Torsion bars

I woke up Sunday morning to find the left front fender sitting on my tire. It appears the torsion bar let go sometime on Saturday. Monday I woke up and the right side let loose also. What's going on? I can't imagine what would have happened if this broke on the freeway. Now my van is stuck in the middle of the driveway. I either have it towed or fix it on the spot. However it is one of the few jobs I have never wittnesed or performed. What is involved in replacing or repairing the torsion bars?
Thanks
Scott

The torsion bar most likely broke just sitting in the driveway.
I've never seen a torsion bar break while driving, only sitting still. It soounds a bit like a small bore gun going off. We've had them just sitting in the parking lot, and BANG! Try explaining that to a customer.

After the first one breaks, it's not long before the second one feels inferior and snaps itself, too. :grinno:

It is a pretty involved job that I would never attempt on the ground. With both of them broken you wont need any special tools to "release" the load off the good one, but you'll need a cutting torch, a HEAVY hammer, and a good deal of room to swing that hammer, (and a strong arm or two.)

We have done a ton of these, and it is very common for them to fail.

I'd suggest a good shop with a lift, though.

Hope this helps.

Thanks GMC tech for the reply!
I seem to have everything to complete the job except for desire. I suppose I'll have to get out my wallet and take this into a shop.
Thanks
Scott

I guess this is a 1996 or before?? There was a design flaw with these where the back part of the torsion bar was covered with a metal cap. This cap allowed mud to collect in it and rot the end of the bar. The replacement bar has been redesigned with no cap on it. When I changed my bar I only had one broken, this required me to take the frame section off that holds the transmission. The remaining torsion bar was "captured" on the bar because one side was too big to slide through the opening on the frame and the other had that cap on it and was rusted on. I had to torch it off, if you have both torsion bars broke you are actually better off, removal is easier. Take off the frame piece with the caps on it and use a sledgehammer to knock them off the adjusters. They are pressed on to the adjusters in the frame and doing this on the ground is easyer, to put the new bars on it is necessary to pre load the new bars. This requires a special tool from GM or you can use a 10 inch C clamp with the swivel pad knocked off. this gives you a round end on the screw of the C clamp to mate into the adjuster. There is a dimple in the adjuster for this. This is not a job for the faint of heart!! Proper blocking and safety precautions are necessary!! The cost of the bars will run about $550. Good luck

why did you have to drop the cross member?
my passenger side snapped today.
lieing on my back, I was able to remove everything.
the "key" was rusted onto the torsion bar "cap", but a little air chisling broke it free.

now I just need to get the parts......

[Hey Unhappy Campers:
Does anyone have a "cookbook" for this proceedure?
I have the used torsion bar and the tools.
I just called my dealer and there was no recall on this mistake by GMC and they will not install customer parts.
Is there a reason why they are going broke?
Need simple instructions to change 1995 safari right side torsion bar for novice mechanic that can see all the bolts (van on stands). Is the transmission going to drop when bracket is removed? Will the caps on the back end come off? Do the bars need to be hammered out of the front end?
Thanks for consideration,
Another happy GMC owner

where are you located??
did you do it yet??

Did you say you have used parts?? I wouldn't do that. The new torsion bars are redesigned so the same problem does not re-occure. see my previous note on the installation procedure.