Well, that was 4 hours of fun . . now I need some help.

redcoupe86 · 03-04-2006, 11:18 AM

Just finished replacing my front control arms - not the most glamorous work, but satisfying none the less. Anyway, I also am replacing my front torsion bars, but i don't know which way to put them in. One end on one bar has an "R" and the other bar has an "L" on one of its ends. Which end goes in goes to the front of the car, the letter or the end with no stamp?

PorscheGuy79 · PorscheGuy79's Garage

Ah crap, I can never remember this...ahh try the one that the end cap fits on right. But really, wait for someone who knows better if that doesnt give you an answer.

tctnd · 03-04-2006, 02:20 PM

They're marked because after some use they take a "set" in the direction they've been twisted so you want to continue loading them in the same direction. The twist remains the same regardless of which end is fore or aft so it really doesn't matter as long as you don't swap left for right. I always put the stamp to the rear so I can check to be sure I didn't mix them up.
regards,
Phil

redcoupe86 · 03:31 PM

how hard should it be to put them in. I lubed up one end and slipped in, but it felt like it was too snug, it wouldn't push on the splines. Is there a trick to this, do I need to hammer it into the spline?

edit: Ok, its just the last 1/16 to 1/8 inch that wont go in by hand.

lateapex911 · 03-04-2006, 05:19 PM

rubber mallet is the choice if it happens again.

redcoupe86 · 03-04-2006, 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by lateapex911
rubber mallet is the choice if it happens again.

I havent tried to tap it in yet, but I do have a rubber mallet. Is this a common issue?

patkeefe · 03-04-2006, 06:44 PM

Which way were they when you took them out? Was the letter to the front or the rear?

redcoupe86 · 03-04-2006, 07:10 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by patkeefe
Which way were they when you took them out? Was the letter to the front or the rear?

these are new bars.

patkeefe · 03-04-2006, 07:29 PM

OK. My point was that all bars have the L and R stamp on them, which I believe face rearward. They face rearward on my car. This may have something to do with pre-stressing of the bars at the point of manufacture. The "twist" does not remain the same if you turn the bar around, fore and aft. If you take a bar and turn it around such that the letter faces forward, you now stress the bar in the opposite direction; probably not good for the bars.

redcoupe86 · 03-04-2006, 07:58 PM

I see, a previous post stated that the bar could be installed either way new, b/c there was no twisting done yet, but once installed and used then they had to remain in there relative position.

Im confused on which concept it the correct one to follow.

Zeke · 03-04-2006, 08:22 PM

You can an L marked bar with the L marking forward on the right side and vice-versa. Just put them in the correct side with the letters facing rear if you have the LR pair.

tctnd · 03-04-2006, 09:39 PM

Pat, I must respectfully disagree. You can easily test this with a pencil and you will see that the twist remains the same when the ends are reversed.
regards
Phil

redcoupe86 · 03-05-2006, 05:14 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Zeke
You can an L marked bar with the L marking forward on the right side and vice-versa. Just put them in the correct side with the letters facing rear if you have the LR pair.

So let me be clear, if I do put the "L" towards the front of the car I must put it on the right side and the "R" bar must then be put on the left side with the "R" facing the front.

But I cant place the "L" bar facing the front on the left side and the "R" bar facing the front on the right side.

Sorry for being so dense, I just want to be perfectly clear.

Just a reminder, these bars a new and have never been installed before.

tctnd · 03-05-2006, 09:01 AM

The "L" bar goes on the left side and the "R" on the right. Having the letters to the front or the rear will make no funtional difference.
regards

patkeefe · 03-05-2006, 09:37 AM

tctnd:
If what you have stated previously is indeed fact, then what difference would it make where or in what orientation the bar gets installed? I'm having a bit of trouble with the pencil experiment.

I have been under the impression that once a bar is installed in a certain orientation, then it is better to leave it that way. I may be incorrect on the pre-stressing of the bars.

tctnd · 03-05-2006, 09:57 AM

Pat,
You are correct that once stressed the bar should only be stressed (twisted) in that direction. However, reversing the bar (as long as it is still on the same side of the car) does not change the direction of twist. I know this is a bit counterintitive but if you fix one end of a bar and twist the other clockwise then turn it around, fix the formerly free end and twist the formerly fixed end clockwise, you will see that the bar twists the same way in both cases. So the left and right bars must remain on the correct side of the car, but either end can point fore or aft.

patkeefe · 03-05-2006, 11:04 AM

Phil:
I stand humbly apologetic. I didn't anchor the pencil. I had to use a rubber band to demonstrate this to myself.

I hope they don't revoke my Mensa membership.

Pat

Zeke · 03-05-2006, 04:15 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by patkeefe

I hope they don't revoke my Mensa membership.
Pat

Makes me wrong, too. So, that's 2 of us.

patkeefe · 03-05-2006, 04:50 PM

Yeah, Milt, it really is counterintuitive. So, redcoupe86, you have the definitive answer, thanks to Phil.

I'm going to double up on my medication tonight.

Pat

redcoupe86 · 03-05-2006, 05:28 PM

I appreciate the brain trust we got here

Thanks for the info!!! Makes this whole workin' on the car thing go ALOT smoother!!!!!