A true tail dragger - broken torsion bar

Chuck Moreland · 07-15-2007, 08:41 PM

This puppy snapped in 14 at Thunderhill. I had to do a full lap dragging the tire because I missed the exit (which is right past 14).

It let loose with a load metallic snapping sound.

This is a factory 25mm torsion bar that looked to be in good shape. No visual indication of the impending failure.

I've now got a single 25mm tbar if anyone needs it.

Mr9146 · 07-15-2007, 08:42 PM

NICE!!! That must have been a fun ride.

Car must be running good, eh, Chuck?

Rodsrsr · Rodsrsr's Garage

factory hollow?

rnln · 07-15-2007, 09:20 PM

scary. Never heard of snapped spring/strut but heard so many stories of snapped torsion bar.

Chuck Moreland · 07-15-2007, 09:56 PM

I know it looks hollow, but it's not. That's just the way it snapped.

The pointy section on the left fit into that hollow.

Karb · 07-16-2007, 05:33 AM

better that than the torsion tube

jaydubya · 07-16-2007, 05:47 AM

Elephant Racing can help you out with some superb quality replacements.

Seriously, is that your car? If so, why no ER t-bars?

When my spring plate failed I had basically the same thing going on - dragging the tail around a half lap of Miller (2 miles).

EarlyPorsche · 07-16-2007, 06:10 AM

Torsion tubes can break!?

bhyde · 07-16-2007, 06:42 AM

The previous owner of my car broke a torsion bar, and he wasn't even driving at the time! He pulled the car into the garage and twenty minutes later he heard a load bang, he went into the garage to see what it was, and the car was sitting on the ground. Yikes!
I've never heard of that one.

JK-81SC · 07-16-2007, 06:52 AM

I haven't had it happen, but I've heard of several cases of factory bars failing. Most of the failures are traced to a stress riser on the bar, such as a nick or scratch. A racing environment will find those little weaknesses. Another way to crack a bar is put it on the wrong side, after it's been stressed in one direction for many years.

Chuck Moreland · 07:48 AM

JDub, I do own the car. I built the suspension years ago, before Elephant Racing existed. I'm planning a complete rebuild of the car in the next year or so.

JK, since the bar showed no damage, I suspect a stress riser began at the splines. The break extends into the splines even though that is the thickest part of the bar.