Hotchkis TVS

[lunatic fringe]

Has anyone used this system? I installed the front part of it and front tires are leaning in real bad, I adjusted the torsion bar bolts back to were they were and it is squatting terrible, not the ride height I'm wanting. I would like to ask some questions to the one's that have used this system.  HELP!!!!!

[brads70]

Same torsion bars as before?  You will need to adjust caster and camber and toe when you install the new upper control arms.

[lunatic fringe]

Yes same torsion bars as before install, I will work on the alignment part when I get my ride height back or that is what I have in mind anyways since it will affect all the alignment.

[lunatic fringe]

I have another puzzling question, when I back up the front end raises a good inch, like its unloading the suspension, then I pull forward and it drops to about 25" to the fender well opening! Any and all suggestions or ideas are welcome. I have the drivers side adjustment bolt screwed just about all the way in, about 1/2" left on bolt, can you damage or tear something up by having that for in?

[brads70]

Did you have the torsion bars out? Just wondering if they are in the wrong sides, or installed wrong in the hex?  I find the front end needs to "settle" after if has been jacked up . Rolling it back and forth a few times while bouncing on it works.  I'd say if the adjusting bolt is screwed all the way in or close to it , then something is wrong?  How much room do you have between the LCA and the frame rail? Like how close is the rubber bumper?

What condition are the strut rod bushing in? same for LCA bushings?

[lunatic fringe]

No I didn't have the bars out all the way, when I installed the new strut rods from Hotchkis I slid the bars back about 4-5 in. to install the rods, as far I know the bars didn't rotate any. As far as the LCA bushings they look good. I drove the car down driveway to settle the suspension in some, sure it will settle alittle bit more. Just seems weird that seems to unload when I back up. I have approx. 1 in. between bump stop and frame rail, should I back off LCA nut when tightening the torsion Bars?

[diyhemi.com]

Torsion bars are not preloaded correctly. While the bar itself may not have turned, the lower control arm did. Loosen the upper control arm and unbolt the front shock. Lift the front of the car up and slide the torsion bar back out of the lower control arm. Rotate the lower control arm so that the torsion bar slides in one position over. (rotate so that the top of the bar is rolling towards the outside if the car, naturally the drivers side will be rotated opposite of passenger side)

When the car is lowered back down you can use the weigh of the car to pull the lower control arm up to be able to bolt in the upper control arms. Springs are now preloaded.

[lunatic fringe]

Ok, not to sound dumb, but your saying back off the torsion bolt, undo the upper control arm, slide the torsion bar out and rotate one flat outward reinstall into LCA, hook up or tighten UCA and then tighten the torsion bolt?

[brads70]

Torsion bars are not preloaded correctly. While the bar itself may not have turned, the lower control arm did. Loosen the upper control arm and unbolt the front shock. Lift the front of the car up and slide the torsion bar back out of the lower control arm. Rotate the lower control arm so that the torsion bar slides in one position over. (rotate so that the top of the bar is rolling towards the outside if the car, naturally the drivers side will be rotated opposite of passenger side)

When the car is lowered back down you can use the weigh of the car to pull the lower control arm up to be able to bolt in the upper control arms. Springs are now preloaded.

This is what I meant by " installed wrong in the hex"

[lunatic fringe]

Ok, thanks guy's I appreciate it, I got her torn back apart and will start fresh tomorrow hopefully with better results!

[diyhemi.com]

Good deal, keep us posted

[lunatic fringe]

Ok, got the drivers side redone, put jack under LCA and jacked it up till it came off jack stand, top of tire is even with wheel opening and standing up darn near straight. Thanks guys very much appreciated.

[diyhemi.com]

Glad to see everything came out well! We are all part of the cc.com family, helping is what we do.

[lunatic fringe]

OK, totally confused now! redid the front end re indexed torsion bars, when I had the car on jack stands I jacked up on LCA and lifted car off jack stands, tire was a inch from the top of fender well, figured after suspension settled tire would be even whith it, drove down the driveway and back and tire is sitting about 2 in. past wheel well. Don't understand how how it could drop 3 inch's.
Do I need to tear back apart and clock it one more notch? I'm sitting at 24 in. and 23 3/4 in. from floor to top of fender well opening?

[Chryco Psycho]

Clocking the bars is nessisary If you cannot get to the ride height you wanted , the lower controls arms should have been at full drop when the bars lined up , which sounds like where you are at if you had the wheel approx even with the fender lip , so reclocking them will make no difference , you need to run the adjuster bolt up further to achieve the ride height , make sure the weight is off when adjusting the T bar bolts