how much force to remove torsion bars

[Cdnone1]

I am upgrading the suspension on my 82 SC . I have removed the rear torsion bar covers, disconected everything from the radius arm and trail arm, but I just can't get the radius to move off the torsion bar. Any advice or experience would be appreciatted. I don't remember them being difficult before.
thanks
Steve

[Dantilla]

Bigger pry bar?

[Zeke]

Two pry bars behind the spring plate. If the bar comes out with the plate, you will have to separate them while still under the fender. I used a big drift thru the body hole. The spring plate was held off the body with towels wrapped tightly around the t-bar.

Two people can do this better than one.

[randywebb]

hit the pry bars with a steel hammer - the 'ringing' impact will help

[patkeefe]

I just finished getting the right side out. Grip the cover firmly with your right hand, and whack the arm with a small sledge hammer (better if I could have found my deadblow hammer). Careful of the trailing arm and the oil lines. This was the easy side, as the TB was stuck on the inner end; I just kept wiggling it after I got the arm off, like breaking a paper clip.

Pat

[Cdnone1]

Zeke
Thanks or the advice. the trailing arm is now stuck to the torsion bar. Could you elp me out a little more please? What is a big drift thru the body hole mean? Any advice is appreciatted
steve

[randywebb]

a drift is a big long punch

the body hole is the one opposite the torsion bar

[Cdnone1]

that I got but how do you use it to get the radius arm seperated from the torsion bar? How would using a punch against the radius arm frrethe torsion arm?
steve

[Cdnone1]

is the torsion bar and end cap seperate from the radius I thought that they intire assembly was one piece
steve

[randywebb]

end cap?

the end cap is a separate item and has 4 holes in it ofr bolts - one bolt or hole is wierd as I recall. The torsion bar is another separate item with splines on both ends. The spring plate is a third item. I imagine that Zeke meant to use the drift to drive the torsion bar away from the spring plate which will be against the body.

I'm worried that you are doing something w/o a manual, diagrams, or adequate research -- I'd buy a Bentley. Definitely do some searches here before proceeding.

If this is screwed up then there can be serious safety problems. Motors are expensive if they blow up, but a lot cheaper than the surgery bills and/or funeral if the suspension fails. Be sure you have it all under control....

[Bobboloo]

Yes, They are seperate. It's very tough to get the T-bar to seperate from the radius arm. Unfortunently, you can't remove them as one piece do to the limited space. If you are unable to get them to seperate I believe you can remove the end cap from the radius arm and drive the T-bar out with a big punch.

[Cdnone1]

bobboloo
thats what I was wondering. I have had these apart in previous cars but never had the problems I'm having with my latest project.
Randy
Sorry but I have been describing things using the wrong terms. I've worked qiute a bit on the Porsche's I've owned over the years including engine rebuilds. I've got all the books and research but it's the little things that like everyone else when they go wrong I need the help with.
Where I am at now is: the radius arm is "stuck on the torsion bar" and I'm trying to find out if anyone has an easy way to seperate the two of them from each other in the tight confines between the body panel and the torsion tube.
I've tried holding the torsion bar with vice grips and wiggilling but they really don't want to seperate.
I certainly should have given a better description of what I was doing. Sorry for the confusion. That said anyone who has a "trick" to seperating them I would appreciate
steve

[patkeefe]

Steve:
Try letting the cap dangle in the hole of the rocker panel to give yourself a little room, grip the torsion bar best you can, and tap on the torsion bar cap outwards with a hammer. Swing the radius arm around vertically so that you can tap on either side of the cap somewhat equally. I just went through this exercise on Friday. It is a pain, but if you're patient, it will come off.
I used a bigger hammer with smaller blows, as opposed to a smaller hammer with bigger blows. I think it would help to have more than two hands to perform this, although I did it alone.
Pat

[dmcummins]

I drilled a hole in the end of the dust cap and drove it out with a drift. Ill just have to fill the hole later. May not look the best but works.