Torsion bar question

[Chazzer]

Hey Toronauts,

Does anyone have a trick to remove torsion bars from rear crossmember?

Torsion bars are completely unloaded and all control arms are off vehicle. According to Service manual do not knick or mark torsion bars. These bars seem to be kinda stuck in the torsion bra key. I would like to remove them so I can clean and paint them as well as repack them with grease.

Aybody?

Also, what colour was the final drive on a 68?

Again Anybody?

Cheers, Jim.

[Chazzer]

Umm that's torsion bar not bra....

[69W34]

Jim, the bars are inserted into the 'tensioner' piece in the same manner as the lower control arm they just slip in.

Do the following

Stand the bars /cross up and support upright remove the rubber boots spray (saturate) the
area at what would now be the bottom of the bar at the entry point with WD40 or liquid wrench.
Take two short 2x4's 16-18" long and 'C' clamp them together face to face, drill a 3/4" hole between them so that when you un-clamp them you'll have two half's of a circle (like a half pipe) in each face.
Lay the bars down and re-clamp the half's as tight as you can get them at each side of the bar about 2/3 thirds of the length away from the cross member (this provides swing room) the 2x4's will 'bite' the bar. Then use a 4# mall (hammer) or light 6-8# sledge 'lightly smack' (yeah I know sounds counter productive) the 2x4"s close to bar in the direction away from the cross member this may take a couple of hits and the 2x4's might move down the bar, if the soaking has don its job the bars should pop out. You may find the need to secure the cross member from moving but they will come out.

[Chazzer]

Thanks Bill,

Sounds like a good trick. I will give it a go.

Bill, what colour was the final drive painted new?

Jim

[Twilight Fenrir]

I'm going to be doing much the same thing over the next few weeks/months (putting on disc brakes and redoing my suspension while I'm at it)

I plan to POR-15 my control arms, knuckles and all that... I had considered painting the torsion bars, but I thought either A) The prep-work on the bars would ruin them, as sanding or sandblasting them clean would scratch them. and B) that if I did, it would flake off anyway with the twisting of the metal.

Are these not concerns? I'd love to paint my bars while I've got 'em out of the car anyway...

[toro_mike]

Bill, what colour was the final drive painted new?

I may be wrong, but I believe the final drive was natural, i.e. not painted at all.

[Chazzer]

Thanks Mike! I have been thinking along those lines lately myself.

Hey Twilight, Your concerns may be correct concerning the torsion bars. I wanted to remove mine and re-pack with grease since they are half off the car anyway. I thought once I had them out I would completely degrease them and review the situation.

I know mine are not very scaly or anything and I thought a light coat of paint may be ok. They however may never have been painted from new either. Mine are actually still attached to the car as I have not yet removed the cross member as of yet.

[bluecab]

Mine are a medium bile green color, they look original with no signs of a repaint. I don't think they twist enough to pop the paint.

[xgecko]

Bluecab describes the color perfectly... Under the grime that is what I found.