Passenger Side Torsion Bar Too Long
I'm currently in the process of assembling the front suspension of my '73 Duster. I'm installing the factory torsion bars and am having an issue installing the passenger side bar. The bar will not install far enough past the groove to install the retaining snap ring. The driver side installs with room to spare. When installing, I can hear the bar bottoming out on the socket of the lower control arm. I measured between the mating surface inside the LCA socket to the groove on both the left-hand and right hand side. They measure at the same depth. I measured the torsion bars, and the passenger side is longer, but is still under the 35.8 specification. I replaced the LCA bushings with new rubber bushings, so I verified the passenger side was fully installed and it was. Honestly I'm running out of ideas of what could be causing the issue.
This car has been in the project stage for a while now, and I'm just getting back in the groove of putting it together. It's been a while since I removed the torsion bars, so I can't rightly remember if the clips were installed before. But I drove the car in college and the bars didn't come out. The front end of the car has been suspended with jack stands behind the rear torsion bar socket. Could the frame have sagged enough to change the distance between the K-member and the rear mount? I'm desperate for ideas at this point. I've thought about getting a new set of P-S-T torsion bars, but am worried that I will have the same issues when installing them.
I'm planning on putting a few more photos to illustrate the issue when I get back in the garage.
I'm currently in the process of assembling the front suspension of my '73 Duster. I'm installing the factory torsion bars and am having an issue installing the passenger side bar. The bar will not install far enough past the groove to install the retaining snap ring. The driver side installs with room to spare. When installing, I can hear the bar bottoming out on the socket of the lower control arm. I measured between the mating surface inside the LCA socket to the groove on both the left-hand and right hand side. They measure at the same depth. I measured the torsion bars, and the passenger side is longer, but is still under the 35.8 specification. I replaced the LCA bushings with new rubber bushings, so I verified the passenger side was fully installed and it was. Honestly I'm running out of ideas of what could be causing the issue.
This car has been in the project stage for a while now, and I'm just getting back in the groove of putting it together. It's been a while since I removed the torsion bars, so I can't rightly remember if the clips were installed before. But I drove the car in college and the bars didn't come out. The front end of the car has been suspended with jack stands behind the rear torsion bar socket. Could the frame have sagged enough to change the distance between the K-member and the rear mount? I'm desperate for ideas at this point. I've thought about getting a new set of P-S-T torsion bars, but am worried that I will have the same issues when installing them.
I'm planning on putting a few more photos to illustrate the issue when I get back in the garage.
