Re: Torsion bar parts

[stans4@ibm.net (Stan Schaefer)]

For heaven's sake, don't drive it like that!  There's a set screw on
the left side that clamps one end and an axial bolt for taking up
slack with a locking bolt and nut at the other end.  Bentley has all
the details.  Usually the pointed setscrew on the left hand end has
pounded out a groove and there's no adjustment left for the other end.
One fellow snapped his adjustment bolt off trying to take up the slack
when it bottomed out, so don't get too heavy on the torque!  Mine got
to the point where the lefthand end was recessed about 1/2" and grease
was leaking around it.  No adjustment left.  Shimmied above 25 mph.  I
had to take the bar out, flip it over 180 degrees and start with a new
setscrew dimple on the other side.  Make sure the bar is flush or
protruding slightly from the upper arm.  An afternoon's work and the
steering is tight once again. If you leave it to pound away, you may
lose control of it at speed and the upper stabilizer bar bearings will
definitely not thank you.  Bentley says to check this adjusment every
6K miles, and I'd do that.  This is definitely a weak spot in the
front-end design.  If I had the facilities, I'd TIG weld a hardened
steel plate about 1" in diameter to that lefthand end, then pass the
whole works through the beam, that way it would have a flange with
some guts to pull against rather than just a set screw tip.  If
someone has NOS upper stabilizer bars, they're keeping them well
hidden.

On Sat, 9 May 1998 00:17:01 -0400, you wrote:

>Mt front upper torsion bar has a lot of play in it. I scanned the archives and no one ever discusses replacing any parts, just fixing-up and making-do with whats there. Is this because no parts are available? Has anyone ever seen any replacement parts, e.g, bearings, washers, arms, or bars?
>
>Steve B.