Author Topic: Torsion bar replacement and adjustment  (Read 17890 times)

Offline Strawdawg

  • Resident
  • *****
  • Posts: 2209
    • Vortex Buicks
Re: Torsion bar replacement and adjustment
« Reply #15 on: April 02, 2014 - 09:15:43 AM »
Check the socket positions to see if they are identical

Steve





Offline 1973JA5

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 59
Re: Torsion bar replacement and adjustment
« Reply #16 on: April 02, 2014 - 02:55:35 PM »
Also,do not tighten the LCA nut until you set the ride height,otherwise your LCA bushings will be toast!

Offline CudaCraig

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 33
Re: Torsion bar replacement and adjustment
« Reply #17 on: April 02, 2014 - 10:59:17 PM »
My first thought is the bar is not clocked correctly?  Never heard of a .960" bar screwed up though?  Who made the bar? Maybe compare the clocking/hex to the one that is good?

Yeah, I can't imagine the bar would be twisted.  Especially being a 0.96" bar. 

The bars are Mopar Performance torsion bars from Summit Racing.  They appeared to be in new condition when i received them.  No scratches or dings.  I hope I can tell whether the clocking is correct with them in.... I'm so exhausted from taking the front end apart, back together and apart again over and over again... >:(
"America is all about speed. Hot, nasty, bad-ass speed" - Eleanor Roosevelt

1973 Plymouth Cuda  477 stroker, 727, 3.55
1971 Plymouth RoadRunner, 383, 727 Slapstik, 3.55 - Sold
1965 Plymouth Barracuda "S" formula, 273 4 bbl, 904 - Sold (still regret selling)

Offline CudaCraig

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 33
Re: Torsion bar replacement and adjustment
« Reply #18 on: April 03, 2014 - 10:27:23 PM »
My first thought is the bar is not clocked correctly?  Never heard of a .960" bar screwed up though?  Who made the bar? Maybe compare the clocking/hex to the one that is good?

It seems sort of like it's 30 degrees off.  The bar is a Mopar Performance product from Summit Racing.

I assume I can check the clocking without taking it all apart again?  Just undo the ride height/tension bolt and remove the bump stops?
"America is all about speed. Hot, nasty, bad-ass speed" - Eleanor Roosevelt

1973 Plymouth Cuda  477 stroker, 727, 3.55
1971 Plymouth RoadRunner, 383, 727 Slapstik, 3.55 - Sold
1965 Plymouth Barracuda "S" formula, 273 4 bbl, 904 - Sold (still regret selling)

Offline Chryco Psycho

  • Administrator
  • C-C.com Guru
  • *****
  • Posts: 36620
  • 70 Challenger R/T SE 70 tube Chassis Cuda now sold
Re: Torsion bar replacement and adjustment
« Reply #19 on: April 03, 2014 - 10:45:32 PM »
I am wrong ? I think the bars clock 15* approx otherwise there is no difference between L&R bars .

Challenger - You`ll wish You Hadn`t

Offline brads70

  • C-C.com Expert
  • ********
  • Posts: 18747
Re: Torsion bar replacement and adjustment
« Reply #20 on: April 03, 2014 - 10:58:41 PM »
It seems sort of like it's 30 degrees off.  The bar is a Mopar Performance product from Summit Racing.

I assume I can check the clocking without taking it all apart again?  Just undo the ride height/tension bolt and remove the bump stops?
I don't think you need to disassemble it to check the clocking. They are fixed in the cross member , so with the adjusters unloaded are they mirror image on the LCA end as far as clocking is concerened?
Brad
1970 Challenger 451stroker/4L60 auto OD
Barrie,Ontario,Canada
Proud to own one of the best cars ever made!!!!!

My restoration thread 
http://www.cuda-challenger.com/cc/index.php?topic=59072.0
 My handling upgrade post
http://www.cuda-challenger.com/cc/index.php?topic=73985.0

Offline Strawdawg

  • Resident
  • *****
  • Posts: 2209
    • Vortex Buicks
Re: Torsion bar replacement and adjustment
« Reply #21 on: April 03, 2014 - 11:24:17 PM »
and as I asked earlier...are the clockings the same at the cross member...meaning or the sockets welded in the same way on both sides so there is no twist with relation to the ends at the cross member.  I have seen sockets that came loose and were welded incorrectly when repaired.


Offline CudaCraig

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 33
Re: Torsion bar replacement and adjustment
« Reply #22 on: April 04, 2014 - 10:52:55 AM »
Also,do not tighten the LCA nut until you set the ride height,otherwise your LCA bushings will be toast!

Damn, hopefully I haven't ruined them... :banghead:
"America is all about speed. Hot, nasty, bad-ass speed" - Eleanor Roosevelt

1973 Plymouth Cuda  477 stroker, 727, 3.55
1971 Plymouth RoadRunner, 383, 727 Slapstik, 3.55 - Sold
1965 Plymouth Barracuda "S" formula, 273 4 bbl, 904 - Sold (still regret selling)

Offline brads70

  • C-C.com Expert
  • ********
  • Posts: 18747
Re: Torsion bar replacement and adjustment
« Reply #23 on: April 04, 2014 - 11:07:31 AM »
Damn, hopefully I haven't ruined them... :banghead:

First time I've heard that?   :dunno:
Brad
1970 Challenger 451stroker/4L60 auto OD
Barrie,Ontario,Canada
Proud to own one of the best cars ever made!!!!!

My restoration thread 
http://www.cuda-challenger.com/cc/index.php?topic=59072.0
 My handling upgrade post
http://www.cuda-challenger.com/cc/index.php?topic=73985.0

Offline CudaCraig

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 33
Re: Torsion bar replacement and adjustment
« Reply #24 on: April 04, 2014 - 12:08:09 PM »
Check the socket positions to see if they are identical

Steve

Crawled under the car a took a few pics...  :picture: first pic is of the right rear end of the torsion bar, second is of the left rear end of the torsion bar, third is of the left front end and the last one is of the right front (I was not able to remove all the tension on this bar - looks like I'll have to take the wheel off and disconnet the strut rod and maybe the spindle to get all the tension off it).  To me it looks like the clocking in the rear is different between the left and right by 15-30 degrees.   In the rear the left side is definitely not vertical like the right - as a reminder it's the right i'm having issues with.  I don't see any welds or anything that would suggest it would be different than stock. 
"America is all about speed. Hot, nasty, bad-ass speed" - Eleanor Roosevelt

1973 Plymouth Cuda  477 stroker, 727, 3.55
1971 Plymouth RoadRunner, 383, 727 Slapstik, 3.55 - Sold
1965 Plymouth Barracuda "S" formula, 273 4 bbl, 904 - Sold (still regret selling)

Offline CudaCraig

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 33
Re: Torsion bar replacement and adjustment
« Reply #25 on: April 04, 2014 - 12:12:51 PM »
Also,do not tighten the LCA nut until you set the ride height,otherwise your LCA bushings will be toast!

I loosened the LCA nuts and tried to adjust the ride height.  Didn't notice any difference.  Still high.  I do believe it's the torsion bar and then hex sockets that are dictating my ride height and tension on the torsion bar via the adjustment arm.
"America is all about speed. Hot, nasty, bad-ass speed" - Eleanor Roosevelt

1973 Plymouth Cuda  477 stroker, 727, 3.55
1971 Plymouth RoadRunner, 383, 727 Slapstik, 3.55 - Sold
1965 Plymouth Barracuda "S" formula, 273 4 bbl, 904 - Sold (still regret selling)

Offline CudaCraig

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 33
Re: Torsion bar replacement and adjustment
« Reply #26 on: April 04, 2014 - 12:16:53 PM »
and as I asked earlier...are the clockings the same at the cross member...meaning or the sockets welded in the same way on both sides so there is no twist with relation to the ends at the cross member.  I have seen sockets that came loose and were welded incorrectly when repaired.

So with the rear sockets being different it is likely they were repaired and not repaired correctly?  I assume they should be like the left...  see earlier post
"America is all about speed. Hot, nasty, bad-ass speed" - Eleanor Roosevelt

1973 Plymouth Cuda  477 stroker, 727, 3.55
1971 Plymouth RoadRunner, 383, 727 Slapstik, 3.55 - Sold
1965 Plymouth Barracuda "S" formula, 273 4 bbl, 904 - Sold (still regret selling)

Offline CudaCraig

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 33
Re: Torsion bar replacement and adjustment
« Reply #27 on: April 04, 2014 - 12:20:29 PM »
I am wrong ? I think the bars clock 15* approx otherwise there is no difference between L&R bars .

15* could be right.  Please see my pictures I posted earlier today.  Would it be correct to assume that the left is original and the right has been repaired?  The center line on the right is straight vertical and the centerline on the left is tilted maybe ~30 degrees.  That ~30* difference is what seems to be giving me issues and limiting the adjustment I need.
"America is all about speed. Hot, nasty, bad-ass speed" - Eleanor Roosevelt

1973 Plymouth Cuda  477 stroker, 727, 3.55
1971 Plymouth RoadRunner, 383, 727 Slapstik, 3.55 - Sold
1965 Plymouth Barracuda "S" formula, 273 4 bbl, 904 - Sold (still regret selling)

Offline CudamanTom

  • Resident
  • *****
  • Posts: 2670
Re: Torsion bar replacement and adjustment
« Reply #28 on: April 04, 2014 - 12:26:09 PM »
The hex sockets look pretty close to the same position on both sides.
I'm not sure that you go by the stamped print/line on the end. They could be stamped a little off from each other? :dunno:
1971 Cuda Vert 440-833 - (clone)
1971 Cuda 440-727 - (clone)


Because I like it fast!!!

Offline HP_Cuda

  • Hit the skinny little pedal on the right!
  • Sr. Resident
  • ******
  • Posts: 5268
  • Mopar or No Car!
Re: Torsion bar replacement and adjustment
« Reply #29 on: April 04, 2014 - 12:39:59 PM »
First time I've heard that?   :dunno:

Same here, no troubles.
1970 Cuda Clone 440 4 speed - sublime green
1970 Cuda 383 4 speed - yellow - SOLD