How Remove Torsion Bars?
 

So I'm pulling apart my rig for a frame off resto and am stripping the frame for sandblasting

I'm looking to reuse the torsion bars and am thinking I don't want to mess with the adjusting bolts etc... Cuz they're likely froze up and I don't want to piss around with adjusting when I put it back together.

I'm planning on removing the bolts from the front anchor to control arm, removing the control arm, and pulling the torsion bar towards the front of the truck instead of going through the back which is the usual method.
The question is:

1) Do I have to worry about some torsional preload that will snap back at me if I remove the front anchor to control arm bolts with the frame supported and the control arms hanging free?

2) Can I slide the torsion bar out towards the front of the truck instead of taking it out the back?

It's a 1990 4x4 extended and if anyone has any ideas I'd like to hear them

Thanks!

How Remove Torsion Bars?
 

So I'm pulling apart my rig for a frame off resto and am stripping the frame for sandblasting

I'm looking to reuse the torsion bars and am thinking I don't want to mess with the adjusting bolts etc... Cuz they're likely froze up and I don't want to piss around with adjusting when I put it back together.

I'm planning on removing the bolts from the front anchor to control arm, removing the control arm, and pulling the torsion bar towards the front of the truck instead of going through the back which is the usual method.
The question is:

1) Do I have to worry about some torsional preload that will snap back at me if I remove the front anchor to control arm bolts?

2) Can I slide the torsion bar out towards the front of the truck instead of taking it out the back?

It's a 1990 4x4 extended and if anyone has any ideas I'd like to hear em

Thanks!

I replaced control arm bushings a couple of years ago on a '89 V6 and even with the control arms at full droop there is a lot of tension on the torsion bars. There is no way I'd try to take out a torsion bar without releasing the tension with the adjusting bolts.

You need to release the tension on the torsion bar before removing the font upper control arm - which yes - requires loosening the adjusting bolts. Just spray them really good with PB B'laster or some other rust eater and you should be fine. I did several sprays of B'laster on mine over a few days and they came loose with the aide of a 20" breaker bar. Hope this helps a bit.

use some penetrating oil and spay them down once a day for a weeek. they will come lose. there is not that much torque on the bolts or lock nuts.

When i replaced the torsion bars omn my truck a few months ago the bolts snapped on the driver's side creating a new hole in the floor board. To say the least yes they are under load and yes you need to remove them the right way. Go get some new bolts from the dealer and be done with it.

DO NOT try to remove those two botls holding the torsion bar anchor to the upper control arm without removing the adjuster bolt... the torsion bars have A LOT of tension on them, even at full droop

if you're removing the upper contol arm, you will have to remove those adjuster bolts first, then remove the bolts that holds the anchor to the UCA

and you will have to remove them to get the torsion bar to slide back too; it's not going to move anywhere untill you take the tension off of them. heck, once you remove the adjuster bolt, you can pull the torsion bar all the way out if you want

do yourself a favor, and pick up some new bolts and nuts for the adjuster on both sides from the dealership. it'll cost you less than $20 and it'll be well worth it to replace them if you're diging in that far



:cheers:

X2 on getting the new bolts from the stealership. If you try to remove the control arms without letting the stress off the bars they will snap back at you violetly and cause possible broken bones or death. Ok maybe a little over kill, but it can most definetly hurt you badly.

Thanks for the advice guys
Looks like some more wrenching