Play in front torsion bar

[qikcpa]

I have been looking under the car for various rattles and thunks. With the car raised off of its wheels the right Torsion bar and cap (the crossmember end) are solid with about 1/16 of an inch of play. The left torsion bar with or without the cap moves in all directions about 3/4 of an inch. The left one makes quite a pronounced metal on metal clunk when I move it around (with our without the cap on). Is there a bushing which goes inside the A-arm tube that i am missing. The A-arms look brand new. PO says he put all new bushings. The bushings also look brand new.

With the cap/adjuster thingy off, when I feel the inside bottom area of the crossmember it is scored a good bit.

When the car sat on the ground there was no play in the torsion bar. I'm guessing because of the upward force on the a-arm.

Does the crossmember hold the ride height adjusting cap in place? Did PO install bushings improperly. Do I need to whack the Torsion bar to get it to seat in the other end at the front of the car. Are your torsion bars loose or tight when off the ground.

[Zeke]

How many questions are there in that? Wheew! The Tbar floats and will wiggle when the cap is off. There may or may not be a little tension on the bar with the car raised. There is not supposed to be any. The cross member holds the aduster. Did I get them all?

[qikcpa]

Thanks Zeke,

Since my crossmember is not holding the adjuster ( it moves a lot with the adjuster on), should i assume I need a new crossmember. looks like it is aluminum and scored pretty badly on the inside bottom (never had any luck mig welding AL). Read in another post that some have tried to put a weld bead on the adjuster to enlarge it. Would that work. Do you think this is necessary or am i just freaking out.