Question about installin my new front torsion bars (L vs R & F vs.R)
 

I just bought a near new set of 22mm SwayAway Torsion Bars for the Front. These are nearly new but not brand new. As a result, there are no instructions.

My question: does the stamping on the end of the bar face the rear of the car or front. The bars have L & R stamped on one end but depending on which end gets insterted first will determine the "twist" direction. I'm assuming this faces the rear as this is the end that you insert thru.

Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks.......Vern

No matter which end faces forward the bar twists in the same direction on a particular side of the car.

+1. Just get the L on the left side and the R on the right side and your good. Doesn't matter which end goes in first.

I think you might have this wrong guys and it's not that easy to explain here. The bars are sided for a good reason, if you then don't get the right end of the bar at the right end of the suspension then it's pretty much the same as putting it on the other side of the car. If you put the bar in the wrong way round but on the right side of the car then it will be being turned the opposite way to which is was designed to be used and if it's not new he opposite way to which it has already been used.

Hope this is clear

Ian

No that's not clear. :)

If you put L on the left side of the car and R on the right you will be fine no matter which end faces forward. Trust me on this. :)

Let's back a way from this and consider; if Sway A Way 'bars are not only handed (L or R), but also designed/built for optimal deformation in one rotation (clockwise, say), but not the other (counterclockwise, say), then whaqt Ian says would be true.

But is this possible?

I do not think highly of sway-a-way quality due to a thread posted a while ago showing that they had clearly used inferior material (Chinese?) which had failed. The flaw was horrible. Any sort of QC should have detected it. Even just looking at the bar without paint.

But anyway, springs like the factory ones can be pre-stressed to make them stronger in one direction. This does however make them weaker when loaded in the opposite direction.

So if there are L and R markings, then obey them. If no markings, then they can (or should by going with intelligent labeling convention) be used on either side.

It must be true otherwise why would they be sided/handed?

Ian

This is the jedi mind trick that pops up from time to time. Grab a pencil, or the like, and experiment twisting and switching ends. You will be enlightened. Maybe even scribe a "direction of twist" on each end, then reverse and note that the direction of twist remains the same.

I believe the L bar is supposed to twist in a clockwise direction, and the R bar in a counter clockwise direction. However, reversing the front-to-back of either bar, does not change their direction of twist.

P.S. Don't let you boss see you doing this :)

na2ub
 

LOL....Comment about the boss was funny.

I think your Jedi mind trick is tricking you......

Ian

I thought the number of splines was different between the inside and the outside for a more granular ride height, and that was what we are supposed to use when re-indexing.
Or did I get that wrong?:confused:

The stamping faces the rear of the car, so that you can see it when you remove the torsion bar adjustment caps.

...

I am the Boss :)

Thankyou. This makes sense as you might want to check what you have in there.

As far as the twist still being the same direction, no matter what end goes in first, I will have to test that out. It's hard to visualize while sitting at my desk.

I'm definately going to put the bar stamped "L" on the left/driver side. My primary question had to do with front/rear insertion. But, if the twist is the same, no matter what (to be tested by me), then it won't matter and the markings will just be for identification and side-of-car.

Ok, I tested out the theory from my desk.

If you roll up a piece of paper, and tape it to keep it in shape. Then twist clockwise. If you turn the paper in the other direction and twist clockwise the twist is still the same effect on the paper.

Conclusion: does not matter if markings face front or rear, just make sure they are on the correct side of the car.

But, like gtc said, put the stampings facing the rear for a visual inspection purpose.

Try the test with a pen that has a separate cap. Even better if it has a label on the body of the pen like a Sharpie. This was easier for me to visualize that a solid pencil.

Hold body of pen in right hand and twist pen cap with left. Notice direction of travel of the pocket clip in relation to the label. Now hold pen by the cap in right hand and turn body with left hand same as you did with the cap. Pocket clip moves same direct (in relation to the label) as first example. Test complete.

I learned something today.

-J

That is for the rears.