Torsion bar query - sizes!!

[dumpy]

Good morning,

Attempted to do my torsion bar this weekend but didnt have a big enough socket!!

Its a phase 3 mk 1 - so its a closed casing on it!!!

Had a 36 which didnt fit round the out side, so i thought id be clever and use a big washer (well exhaust bracket) to pull it out, which worked until it passed the outer casing, then using a smaller socket to pull it out further which worked to a certain effect before it started stripping the thread on the bolt and the insides of the torsion bar!!!
I managed before this though to get the bar out about 2cm - is this far enough to adjust it??

So my question is what size socket do i need??

Does any body have any tips how to take it out, and how far does it come out before ican raise the hub???

How do i tell when the torsion bar is fully out, (bearing in mind its closed so i cant see wether or not its out)???

I used zed's guide to do this!!

Cheers,

Dumpy

 

[dumpy]

Right i have some more info about this for all thise mk1'ers who want to try and adjust thier torsion bar!!

My car is the mk1 ph3, and had a closed torsion bar - i followed zeds guide which is good but didnt have the sizes of the sockets that he used so;

You need to know how to use a spanner and have alot of determination, and its really tight the first time you take it off, so you need a decent set of spanners , ideally with both an open end and a closed end, just to make the job easier really!! You will also need ideally two axel stands and a jack - or like i did and use 3 jacks and rest the car on 2 of them and the third for jacking up the hub/arm.

i used a 30mm socket to cover the outer sleeve of the torsion bar - note the torsion bar sleeve does not need to be covered, just rested and a decent fit!!

I used a 17mm spanner on a nut around a bolt which is approx 10cm long, and best to check the size of the bolt by getting differnt sizes until one fits, id suggest gettiing 3 or 4 of the same size nut and bolt of the one that fits as they like to smooth+round off!!

Place the 30mm socket around the sleeve of the torsion bar, screw the bolt through the socket with a washer against the socket (washer is just so you dont bugger the socket) then tighten the and bolt so you have enough room to play with and be able to tighten the nut (all in zeds quide - i have a link if anyones interested)!!

This is the part that takes the patience and force keep tightening the nut - the bolt should slowly start coming out, this means the torsion bar is also coming out - once its out after forcing it - i mean forcing it - it should clunk and sound like its snapped etc!! The torsion bar is now out - repeat on other side then jack up the arm or hub (hub if closed) (arm if open) to a desired height!! A little turn on the jack really does a fair bit!!

Then replace the torsion bar adjusting to jack to ensure torsion bars fit easily, should slide in - once in screw a colt back in the torsion bar then with a hammer knck it in until it sits nice and deep in the sleeve!!

Remeber each side needs to be done!!!

Replace both wheels and dust caps etc

Jobs done - this is how i did it but if you mess it up dont blame me as im saying how i did it!!!

HTH!!

Tools required -
*1 socket / wrench (i used 17mm - this is used to tighten the bolt into the torsion bar)
*1 spanner - 17mm to tighten the nut attaced to the bolt
*1 30mm socket (to wrap around sleeve of torsion bar)
*1 hammer - to know torsion bar back in
*3 or 4 bolts with a 17mm head about 10cm long
*3 or 4 nuts 17mm to tighten on the bolt and pull the torsion bar out
*3 or 4 washers so you dont bugger the 30mm socket
*1 zeds guide

Cheers,

Dumpy

 

[JJsRT]

Nice bit of information there dumpy!