Torsion Bar advice, anyone?

[Joseph James]

I ordered a PST suspension kit for my 68 Fury. None of the work worries me much except the torsion bars. They are something new for me.

I was going to follow this step by step guide that is for A body cars. Mopar Rebuilding the steering linkage and suspension

is it really as easy as the link above shows? They say loosen tension, pull retainer and tap it back to get the lower control arm out.

 

[Kapt]

They normally come out pretty easily, yes

 

[Davea Lux]

I ordered a PST suspension kit for my 68 Fury. None of the work worries me much except the torsion bars. They are something new for me.

I was going to follow this step by step guide that is for A body cars. Mopar Rebuilding the steering linkage and suspension

is it really as easy as the link above shows? They say loosen tension, pull retainer and tap it back to get the lower control arm out.

The main thing is to not use any grasping tools on the surface of the torsion bars. If the surface gets scratched or gouged by tools, a crack will develop in the torsion bar and it will fail later. Also be sure to install the torsion bar back to the same side you took it out from as the left and right bars are stressed in opposite directions and can not be moved from one side to the other. Be sure to have the weight off the torsion bars before backing off the tension bolts as you can strip them out if they are under load. An be sure to properly support the vehicle on quality jack stands or other means of support.

Dave

 

[Trace 300 Hurst]

Lots of experienced advice in this thread:

Torsion Bar Removal Tool--Make it yourself

 

[Dylan Galvin]

Once the shock, strut, and lower ball joint were out, I removed the clip at the end of the bar, slipped off the balloon seal, and used a pry bar to pry the LCA away from the frame. The torsion bar will then slide out of the LCA with some wiggling.

 

[70bigblockdodge]

Yes.if your pulling the control arms to change the bushing just use the control arm to push the bar out the back. You will need to remove the tension struts and disconnect the spindle, and shock as mentioned above.

 

[Joseph James]

Yes.if your pulling the control arms to change the bushing just use the control arm to push the bar out the back. You will need to remove the tension struts and disconnect the spindle, and shock as mentioned above.

Thanks. My PST kit came today but is short 3 upper control arm bushings. Supposed to ship later.

I think I was worried the torsion bar would be like a garage door spring.

 

[Trace 300 Hurst]

I think I was worried the torsion bar would be like a garage door spring.

Your instincts are right to worry about a "garage door spring", but as you've learned, you release the tension in the correct manner and you're left with a harmless steel bar.