Torsion bar / spring plate issue

[Jesse911]

Last week I purchased adjustable spring plate and SAW torsion bars to fit onto my '76 911. (purchased from an European vendor because I'm located in the Netherlands).

The spring plates are made by Prekom and have their 'clubsport' bushing with shore 85 rating.

When installing these the end caps came off. The torsion bar ends are very close/almost flush with the splined tube of the spring plate. See attached photos. There is not way to install these end caps. I'm already in contact with the supplier but I thought maybe someone here has a solution.

I measured the spring plate tube and compared to the original that came off the car they seem to be 3-5mm shorter. This would give me the space to fit the caps but as my car came with non adjustable spring plates maybe I just made a mistake.

I checked the torsion bars themselves and they seem to be the correct size of 628mm. Also checked for any debris between the torsion bars and cleaned out the splines in the car by pushing both torsion bar completed through. Nothing to see it all looks clean.

[PeteKz]

Did your spring plates come with spacers or washers to set the spacing from the frame to the spring plate and outer cover? Did you install those correctly?

Otherwise, you may have a poorly manufactured set of spring plates. Sway Away had a run of bad spring plates about 4-5 years ago.

[Jesse911]

Originally Posted by PeteKz

Did your spring plates come with spacers or washers to set the spacing from the frame to the spring plate and outer cover? Did you install those correctly?

Otherwise, you may have a poorly manufactured set of spring plates. Sway Away had a run of bad spring plates about 4-5 years ago.

No spacers or washers included with the set. Are spacers used on later cars that came with adjustable spring plates from factory?

[PeteKz]

I'm not sure when the factory starting installing adjustable spring plates, but I'm pretty sure it was later than 1977. I also don't know if the factory used spacers, or changed the length of the spacers welded on the frame. Call or email your vendor and ask about them and the problem you have.

[jac1976]

Originally Posted by PeteKz

I'm not sure when the factory starting installing adjustable spring plates, but I'm pretty sure it was later than 1977. I also don't know if the factory used spacers, or changed the length of the spacers welded on the frame. Call or email your vendor and ask about them and the problem you have.

It was mid-76

[ToySnakePMC]

Ha! I had the same issue with my '76 912E that still had its original non-adjustable spring plates when I installed the exact same pair of adjustable spring plates about 3 yrs ago. I, too, double checked for any grease or debris between the torsion bars, but it was good to go. One of my metal dust caps had popped off and there was no way to create space to reattach it. So I purchased these plastic dust caps from an online supply house (McMaster Carr). They've been fine for 3 years - but I do a periodic visual inspection to make sure no torsion bar is trying to walk out of the tube. No issues, thankfully!

Best of luck - Don't think you will have any concerns based on my experience. Patrick

[Winter911]

I had the same issue. Rennline spring plates are known for this.
I'm going to do what ToySnakePMC did on his. Just gotta find some universal rubber dust caps I can slide on there

[Jesse911]

Glad to hear I'm not the only one having this issue. I will wait for the reaction of the supplier but otherwise I will use the solution above.

Did you make any sort of dents in the spring plate tube to prevent the torsion bar of coming out?

[ToySnakePMC]

Originally Posted by Jesse911

Glad to hear I'm not the only one having this issue. I will wait for the reaction of the supplier but otherwise I will use the solution above.

Did you make any sort of dents in the spring plate tube to prevent the torsion bar of coming out?

Nope, don’t think dimpling that thick metal would be possible. No issues as the freshened-up suspension has been put to the test hours on end bombing around the NC and VA mtns.



That’s me chasing my buddy’s faster 3.2l ‘76 Signature Series coupe. Patrick

[911 SLANT]

I went with the dust covers that came with my spring plates.

[Jesse911]

Originally Posted by 911 SLANT

I went with the dust covers that came with my spring plates.

But this type has circlip to prevent the torsion bars coming out right?

[911 SLANT]

I can't remember if they do. I'll have to pull cover off and look later after work.