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Old 07-16-2011, 07:52 AM   #1
slider85
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Torsion Bar Help!!!

Ok, I messed up royally on the '76 Eldorado. When removing the torsion bars, I was in a hurry and did not mark the relationship between the key, torsion bar and control arm. Now I have my Kanter front end kit in hand and don't know how to install the torsion bar the right way. Any help??
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Old 07-16-2011, 04:47 PM   #2
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Re: Torsion Bar Help!!!

Can we assume no shop manual? Key being the rear anchor?
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Old 07-16-2011, 05:18 PM   #3
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Re: Torsion Bar Help!!!

The workshop manual says to "mark the relationship of the torsion bar to the adjusting arm (which I called the 'key')" and "mark the relationship of the torsion bar to the lower control arm". This is the second one I have done, so I jumped in like I knew what I was doing and overlooked the simplest thing. I hope someone out there knows what angle the adjusting arm should be to the control arm on the torsion bar.
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Old 07-16-2011, 05:29 PM   #4
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Re: Torsion Bar Help!!!

Are there any marks or indicators on the arm, or torsion bar?


If not, you could mark the other side, then disassemble it, and see where it sits with no tension on it. Then use that as a guide to do the side you didn't mark.
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Old 07-16-2011, 08:57 PM   #5
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Re: Torsion Bar Help!!!

No marks and both sides have been disassembled
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Old 07-16-2011, 09:22 PM   #6
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Re: Torsion Bar Help!!!

Quote:
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No marks and both sides have been disassembled


Doh, so when you said you had done one before, you meant another car, not one side.


My brother did this once on a Subaru, but I can't remember how we fixed it.


How clean are the parts?
Is there anything to indicate where they may have sat previously?
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Old 07-17-2011, 07:49 AM   #7
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Re: Torsion Bar Help!!!

Oh yeah... big 'DOOOOOHHHHH' .... i did one about 10 years ago. There are hexagonal ends that fit into the key and the lower control arm. I'm think I may need to try the truck/suv aree as those guys are always messing with the torsion bars and changing keys to raise or lower the truck.
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Old 07-17-2011, 03:28 PM   #8
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Re: Torsion Bar Help!!!

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Originally Posted by slider85 View Post
Oh yeah... big 'DOOOOOHHHHH' .... i did one about 10 years ago. There are hexagonal ends that fit into the key and the lower control arm. I'm think I may need to try the truck/suv aree as those guys are always messing with the torsion bars and changing keys to raise or lower the truck.

How hard is it to change the torsion bar setting once it's all put together?

If it's not too hard, you can always reset the ride height on some flat ground with a tape measure.
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Old 07-17-2011, 07:54 PM   #9
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Re: Torsion Bar Help!!!

Not difficult, just tedious work. You must insert the torsion bar into the lower control arm and into the adjusting arm rearward. It is hexagonal, so I may be off 60% or so if I get it just one off. I don't think there is 60% of adjustment in the key (adjusting arm).
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Old 07-18-2011, 12:08 AM   #10
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Re: Torsion Bar Help!!!

Is it hex at both ends? Or splines on the other?


If it's hex at both ends, then you have a very limited number of positions you can install the arm in.
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