Torsion Bar

[donsrno1]

As you might have seen me saying in other threads I have been trying to lower the torsion bar on my Clio today. I was following THIS guide to do it.
I started on the torsion bar that looked worst of the two and it started coming out fine but now it's stuck here:

It won't come out any further and has already f**ked two M10 screws and bolts (stripped the thread) trying to do it. Anyone got any advice on getting it out the rest of the way?
Thanks.
Also, I tried to knock the bar back in when I couldn't get it out any further but the wee bugger doesn't want to go back in either.

 

[AmirClio]

Get the WD40 out Dude soak it and leave it over night and have another bash in the morning failing that get something really cold on it (dont know what to suggest) to try and make the metal contract a bit!

What you should have done is soaked in WD40 a few days ago and put the cap bak on so let it soak in!

Amir

 

[Rhino172]

^^ seconded!

 

[donsrno1]

I did soak it in WD40 a few days ago but it's still done it. I've got some more screws now so will have one more go doay and if that doesn't work then I'll just leave it to soak in WD40 overnight. I'm not really needing the car this week so I can just take my time to getting everything sorted. I thought it was a bit strang that it started moving out fine though and then suddenly stopped.

 

[Jay MK1]

a good old slide hammer i say

 

[donsrno1]

^^^
Starting to think that way mate. Is there not some way of making up a cheap one? using a threaded bar and some other stuff?

 

[AmDaMan]

That should come back out. Jack the hub up very slightly then get the big socket and bolt job back on to pull it out.

 

[donsrno1]

lol, I'm a right plank. It turns out the socket was just too small. I hadn ruled that out before because I hadn't paid any attention to the fact the torsion bar was slightly tapered at the end so I though it was fitting OK in the socket

 

[AmirClio]

What size actually is it then dude? gonna do mine at the weekend!

Amir

 

[Final Maxim]

lol, I'm a right plank. It turns out the socket was just too small. I hadn ruled that out before because I hadn't paid any attention to the fact the torsion bar was slightly tapered at the end so I though it was fitting OK in the socket

lol owned

 

[Ross16V]

What size actually is it then dude? gonna do mine at the weekend!

Amir

yeh seconded, what size socket do you really need for it???

doing mine soon also!

 

[donsrno1]

lol owned

LOL, well and truly mate .

It took all of about 30 seconds after I found some tubing to put on the end of the socket. The socket I was using was 27mm as I had been told on here ages ago that that was the right size. I would guess 29mm, but I don't know for sure as I was just lucky that I had some tubing of the right size in the garage that I could cut and use.

 

[tomsparco]

the socket size is 32mm. m10 thread, nut. did mine a couple weeks ago. the front struts are a bas*ard on mine. still trying do change the springs on the front! lol

 

[AmirClio]

Gonna do mine in the workshop, all the tools i need!!!! stead of that faffing about in th street, get it on a ramp air spanner, piece of piss and half the time!
thanks for the info though fellas really useful!
Amir

 

[donsrno1]

The job itself is really easy TBH once you have the right things (i.e. not the wrong size socket). I have now lowered both sides of mine 55mm and they are both at the exact same height, which is good as previously one side was 15mm higher than the other.

I found it was best to raise the hub by the amount you want to lower it then a further 15mm. Then try and push the torsion bar back in, if it doesn't go rotate it by one spline and then try again etc till you get it to go quite far in (at least flush). It will either have gone all the way in at this stage (about 1 cm in from the edge of the bit you rest the socket against) or it will be flush with where the socket pushes against for taking it out. If it's jst flush then try raising the hub by a couple of mm and you shoud be able to push it in all the way with no bother. Once the jack is removed from the hub I found it then drops by ~ 15mm (hence why I said to rasie the hub an extra 15mm).