Need help with torsion bar!

[RoyC]

I have removed the drum brakes to install a disc brake conversion from Summit. Also all bushings upper and lower ball joints lower a arm and torsion arm shaft and bushings. Removed torsion bar to do all the work and put the tortion bar back in it, now I can't get the proper height out of the torsion bar! Is there something I have missed! When I removed the torsion bar it came out easily. Can someone help me figure this out?

 

[Kern Dog]

The adjuster lever that is loaded by the screw/bolt....It needs to be horizontal. The LCA needs to be at full droop.

 

[miller]

One other thing...assuming you did both sides.

There is a right and left on the torsion bars! If in the wrong side, the clocking of the bars won't let you get the correct adjustment. Some bars are marked on one end, for which side it goes.

 

[RoyC]

yes i have it at full drop torision bar slides in no problem cranks up but not to the right hieght..

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yes i did both sides one at a time yes i know that the bars cant be switched from left to right. they crank up but not to the right needed to clear tires .

 

[Yatzee]

Perhaps you have to go one more flat on the hex end. This will put the LCA down lower and be a bear to raise as their new (unsettled) torsion bars. In other words, the preload may be too light. Work safely as this can be a hazardous task.

 

[Speedbird]

Hey Roy,

I'm totally unfamiliar with the Summit conversion since I've always done conversions with Chrysler parts.
That being said, I'm not sure what "hard parts" have been changed.
Does this include a spindle?
I'm thinking that more info would be helpful. This usually doesn't give me any problems if Kern Dog's suggestion is done.
I'm assuming nothing strange like a slant car now has a 440 in it?
14 inch tires now are 15?
You say you know the torsion bars are side specific.
Odd part number on the driver side and even number on the passenger?

 

[RoyC]

yes the spindles were changed upper and lower ball joints. lower control arm bushing. also sway bar bushing. shocks and rubber bumpers .disks brakes and rotors.removed drum brakes .

 

[RoyC]

how does the preload work i heard of this before could you explain to me how to do this.

 

[Speedbird]

Hum,

I'm sure there are people on here more familiar with this Summit conversion.
So this spindle is the only thing I can imagine that could possibly be different and causing problem.
Ball joints shouldn't make an difference. Same upper and lower control arms.
Thinking about it, the torsion bar is hexed into the lower control arm on one end and the cross member on the other.
So the only thing I can suggest is trying to get one more clock on the hex from the back end.
In other words can the LCA be dropped anymore before the torsion bar is inserted?
And then try cranking it again.
Of course, you have the adjuster all the way "off" when you are assembling it?

 

[furyus]

Take out the upper control arm bumpers. It will give more drop if you have everything assembled. Take out the lower control arm adjusters, and rotate the LCA hex down.

 

[Burt36b]

May I suggest a few pictures of the old control arm and the new control arm with disc brake setup? Is the hex key rotation the same on the new setup as the old setup? I had the same problem on my Dakota. The trick for me was to push the torsion bar rear through the cross member, rotate the lower control arm into position, then push the bar to the front.

 

[RoyC]

yes the upper control arm bumpers were removed also the shocks and brake line to give more movement .

 

[miller]

Service book will explain how to install the bars.

Kinda wondering if your trying to go the wrong way. The front end needs to be in the air, the lower arms down, to get the bars in right. Should be a 'line' at the end of each bar, that should be facing to the rear.
Once bars are in place, put the front end on the ground, setting a load on the bars. Be sure each end of the bars are greased up, too.

 

[RoyC]

thanks. the car is on my lift ive tried putting the arms down and it was to much i going to try a different setting i gues i maxed it out there was no bounce stood tall i put lots of grease on end of the bars this is my first time messing with this area all the help is appreciated.thanks in advance.

 

[RoyC]

still waiting for some one who knows how to preload the torision bar ive tried about every way i can think of,still no luck..

 

[66Satellite_in_NC]

https://www.google.com/search?clien...f-8#channel=fs&q=mopar+torsion+bar+adjustment

 

[RoyC]

still no luck on my torision bars how to pre load ....

 

[Kern Dog]

This is probably a case where you'll need help from an actual person on site. 19 responses and still no success? Sometimes, 30 seconds of a persons time while directly in front of the car makes all the difference.

 

[miller]

Shot in the dark...you do know right and left are as sitting in the driver's seat.

Making something kinda simple, pretty hard. If they are in the wrong sides, you'll NEVER get them in.

 

[RoyC]

i definitley need somebody thats for sure..thats why i apprieciate all the information that i get from all of you responders..

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i talked with a guy that told me i had to pre load the bars i tried how he told me but it didnt work the way he told me he told me to drop down the control arm take the castle nut off the top ball joint lower control arm slide in the bar then raise the control arm up put the castle nut on one time it was to much so i turned the bar to diff setting then not enough setting i have tried this many times different setting marking marking the bars for each time i turn it....lost for informatiom...