Arrgghh - Torsion Bar covers!!!

[donsrno1]

I have a problem with lowering the torsion bar on my car - I cant get the bloody covers off the end. The black plastic cap is stuck on the end of where you remove the torsion bar - on both sides!!!

has anyone got anysuggestions for getting these off?

Could someone post a link to the article about lowering the torsion bar as I hope to do it over the weekend - and also are there any particualr problems I should look out for?

Thanks.


[Edited by donsrno1 on 08 September 2005 at 12:16am]

 

[patty]

moles got the link...

 

[Djw John]

Took them off with mole grips before!

 

[James Clio 16v]

Flat headed screwdriver and gently ease it off all the way round. It will come off, they are only push on. When you do get them off, spray the ends of the torsion bar and get under the car and spray where they are in the middle with WD40 or equivalent and drive on it for a couple of days, it will make it easier to remove the bars.

 

[donsrno1]

Quote: Originally posted by James Clio 16v on 08 September 2005

Flat headed screwdriver and gently ease it off all the way round. It will come off, they are only push on. When you do get them off, spray the ends of the torsion bar and get under the car and spray where they are in the middle with WD40 or equivalent and drive on it for a couple of days, it will make it easier to remove the bars.

This is what I was wanting to do!!! Though I wont be doing the middle part as mine is a closed torsion bar. I tried doing it with a screwdriver but Ill give it another go tomorrow.

Mole - if you read this please post a link to the article
Also mean to ask - can this be done fairly easyily by one person? as I would probably be trying it myself.

[Edited by donsrno1 on 08 September 2005 at 12:25am]

[Edited by donsrno1 on 08 September 2005 at 12:37am]

 

[Mole]

The covers come off quite easily as said, just a flat headed screwdriver will do it quite nicely.

http://www.clio-turbo.co.uk/torsion-bar/http://www.clio-turbo.co.uk/torsion-bar/

The torsion bar on the RT is a closed type, the guide shows an open type, but its pretty much the same.

Tool is made from an M10 bolt, M10 nut, and a 1 1/16th inch socket (i think)

Took me around 15 minutes to do mine, and its piss easy

 

[donsrno1]

Cheers mate I managed to find another guide anyway which explains the closed bar but its as I thought it would work anyway.

The only question I have is about the brake bias adjuster - does this have to be adjusted and is it as important on a 1.4RT where its drum brakes. If it does need to be adjusted where is it and how is it adjusted?

Im also going to be doing the front springs at the same time so I will need to get some spring compressors and a spanner for undoing the strut at the top. How much should spring compressors cost? (there are some at halfords for £20 - is that a good price?) and do you know what size spanner is needed for the strut top as I will need a different one as it need to bend down if you know what I mean.

Thanks.

 

[Mole]

21mm deep offset ring spanner is what is used on the top mount, but i didnt have a 21mm so I used a 22mm deep offset ring spanner, and cut a bit of coke can out, and used that to make up that extra mm.

Youll also need a suitable allen key so that you can hold the shock aborber piston rod still, otherwise when you goto undo the top mount, the piston rod will spin around with it, and you wont get anywhere.

I bought the halfords set and they are ok, needed them on the day so didnt mind if i paid a bit too much for them.

Dont think people bother with the bias adjuster to be honest. I never did.

 

[donsrno1]

Thanks bud. The only other thing I was wondering about was the reassembly of the struts - do you have to tighten it using the nut and the alan key or just the nut?

Im sure itll be pretty obvious once I have it out but just to check.

Also should everything come apart OK on the strut because a mate said something yesterday about some part being likely to be seized so I would need to take it to a garage to get off????

Thanks.

 

[Lunner]

Will need the allen key to stop of the strut spinning around.

might be worth getting new strut top assemblies, new rubber underneath and new strut top plate, about £30 a side from reno iirc, esp if the car has done alot of miles the rubbers will be well worn.

I removed the torsion bar covers wiht a pair of mole grips, off in 2 mins, one of this fannying about prising thinbgs wiht screw drivers

 

[donsrno1]

I was trying the torsion bar covers again with screwdrivers today but they aint budging as I cant get a the screwdriver underneath at all. Though admitidly I didnt have much time today so only spent a few minutes on it. Im sure Ill get it off OK tomorrow as I have a bit more time to fiddle about with it. Hopefully my springs should come tomorrow as well and I can get started on lowering it and get my new alloys on.

I pressume that on the closed bar you just take the torsion bar out far enough so that the visible splines at that end are out completely (in other words just a couple of inches?)

Thanks.

 

[Lunner]

Why the f**k does no one listen to me, grip tehm with mole grips and wraggle (techy term) them from side to side and they WILL come loose in seconds

 

[donsrno1]

I did listen bud but I dont have any mole grips, LOL. Ive still not had a go at them anyway as I was too busy today. As I said Im sure they will come off easily enough.