Lowering Question

[Colby]

Hey guys, I have no idea what I'm doing wrong. I am trying to lower my '84 Carrera. I followed the instructions.. disconnected the torsion plate, removed the cover, pulled out the plate, and turned it one spline. This should have given me 1/4"...it gave me close to 2"! I want to go about 3/4" to 1", but 2" was nearly bottoming out. Any suggestions on what I am doing wrong? I'm not supposed to turn the torsion bar, right? The bar stays as it is, and I am supposed to rotate the plate...

Colby

[pbs911]

To obtain about 1 inch of lowering you will need to adjust both the inner and outer splines. Turning the inner spline 1 notch and the spring plate 1 notch in the opposite direction will provide you with about 8mm of lowering. Thus, to get an inch you may have to turn the inner torsion bar 2-3 notches and the our swing plate 2 - 3 notches.


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Paul
78SC Targa

[Colby]

Ok, great info...thanks! Now, how do I turn the torsion bar? Does it just pull out? Any tips on how to make sure I don't lose my intial setting so I know how much I have turned it (just mark a line?)?

Colby

[Clark Griswald]

Pauls comments are correct, you need to turn both ends to make a minor adjustment. The tbar just pulls out.

However, it can be a little hard to tell just how many splines you have turned the inside.

Another approach, may be too late for you now, is to mark the original angle that the spring plate hangs. Use this as a reference point as you adjust the splines. You are still guessing, but you have a reference points to adjust against. And it makes it easier to keep both sides the same.

You will make your fine adjustments useing the eccentric adjusting bolts on the spring plates. Hopefully you bought the special thin wrench made for this purpose that fits between the spring plate and the inner fender. A regular wrench won't fit.

Here is a link showing some pictures from when I lowered Sparky. Note the marking of the hang angle before and after turning the tbars.

http://www.pelicanparts.com/ultimate/Forum3/HTML/009240.html

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Chuck Moreland '86 Cab - "Sparky", '77 Targa - "Sweet Pea"

[Colby]

K, got it...here is what I did. I first scribed a line for the initial position. I then scribed a second line at one turn outer only..this is the setting that was 2" and too much. I then knew the plate had to line up between these two lines. One back inner, one back outer placed it right inbetween these two lines. Not quite a 1" drop...perfect! Getting the T Bar out was a pain...it was well settled in there. Now I just need to get an alignment and I'm good to go. Thanks a million for your help; this list is priceless!

Colby