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torsion bar questions
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plymouth
Posted 2019-11-27 6:01 PM (#590838)
Subject: torsion bar questions



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Location: McComb, Mississippi
I just replaced the saggy rear springs with springs from ESPO and now, the rear end sits up really high. The front end looks like it's sitting really low. I am about to adjust the ride height to the factory specs. Which direction do I turn the adjuster bolts to lift the car? Will raising the front end lower the rear? Thanks
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1960fury
Posted 2019-11-27 6:34 PM (#590839 - in reply to #590838)
Subject: Re: torsion bar questions



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Location: northern germany
Tighten (clockwise) to raise (with no weight on wheels and CLEAN and lubed bolt thread) But do not only turn in clockwise direction, back up somewhat once in a while (important!). Of course past the rear axle (pivot point) the car will come down a bit and a bit more weight will be also on the rear springs when the car is level.
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plymouth
Posted 2019-11-27 6:45 PM (#590840 - in reply to #590839)
Subject: Re: torsion bar questions



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Posts: 2264
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Location: McComb, Mississippi
Thanks Sid! Guess I'll clean and lube the bolts tomorrow.
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Shep
Posted 2019-11-28 11:25 AM (#590863 - in reply to #590838)
Subject: RE: torsion bar questions



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This happened to me and the rear springs were too high. I put 250# in the trunk and rode around for a while, that settled them down. Many of our cars have had too strong a replacement spring. Obviously compensating by resetting the torsion bars is not a permanent fix. I am referring to my 55 and a 59 Dodge.
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57chizler
Posted 2019-11-28 12:43 PM (#590868 - in reply to #590840)
Subject: Re: torsion bar questions



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I always paint a white stripe for-to-aft on the adjusting bolt head to keep track of the number of turns made.
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plymouth
Posted 2019-11-28 12:55 PM (#590870 - in reply to #590838)
Subject: Re: torsion bar questions



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Posts: 2264
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Location: McComb, Mississippi
Thanks for the replies. I soaked the adjuster bolts with PB Blaster and go to work on adjusting them. Wasn't a bad job at all. Now, the rear doesn't look so strange and the ride has been greatly improved. Next stop is the alignment shop.
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wizard
Posted 2019-11-28 1:03 PM (#590871 - in reply to #590838)
Subject: Re: torsion bar questions



Board Moderator & Exner Expert 10K+

Posts: 13042
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Location: Southern Sweden - Sturkö island
Get a pair of lowering blocks for the rear leaf springs. Use them as a temporary solution until the leaf springs has settled themselves.

The ride height is measured in the rear and in the front.

Hint - check if the car sags to the left (very normal, 1/2" is common). You can compensate this with the torsion spring adjustment, but stay within the specs (one side tangent the low tolerance and one side tangent the high tolerance)

Typically the height tolerance is +- 1/8"

Before checking the ride height:

- fill up the tank
- check the tire pressures
- bonce the car up and down in the front and rear
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1960fury
Posted 2019-11-28 2:11 PM (#590873 - in reply to #590838)
Subject: Re: torsion bar questions



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Location: northern germany
Actually ride height is not measured from the ground, so tire pressure is not that important. The method in the FSM is much more accurate and gives the correct ride height.
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finsruskw
Posted 2019-11-28 2:12 PM (#590875 - in reply to #590838)
Subject: Re: torsion bar questions


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Location: Eastern Iowa
Load up a bunch of fat chicks and drive around a while!!
Insert smiley face (here)
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wizard
Posted 2019-11-28 2:54 PM (#590881 - in reply to #590838)
Subject: Re: torsion bar questions



Board Moderator & Exner Expert 10K+

Posts: 13042
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Location: Southern Sweden - Sturkö island
.



(Height Adjustment.png)



(Height adj.png)



Attachments
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Attachments Height Adjustment.png (38KB - 244 downloads)
Attachments Height adj.png (45KB - 228 downloads)
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Cmangeot
Posted 2019-12-08 7:22 PM (#591300 - in reply to #590881)
Subject: Re: torsion bar questions


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Location: Park Hills, KY
Should we be buying softer replacement springs?
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Powerflite
Posted 2019-12-08 8:33 PM (#591301 - in reply to #590838)
Subject: Re: torsion bar questions



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No. Ride height and stiffness are two different things. I put an extra stiff spring in the back of my DeSoto and was amazed at the improvement in ride quality. You can go overboard, but I find that the factory used a spring that was too soft, so increasing the stiffness is a good thing.
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