Torsion Bar help

[jimbosride]

The 65 Dodge is now coming off the stands and when adjusting the torsion bars there it's not putting the right tension on the car and I'm running out of threads. My guess is I did not put the bars in correct? Any one have the correct procedure to fix this? I think it' a clocking issue. or maybe point me to the right thread that cover this. Thanks

 

[BLK 68 R/T]

Was the lower control arm pulled down as far as you can possibly swing it? Usually have to remove the bump stop and the shock to get it to drop far enough to index the bar.

 

[dadsbee]

As noted, LCA all the way down.. but what many people miss is they need to pull that adjuster lever down into the LCA about flush before putting in the bar. You must have had it right up, as that's the only way you could be clocked 60* off !

 

[jimbosride]

ok .... looks like you guys are right .... the LCA was not set up correctly before i inserted the bar.... why would you have to remove the bump stop when hanging the LCA down? So back every thing off , remove bar. Let LCA hang, position arm all the way down then insert bar and adjustment bolt?

 

[dadsbee]

UCA bump stop, not the LCA. Sometimes you need it out of the way to get the LCA low enough, but can usually pull it down to get them in. Out is another story in many cases.

 

[AR67GTX]

Due to the clocking between front and rear hex - need to be sure they are on the right sides too. I’m guessing you know that though.

 

[WileE]

UCA bump stop, not the LCA. Sometimes you need it out of the way to get the LCA low enough, but can usually pull it down to get them in. Out is another story in many cases.

This. Remove the UCA bump stop, & shock off the LCA. Pull the suspension down as far as you can to insert the bar into the LCA.

 

[jimbosride]

ok .... got confused ..... lifting the LCA and removing the bump stop up is putting it into the lowest level. The bars were marked RT and LF when removed. Don't they have a color paint dot on the ends?

 

[BLK 68 R/T]

The later years have a casting # that tells left and right. Side to side matters, which end goes into the control arm doesn’t. I would assume RT is “right” and LF is “left” but I don’t know for sure.

 

[AR67GTX]

Yes - and automotive LT and RT are from the driver’s seat perspective. I recently installed new bars and with the bump stop removed and the suspension at full droop, one slid right in. The other I had to lean on the suspension just a little and then it slid right in. I didn’t think to pull down on the adjuster arm but it seemed to fall to its lowest point.

 

[jimbosride]

Ok I backed off the adjustment screw all the way, removed the spring clip. clamped the bar but it won't come out? do you let the suspension hang or support it with a jack? they
were just put in about a year ago.

 

[BLK 68 R/T]

Might have some tension on it still. Is the UCA contacting the bump stop? Did you remove the shock bolt? Both of those will stop it from releasing all the tension even though the adjuster is loose. Careful how you clamp it as well...vise grips work, not ideal, but use cardboard or wood to prevent gouging the bar.

 

[AR67GTX]

It’s also possible the suspension is now hanging just a little lower than the point where they can slide directly in/out and are completely free of torsion - causing them to bind a little. If installed on the wrong sides this could definitely be a possibility. If you have a helper, remove the tire and have them slowly lift up on the spindle a little while you try to pull the bar out of the socket. If they were just put in a year ago and were greased up when they were installed, they should just slide out with a little tug once the torsion force is off them. Otherwise whack the clamp towards the rear with a mallet.

 

[jimbosride]

ok .... by loosing the LCA nut and 2 or 3 whacks with a center punch the bar fell out. Thanks for the help. Here is the bar stamping. Does any one know the code on what this means. The bar is out of the RT

pass side of car. I believe I marked them RT/LT when I removed them.

Next I will clock it correct per the first part of this thread.

 

[BLK 68 R/T]

777 is the left side bar according to google info I looked up. Don’t tighten the nut back up until the bar is back in and full weight on the suspension.

 

[BLK 68 R/T]

 

[jimbosride]

OK so the bar is on the wrong side. it was on the RT pass side? I looked at the LT drivers side and see it 776R ... so I will swap them.... that could of cost me all kinds of issues ... Thanks

 

[JG1966]

Glad you got it figured out, and for future reference, with Mopar parts numbers where side-to-side orientation matters, an odd part number is always left (or driver side), and an even part number is always right (or passenger side). So 777 would be left, 776 right.

 

[jimbosride]

Thanks guys .... got both bars out yesterday.