Need a quick answer about installing torsion bars, please

-
'74 Sport

'74 Sport

Well-Known Member
Joined
Oct 23, 2004
Messages
1,482
Reaction score
70
Location
Troy, TX
Aaron got some V8 torsion bars yesterday, and we are going to install them today. Question is... what is the proper procedure to install them? We rebuilt the entire front suspension, so the lower control arms were removed to replace the pivot bushings. When we reinstalled the control arms we torqued the pivot bolt nuts, but now the pivot won't pivot against the friction of the rubber bushing, obviously. How far should the adjuster bolt be threaded in/out when you begin the process? In other words, how far up/down should the pivot arm be located before you stab the end of the torsion bar into the hex receiver?

Long question that can be answered simply. If you want to, you can PM a phone number for me to call you back.

Thanks,
Jerry
 
you need to loosen the lower control arm bolts and remove the adjuster for the torsion bars.. Then install the t bars, torque down the lcas and adjust your ride height.
 
Thanks for the quick reply. So, we remove the adjuster block and bolt completely, before installing the bars? And what... make sure the adjuster blade is rotated all the way downward? If we torque down the pivot bolts at that point, when tightening the adjuster bolts, won't they also be working against the friction of the rubber bushing rather than just the spring action of the torsion bar?

If we adjust the ride height with the pivot bolts loosened, the only resistance would be against the torsional "spring" action of the bars. Then, tightening the pivot bolts would "lock" everything down at the proper ride height. Up and down travel of the suspension would then be limited in each direction by the rubber bump stops.

Just trying to understand how this system works...
 
pivot bolts don't get tightened until the weight of the car is on them. loosen the t bar adjuster bolt til the round head is just poking above the block it threads into. loosen the pivot bolt. move the adjuster blade around until it about touches the bolt. now install your t bar and push up on the lca to get the hex to line up. tap into place, install clip, tighten t bar til bolt head is just about to be flush with the lca. jounce the car REPEATEDLY. check and adjust ride height accordingly. after all done, tighten lca pivot bolt with weight of car on suspension or push up with floor jack.
 
Got them in. Backed out the adjuster bolt until it was just above the block it is threaded into. Loosened the pivot shaft nut and tapped the shaft back until it was free to twist in the K-frame. Lowered the adjuster blade to the bottom. With the car up on jackstands the lower control arm was resting on the lower bump block. Greased up the hex receiver on the lower control arm and the torsion bar slid right in - didn't have to lift up the LCA or anything. Tapped the bar forward enough to allow the spring clip to snap into the torsion bar's anchor in the cross-member. Filled up the dust boot with axle grease and snapped it into place.

The engine is not installed yet, so we won't be able to torque the pivot shaft nuts until the full weight is on the LCAs and we can adjust ride height. We were just wanting to get the bars in so we could get the car back down on the ground and off the jackstands.

Thanks for all the info, guys. It all makes sense now.

Jerry
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
-

Back
Top