torsion bars?

[rebootej]

Hi guys, so while installing a new transmission in my 74 Satellite, i pulled out the torsion bars and bracket for clearance. I noticed that the bolt on the passenger side lower control arm was cranked much father in than the divers side. I just had it aligned recently. Is the passenger side bar worn out? or bent this side of the car had been in a accident that bent the lower control arm.

Passengers side


Drivers side


I have a donor car with torsion bars, should i swap the passenger side in? or is this some what normal?

 

[eagleone1983]

It could be that the one side wasn't clocked right when the torsion bar was installed. Your supposed to make sure that the socket the torsion bar goes into is rotated all the way down before installing the torsion bar.

 

[kiwigtx]

It is normal for them to be different depths into the nut on any given car. I would be checking things if they were even on both sides.

 

[Funship32]

It is normal for them to be different depths into the nut on any given car. I would be checking things if they were even on both sides.

X2

 

[rrTor-Red]

X3

 

[rebootej]

Thanks guys ok here is another question, the bars on my car are 658 and 659 my donor car has 660 and 661. If i understand correctly these are stiffer bars? Is that right? which would you recommend using? Im leaning toward the stiffer ones.
Thank you again.

View attachment 124378

 

[5.7 hemi]

Take a micrometer and get a measurement to be sure of the sizes, then make your decision.

 

[rebootej]

On my torsion bars the 660 was about a quarter inch longer than the 661 any ideas why that would be? They both came off of my 74 donor satellite

 

[dangina]

he meant the thickness of the bar like in 0.96" or 1.03" the thicker the bar the higher the spring rate
the length of the bar is determined by what car you have - you can't put in shorter/longer bars into a car that was made for it - I believe the 73-74 bars are the longer bars? (been awhile) compared to the 71-72

 

[rebootej]

oh yes knew the thicker bars have a higher spring rate, but i pulled a 660 and 661 out of my 74 donor. And the 660 was a quarter inch longer than the 661.