torsion bars - driveability - stock 92 Typhoon

[doyle]

I need some help understanding torsion bars. I noticed my left adjustment bolt was bottomed out and the right adjustment bolt was 5/8 inch from being bottomed out. After removal I found the right bar is identified R, a clockwise arrow, and #278. The left L, a counterclockwise arrow and #209.

Shouldn't the left bar also be #278?

After much handling I need to verify the numbered end(278 or 209) is the end to be inserted into the key and not the A frame.

I will appreciate all feedback. Look forward to help from you and hope to hear from Dave P also.

Thank you,
Doyle

 

[QWERTYphoon]

Upgrade to coil over and never look back.

FYI, The first place DaveP is going to look, to help you, is a manual. Do you have one?

 

[DaveP's Ghost]

You can't install them backwards, the hex ends are different sizes. EDIT: I went and looked at a bar. The hex IS the same size, so you can get them wrong end for end. You can also install them on the wrong side. If the label is still attached, the label goes to the front. They are designed to "torsion" in only one direction. The "arrow" is in the direction the bar is twisted to carry load, looking at the arrow. From the rear, correctly installed, the pork-chop twists the bar in the direction of the arrow to push the A-arm downwards.

The 278, 209 thing, I don't know about. There are several different bar ratings. The rating is directly related to the bar's diameter. Measure the two bar diameters accurately (calipers are best) and compare. The two bars should be the same diameter. The bars originally had a paper tag. Blue and yellow for the respective sides. (I don't remember which color is which side.) There is a two letter code on the tag. CW is a known code for Typhoon.

Here's a thread from a long time ago with some info.

No, I didn't look in a manual. All from memory and experience. Except I got the hex size wrong. I'm getting old, and I don't mess with this stuff any longer.

 

[doyle]

Dave P,

This is exactly the information I needed. Thank you very much. As for getting old, I qualify at 83! My wife is tired of pulling me out from under these machines. Doyle

 

[wildphil]

Dave is better than the manual. He knows the little tricks to get things done in addition to what the manual says.

 

[TYTILIDIE]

If you don't already have one there is actually a torsion bar tool that costs around $40 that will save your life working on these things. Wish I would have had one when I used to work on my Ty Torsion bars but I use them on our work trucks, makes life super easy.

 

[DaveP's Ghost]

If you don't already have one there is actually a torsion bar tool that costs around $40 that will save your life working on these things. Wish I would have had one when I used to work on my Ty Torsion bars but I use them on our work trucks, makes life super easy.

I don't remember what it cost, or where I purchased it from, but I've had it for over 20 years.

 

[doyle]

O'Reilly Auto Parts has a borrow program here. Pay for the tool then when finished, receive a refund. I could not have finished the project without the tool. Thank both of you for your post. Doyle