how can you tell if you have worn rear torsion bars?

[joeym]

seems like i might need new ones...just would like to confirm. i just noticed when i hit a depression on the freeway my car seems like it's bottoming out and i hear kinda like a "squeaking" noise or more like tires rubbing.
i inspected the shocks and they seems fine (no fluid leaks), no unusual tire wear or rubbing...

any ideas? spring plates perhaps?

thanks

[Quicksilver]

A torsion bar doesn't really wear unless something else fails. It might snap but that is an obvious failure. The rear doesn't have an issue with this.

On the front the A-arm bushing can get badly worn and cause the A-arm tube to rub on the T-bars. That can cause squeaking and if there is any visible wear on the bar then it must be replaced. (after the bushings are replaced!)
It might be possible for the splines to wear if there was a huge corrosion problem but replacing the bars wouldn't help that.

[tonythetarga]

Torsion bars usually work until they break. If your bushings are worn and allow the t-bars to rub (more likely on fronts) then those bars may have metal on metal wear and would need replacing. If your torsion bars break you will know as one corner will collapse.
Your shocks are probably gas filled so you may not see evidence of leakage. If your car has all original rubber bushings, I'd start there....BUT doing the bushings will be a project that will lead you to inspect the t bars and have the shocks checked. Do this all at one time if you can so when finished, you can do one alignment and one corner balance.

[joeym]

seems like i still have the rubber bushings and noticed they are worn, i will start there......but will it cause the car to bottom out/squat when the car hits a depression on the freeway?

Tony
you're right..i have bilstein gas shocks..i guess they should be ok.....

thx

[safe]

Your symptoms points most likely to bad shocks. And the fact that stock torsion bars isn't that stiff.

[tonythetarga]

If you are hitting bumps and feel the car is bottoming out or your suspension is traveling more than normal, then you could have shocks that are not doing the job. The torsion bars are the springs and the shocks dampen the compression and rebound. If the shocks have no juice left, then the spring is going to move more freely as the car goes over the bump.
If you don't need the car for a few weeks, take the shocks out, send them to Bilstein and have them checked. If they need revalving have them redone to stock specs. Revalving is less expensive than buying new shocks. Put them back on and see how the car feels then. You may be able to get away with only doing the front a-arm bushings now as long as you don't go to bigger bars. If you go bigger at one end you need to go bigger on the other and then the shocks may need to be revalved to match the new spring rates. As I said earlier, it is all one system and needs to be managed together.

[aj88cab]

Since you have Bilstien shocks I assume they replaced the OEM shocks at some point. Check that the shock mounting bolts (top & bottom) have not loosened.