Stuck torsion bar- tried everything

[Gideon911]

One of my torsion bars will not come out of the spring plate. I tried everything on these forums. Vice grips with a rag, drilled TWO hole and tried to tap out. PB blaster, WD, heat, idk what else there is to do but this SOB will not come off.

I’m about to just cut this torsion bar smh

Any suggestions?

[fanaudical]

Long shot - Have you tried threading a zerk fitting into the end of the spring plate cap and pumping it full of grease to pop the TB out?

[john walker's workshop]

Air hammer through the quarter panel access hole and the spring plate end cap removed.

[red77911s]

I feel your pain brother, It took me a couple of try's a couple of days of heat and Marvel Mystery Oil get get mine apart, I recommend soaking it with MMO several times every day for as many days as it takes and it could take a week, heat occasionally if you want. get the cap off the spring plate then use an appropriately sized 3 jaw puller, has to be just the right size to fit in there. some people give up and cut the Tbar, but I'm a real believer in MMO I apply it several times to stuff over 2 days (it takes a long time for penetrant to actually completely get to where its needed) then completely frozen nuts and other stuff just comes right off. I got a rusted house jack free once with it. Good luck!

[1QuickS]

Go to machine shop & use their hydraulic press. The end cap is not absolutely necessary but it can be re-dished and re-installed or buy new "Welch" plugs from a number of suppliers. Alternately, drill/grind a 1/2" dia hole in the end and use a 1/2" dia rod and a big hammer to drive the bar out, you will need to solidly support the spring plate so your hammer blows transfer full force to dislodging the bar.

[Dpmulvan]

Originally Posted by john walker's workshop

Air hammer through the quarter panel access hole and the spring plate end cap removed.

This ^^^ air hammer/ chisel best tool for stiction. Slide hammer also helps. A little heat on the center of torsion tube helps too.

[jpnovak]

I assume you mean the torsion bar has released from the inner mount on the car and is now stuck inside the spring plate. Usually, this means the spring plate is sticking out of the access hole and dangling with the end of the torsion bar in the car.

for this type, I usually clamp two vice grips back to back, oriented 180 deg apart around the torsion bar. The steel is hardened but the vice grips will bite into the factory paint. Then you can use a pry bar on each side to push the spring plate off. Heating the end of the spring plate where the splines engage helps a lot here.

This will require to paint the end of the torsion bar where you had the vice grips clamped.

[pete3799]

I about gave up on mine but finally got it out with heat (oxy/acetylene......propane wont do it) and 3 jaw puller. Had to get the spring plate cherry red before it finally started to move. Had to reheat several times before it came all the way off.
Not my picture but looks like the exact same puller i have.

[fanaudical]

Sorry - I wasn't thinking that the spring plate and TB were still stuck behind the quarter panel (duh) when I suggested the grease gun thing. Rather than vise-grips, maybe install a shaft collar or two on the torsion bar and pry between those and the spring plate? Less chance of damaging the TB if you're reusing it.

[Showdown]

I had a similar conundrum. I reattached the spring plate to the car, drilled a hole in the end cap and then inserted a steel rod through the body into the hole in the spring plate cap, covered the car with padding and took a 5lb hammer and gave it a few really solid whacks and eventually it broke free. Copious heat and penetrating oil helped.

But… if you plan on changing the torsion bars or spring plates, by all means cut them off- don’t waste time and energy saving a sacrificial part.

[john walker's workshop]

Air hammer, blunt bit, hold the plate and it should move, considering you have enough air pressure and a decent tool. Got lots of them out that way.

[roblav]

Originally Posted by jpnovak

I assume you mean the torsion bar has released from the inner mount on the car and is now stuck inside the spring plate. Usually, this means the spring plate is sticking out of the access hole and dangling with the end of the torsion bar in the car.

for this type, I usually clamp two vice grips back to back, oriented 180 deg apart around the torsion bar. The steel is hardened but the vice grips will bite into the factory paint. Then you can use a pry bar on each side to push the spring plate off. Heating the end of the spring plate where the splines engage helps a lot here.

This will require to paint the end of the torsion bar where you had the vice grips clamped.

That's about how I've done it. One car I had was so rusted at the access opening anyway, I cut that fender area out and was able to pull the stuck spring plate/torsion bar off the car. The torsion bar end then went between two pieces of wood in a large vice, spring plate down, then I whacked the spring plate off with a large hammer and piece of oak. Hopefully, you won't have to do that! Good luck.

[midnight911]

cut the torsion bar. great excuse to upgrade the torsion bar...

[pors1968]

Originally Posted by midnight911

cut the torsion bar. great excuse to upgrade the torsion bar...

Cut the bare .Used set worth 150.00 +shipping .

[IROC]

Originally Posted by midnight911

cut the torsion bar. great excuse to upgrade the torsion bar...

This is what I did. I ran into this problem "pre-internet", so I didn't have the opportunity to get great suggestions like in this thread.

I did write an article in Excellence magazine about the experience, though.

[GH85Carrera]

When I changed me rear torsion bars on my 85 Carrera and installed new rubber bushings, the old ones just came right out with little effort. Is the stuck bar usually from rust or some other issue?

I was just wondering why it gets stuck. Mine was coated in grease and no doubt factory original.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Before the bubble I parted out 13 cars. Total worth then about $40K. Today, half a million.

Anyway, when heat didn't work, went with the air hammer. When that didn't work, cut them.

if you are going with new bars, I'd just cut it. Very satisfying if nothing else.

[ADDvanced]

I made a pulled that threaded onto a slide puller. Search my post history. Cost $30 or so. Worked great.

[H-viken]

I drilled a hole in the end cap of the spring plate, then grabbed a punch and a hammer. Gently tapped it out

[icarp]

Originally Posted by midnight911

cut the torsion bar. great excuse to upgrade the torsion bar...

I cut them as well, A 6" grinder wheel thin blade .

Please resist changing to stiffer Torsion bars , unless you have added
more than 55+ horse power , these cars love soft suspensions and smaller sway bars .

Ride height and alignment , that is what to aim for .