm to line up with the other hex hole in the trans cross member. Once in place, the bolt was tightened and if you indexed it right, you should start putting tension on the bar right away even with the suspension hanging down. Once the car was lowered onto the ground, it applied more tension.

So is the adjuster lever suppose to move freely and be able to be positioned even with the control arm just by pushing it by hand?

[Beekeeper]

Yes it moves freely until you tighten up the bolt. With the bolt back out, there should be a little movement. But here's the catch, the lever is also the hex shaped hole the bar goes into. Once you slide the bar all the way into position, the lever won't move anymore. The reason is be cause the bar won't twist anymore. And the reason the bar won't move twist anymore is because it is held at the rear where the other hex shaped hole is at (the transmission crossmember welded to the floor).

I just looked under my car and verified that the hex shaped hole is positioned in such a way that one of the six points is facing up. If you look at my picture, you will notice that it is also positioned in such a way that one of the six points is facing up. That means if I were to slide the lower control arm into position right now, the bar could be inserted without having to move anything.

I think your problem is that the lower control arm is hanging down and throwing everything off. Every time I have done a set of these, I did the entire suspension and I always lifted the lower control up nice and high when I inserted the bar. This allowed everything to drop in slick. And I'm pretty sure the lever is in about the right spot as my picture if you lift the lower arm up

[7Dcuda]

Yes it moves freely until you tighten up the bolt. With the bolt back out, there should be a little movement. But here's the catch, the lever is also the hex shaped hole the bar goes into. Once you slide the bar all the way into position, the lever won't move anymore. The reason is be cause the bar won't twist anymore. And the reason the bar won't move twist anymore is because it is held at the rear where the other hex shaped hole is at (the transmission crossmember welded to the floor).

I just looked under my car and verified that the hex shaped hole is positioned in such a way that one of the six points is facing up. If you look at my picture, you will notice that it is also positioned in such a way that one of the six points is facing up. That means if I were to slide the lower control arm into position right now, the bar could be inserted without having to move anything.

I think your problem is that the lower control arm is hanging down and throwing everything off. Every time I have done a set of these, I did the entire suspension and I always lifted the lower control up nice and high when I inserted the bar. This allowed everything to drop in slick. And I'm pretty sure the lever is in about the right spot as my picture if you lift the lower arm up

Well if I'm understanding everything that you wrote..,. ..if the adjuster  arm is suppose to move freely  prior to inserting the torsion bar in the hex opening, I  should just be able to move the lever till it's even with the top of the control arm and then insert the torsion bar in to the hex opening right?    Guess in ur last reply I got confused by u saying u think the problem is the control arm is hanging too low and that u usually lift the control arm up high before inserting the bar.

[Beekeeper]

Yes you got it. I'm adding two more photos to remove confusion on the last part

[Beekeeper]

[Beekeeper]

Where the bar goes, the point must be up for the bar to index in correctly. The last picture is flat on a bench which would simulate me lifting the arm up during installation.

In the previous picture, I put the orange mallet under it to simulate how the arm might look if it was allowed to hang down. You should notice that I twisted the lever so that the point where the bar inserts is facing up. This is how it might look if you installed the bar with the whole arm hanging down. Notice that the lever or arm is now sitting much higher and out of reach from the adjusting bolt which is supposed to push up on the arm.

This is what I meant about your problem possibly occurring by putting the bar in with it hanging down. It's been nearly a year since I installed a new front end so I'm kinda working off memory here

[Beekeeper]

Reading through some of my posts, it did seem confusing as I kept referring to the suspension hanging down but then later said it needed to be lifted up while putting the bar in. Sorry bout that. My best memory is that I lifted the lower arm up nice and high to get it all in place. The lever should be about flush inside the lower arm. I always had the adjusting hardware in place first before attempting to slide in the bar.

[7Dcuda]

Where the bar goes, the point must be up for the bar to index in correctly. The last picture is flat on a bench which would simulate me lifting the arm up during installation.

In the previous picture, I put the orange mallet under it to simulate how the arm might look if it was allowed to hang down. You should notice that I twisted the lever so that the point where the bar inserts is facing up. This is how it might look if you installed the bar with the whole arm hanging down. Notice that the lever or arm is now sitting much higher and out of reach from the adjusting bolt which is supposed to push up on the arm.

This is what I meant about your problem possibly occurring by putting the bar in with it hanging down. It's been nearly a year since I installed a new front end so I'm kinda working off memory here

Got it beekeeper.  I'm going back to my buddy's house Sunday and know the deal now.  I appreciate u taking the time to explain and even provide pics.  That was mighty nice of you.  I owe you one!!

[Beekeeper]

No trouble at all since my front end was all apart, clean, and easy to get to in the garage. I hope it helps. I've done probably a dozen front ends and I've always found them to go together fairly easy. I'm certain it's just an index thing. Your basically trying to position the lower control arm and adjustment lever to obtain one more flat on the bar so you can load the tension properly as you twist it. Good luck!

[7Dcuda]

No trouble at all since my front end was all apart, clean, and easy to get to in the garage. I hope it helps. I've done probably a dozen front ends and I've always found them to go together fairly easy. I'm certain it's just an index thing. Your basically trying to position the lower control arm and adjustment lever to obtain one more flat on the bar so you can load the tension properly as you twist it. Good luck!

Thanks beekeeper.  Looking back, once we had the torsion bar through the back cross member and ready to insert into the front control arm hex socket, the hex socket position was almost where the torsion bar could be inserted as it sat so we just rotated the adjusting arm the small amount to be able to get the torsion bar in.  I think thats the problem.  As you've stated we just didn't push the adjusting lever down level with the control arm before inserting the bar into the hex socket so it's not indexed properly.  I do remember though that with the adjuster and the torsion bar removed the adjuster lever was way high and was difficult to move.  You've said they should move freely by hand.  Is there anything you have to do or take off to make them move freely or should they move freely just by having the adjuster and the bar removed?

[Beekeeper]

They get a gummed up sometimes so maybe shooting something in there might help. Without the bar inserted, they should move very freely. In fact, they tend to be very sloppy so some folks tighten them up a bit. I did this on mine since they were out. Basically you crack the weld where it's sandwiched together, compress the assembly a bit tighter to remove the slop, and reweld it. I also added a strap of metal at the very end to prevent it from ever separating apart. You won't need to do this though since the lever is too tight rather than too loose.

With the bar out and the adjusting block/bolt removed, id shoot some kind of penetrating oil into it where it swivels and spend a few minutes working the lever from stop to stop so it gets all freed up. You might have to use a small hammer and pry tool at first but it should loosen up fairly easily. It doesn't have to be perfect. When you tighten the bolt and adjust the ride height later, it should be a little easier to turn the bolt head without that unnecessary friction fighting you.

Hope this helps

[7Dcuda]

It definitely helps!!  I appreciate ur time and help beekeeper.......hopefully I'll get back out to my buddies house tomorrow and get it squared away and get my car back home....thanks again bro!!!