Torsion Bar Install - Too Tight? Hit it?

[triplesn8s]

Hi All,

Should the torsion bars just slide into the control arm? 15+ years ago I bought nice used control arm & used bars from different guys. The bar goes in about as far as shown in the photos but I am afraid to tap them in with a steel hammer. Mild deadblow taps don't do it.

The new (used) bars match up to the old bars with regard to the spline.

I can feel the teeth catch and hold a position when rotating with my fingers, but they won't slide in. How hard should I encourage them? The dust covers are still on the arms so i am not 100% sure they are good, but the should be.

[florio]

Hi, the torsion bar needs to slide in all the way so that the splined cap with the adjusting screw fits inside the cage. Does the other side go in all the way? Usually, one drills a small hole in the dust cap to pop it out and push out the torsion bar to remove.
good luck,

[Trackrash]

Agree ^. Knock out the cap and figure out why the TB won't slide in all the way.

You may be sorry if you pound it in as it may be difficult to remove or re-index.

Maybe use a wire brush in the spline to clean it up. Might be a burr in there that a small file will take care of. Use grease on the splines when assembling.

[triplesn8s]

So know I know why the bars will not fit. Arms are 29 spline, the bars ar 30 spline. Thanks ferdinand and the JA who sold these to me 17 years ago as 911T arms. Are these 29 tooh units 914 arms?

Making me wonder if the spindle/strut is also 914? But I have the original spindle/strut too and they appear to be the same. Bummer, as I was tacking on the suspension to be able to flatbed the shell to the bodyman in 2 weeks.

It looks like I need a pair of clean straight 911 arms. And assuming what I have is 914, I have a nice set of 914 arms to sell/trade.

Are there any 'bargain' (LOL, in the same sentence as Porsche) aftermarket arems out there? I am not intending to track the car but not am I overly committed to originality. Like the other cars I have done I am thinking stock look-wider wheels-hotter motor. I don't want to head down the slippery slope of bigger brakes etc, at least not now.

TIA for the advice.

[bkreigsr]

Dress the grooves with a 3-sided file until they go in and out easily.
Your grooves look very gunked up.
Do not pound them in - that defeats the adjustability while you dial in the ride height you are looking for.
Start with a wire brush bit in a Dremel if you are afraid of removing too much metal with a file.

[911pcars]

Originally Posted by bkreigsr

Dress the grooves with a 3-sided file until they go in and out easily.
Your grooves look very gunked up.
Do not pound them in - that defeats the adjustability while you dial in the ride height you are looking for.
Start with a wire brush bit in a Dremel if you are afraid of removing too much metal with a file.

Re-read (or read) the OP's discovery from yesterdays (post #4). One would have to be very creative with a file to make these blend.

[bkreigsr]

Originally Posted by 911pcars

Re-read (or read) the OP's discovery from yesterdays (post #4). One would have to be very creative with a file to make these blend.

The bar goes in about as far as shown in the photos but I am afraid to tap them in with a steel hammer. Mild deadblow taps don't do it.
The new (used) bars match up to the old bars with regard to the spline.
I can feel the teeth catch and hold a position when rotating with my fingers, but they won't slide in.

I was thrown off by the OP's opening narrative where he says the bar matches up to the old one, and the teeth catch and hold a position.
Bill K

[kltarga72]

triplesn8s
googled front control arms for 1972 911 and came up with several options, see URL

https://www.google.com/search?q=porsche+911+1972+front+control+arms&rlz=1C1CHBF_enUS698US698&oq=porsche+911+1972+front+control+arms&aqs=chrome..69i57j33i22i29i30.24137j1j15&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8