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#1 Releasing the torsion bar tension

Posted: Tue Mar 27, 2018 9:20 pm
by ALAN COCHRANE
As part of my engine removal saga I've split both lower ball joints which in theory should release all the tension on the torsion bars. Despite this the reaction plate mounting bolts were still tight and needed a hefty whack with a hammer and drift to remove them.
I noticed that all four already had varying degrees of damage to their threads, so needed replacing.
In the end I needed to use two ratchet straps to pull the lower wishbones down a further 1-2 inches to align the mounting holes and release the bolts.

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Has anyone else encountered this problem or have I missed something obvious?

Cheers

Alan

#2 Re: Releasing the torsion bar tension

Posted: Tue Mar 27, 2018 11:03 pm
by MSM
Alan

I think you need to also remove the split pins and slacken the nuts on the lower wishbone pivots.

#3 Re: Releasing the torsion bar tension

Posted: Wed Mar 28, 2018 1:16 pm
by ALAN COCHRANE
That may alleviate the problem but it's not normally required. The lower wishbones should be free to move whether the castellated nut is loose or not. Anyway the ratchet straps came to the rescue.

Alan

#4 Re: Releasing the torsion bar tension

Posted: Wed Mar 28, 2018 1:29 pm
by mgcjag
Hi Alan...not quite correct.....the lower wishbone should not be free to move as it is gripped in the rubber bushes...it is only their flex that alows movement....thats why they shouldnt be fully tightened until the full weight of the car is back on the ground... Steve