How much can I lower my front torsion suspension?

[MrY]

Hi all
I have a 72 Plymouth roadrunner
I tried to lower 2 inches in the front tonight
I jacked up the front
I loosened the torsion bolt about 9 full turns then it started to be stiff - so I stopped ...
Is this the way it supposed to do ?

HOW much can I loosen the bolt ?
will it stop by it self
Or will it pop out ??

I had read 5 turns loosen/pull bolt out would lower 1 inch
9 turns only lowered it 1 inch ( after bouncing the front)
is there more room for me to get it lower ??

 

[brian6pac]

I would run it back up oil the threads good and try to run it back out, you can lower it till the bolt comes out but the bolt should be sticking up far enough so it goes into the pivot arm.

 

[dryheat]

If you must have a 2" drop you might consider 2" drop spindles.

 

[PurpleBeeper]

I had a '77 Cordoba (b-body) that I lowered to 2" ground-to-frame clearance, so you can drop the front A LOT with just a torsion bar adjustment. You definitely need to re-do your alignment. I did not use drop spindles since they weren't invented yet.

At "some point" of raising or lowering you might be outside of the caster/camber adjustment range on the upper control arm offset bushings, but I don't know exactly what that "point" is.

And to better answer one of your questions.... at some point that bolt will just drop out. Just before that point, it will still be screwed into the half-moon threaded part, but not holding the torsion bars up (not touching them).

 

[HT413]

I can tell you that when I bought my 69 belvedere those torsion spring bolts were backed out so far that the car sat on the bump stops. I'd guess that your car could be similarly lowered, not that it's a good idea.

So check the clearance at the bump stops and that will give you an idea of what you have to play with.

 

[747mopar]

like mentioned drop spindles are the best option but even I haven't ponied up the doe for them. I installed stiffer bars and dropped mine 2" with no issues, rides and handles very well. Also as mentioned have it aligned afterwards, I didn't and ruined a set of tires in a hurry. Sounds to me like the threads on your adjuster bolts are rough, I'd run them in and out while spraying some PB Blaster on them.