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Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Left Coast
Posts: 22
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Torsion tube failure!
Was out on a spirited drive in my '69 S the other day and started to notice the throttle getting sticky. I rebuilt the pedal cluster a few months back so I figured maybe something had come loose down there. Pulled over. Couldn't find the exact problem but tweaked the linkage a little so at least I could limp it home.
A few miles later I start to notice some noise from the rear end. Sounds like the tires are rubbing, but that's crazy right?  Pull over again and the rear end has dropped about 3". This is not good. Time to use up some of the AAA Platinum membership... Get it home and jacked up: Driver side  Passenger side:  Ugh. At least now I know why the throttle linkage geometry was out of wack. I know this is becoming a more common issue on early cars. I usually try to do my own work, but this one is beyond me. Anyone in Northern California had your torsion bar tube replaced? I've seen the epic Chuck Moreland torsion tube thread. Anyone have any additional shop recommendations (or warnings)? Thanks for any help (and anyone got a spare LWB torsion tube for sale?)
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1969 911S -- 2.7 RS Spec MFI -- 915. |
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12-30-2013, 02:00 PM
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beancounter
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Weehawken, NJ
Posts: 3,593
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Ouch!
Is this just caused by simple metal fatigue, or are there other factors that contribute? I hope you get her fixed up right.
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Jacob Current: 1983 911 GT4 Race Car / 1999 Spec Miata / 2000 MB SL500 / 1998 MB E300TD / 1998 BMW R1100RT / 2016 KTM Duke 690 Past: 2009 997 Turbo Cab / 1979 930 |
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12-30-2013, 02:13 PM
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non-whiner
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Slightly right of center
Posts: 5,235
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Time for a coilover upgrade!
Glad you or the car weren't damaged more.
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"Too much is just enough." |
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12-30-2013, 02:16 PM
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Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Left Coast
Posts: 22
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jwasbury - seems like metal fatigue. No excessive rust from what I can see so far. Later cars had several rounds of reinforcement added in this area, so I guess it's no surprise what 45 years and sticky tires/engine upgrades can do...
mreid - from what I gather, coil overs might just have me posting pictures of torn shock mounts in a year or two...  Seriously though, I'd probably prefer to keep the car as original(ish) as possible.
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1969 911S -- 2.7 RS Spec MFI -- 915. |
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12-30-2013, 02:27 PM
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Registered
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: maryland
Posts: 271
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Did a few of them in the 80's. The predominant years of failure that I saw was 69,70, and 71. I believe that a redesign was in effect in 72 in that there was a part number change.
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12-30-2013, 02:36 PM
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Registered
Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 844
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what size are the torsion bars? were they upgraded from stock size? Maybe that contributed to the metal fatigue.
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12-30-2013, 03:17 PM
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Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Left Coast
Posts: 22
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The torsion bars were upgraded by the PO years ago to 21mm/27mm along with swaybars and bushings. While it certainly might contribute, this seems to be a pretty common street upgrade and I doubt it would be a direct cause. Maybe some of the old hands around here can say otherwise?
I'm chalking it up to: "Old cars break."
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1969 911S -- 2.7 RS Spec MFI -- 915. |
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12-30-2013, 04:01 PM
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Registered
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Cambridge, MA
Posts: 44,337
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I have a nice torsion bar tube if you need one.
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Tru6 Restoration & Design |
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12-30-2013, 04:30 PM
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Almost Banned Once
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Adelaide South Australia
Posts: 38,368
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OK... Not good but I would contact a pro who can fix this. It may not be as expensive as you might imagine.
Anyone... How hard is it to find a good second hand torsion tube?
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- Peter |
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12-30-2013, 04:33 PM
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Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Left Coast
Posts: 22
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Thanks Shaun.
I have to come up with a shop/plan and do some compatibility research first, but I may ping you about the tube in the next few weeks.
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1969 911S -- 2.7 RS Spec MFI -- 915. |
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12-30-2013, 04:34 PM
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Registered
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Lake Cle Elum - Eastern WA.
Posts: 8,417
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Chic...Doesn't look good......I've been told if you replace the tube, go with the Turbo version....Want to do that to my 73.5 someday.......
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Bob S. 73.5 911T 1969 911T Coo' pay (one owner) 1960 Mercedes 190SL 1962 XKE Roadster (sold) - 13 motorcycles |
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12-30-2013, 04:48 PM
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Registered
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Cambridge, MA
Posts: 44,337
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Sounds good, it will be here. It's a 74, rust free, was going to use it for my 73 but using an 87 instead (just need a tiny section for left springplate bushing cup).
Given how much your TBT has moved around, you may be doing longitudinals too. I certainly am.     [/QUOTE]
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Tru6 Restoration & Design |
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12-30-2013, 04:50 PM
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Racer
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Franklin, TN
Posts: 5,885
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Call Jerry Woods Enterprises.....they can fix anything!
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12-30-2013, 07:26 PM
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Registered
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 799
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Quote:
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1973 Coupe Projekt X (AKA bunch o' boxes full of parts) |
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12-30-2013, 07:45 PM
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Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Left Coast
Posts: 22
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Please don't jinx me Shaun! I'm hoping it's just the tube! My wallet is already weeping...
I'll be calling JWE, Elephant, Retro-Sport, and probably a few other locals next week to see who is willing to do the job and feel out the shops. Probably take a field trip next weekend to talk to some of them in person. The "while you're in there" scenarios are running around in the back of my head now too. I guess I don't really need two kidneys anyway...
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1969 911S -- 2.7 RS Spec MFI -- 915. |
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12-31-2013, 03:51 PM
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Registered
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Bay Area, CA
Posts: 1,072
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Quote:
They do have a celette, which I think is probably needed to make sure everything is straight when you are done, so yes they are a good call.
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69 w 997 GT3 3.6L |
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12-31-2013, 04:04 PM
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Registered
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: VA
Posts: 3,573
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Years ago, I was at John Williamson's shop, "OTTO's" and we were talking about his '70E. He said that replacing his torsion tube was the single most difficult and expensive thing this he ever had to do.
Unless it is is done exactly right, the car will never be right. Those were his words, not mine. IMHO, go find a pro that had done this more than once. Too much at stake for an almost right job.
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'06 Cayman S '16 Cayenne '08 Audi RS 4 |
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01-01-2014, 06:24 AM
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A '69 911s...
That's quite a valuable 911 these days, and it deserves a proper repair - regardless of cost.
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01-01-2014, 06:32 AM
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Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Left Coast
Posts: 22
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The car is not original - it's currently set up as a pretty well done RS lightweight clone with 2.7 and 915, so it's not worth that much, but I'm still going to try to get it fixed right.
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1969 911S -- 2.7 RS Spec MFI -- 915. |
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01-01-2014, 03:09 PM
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Registered
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Oxford, Ct.
Posts: 2,295
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It's a common job and can be done correctly
Remember what Dad said: Measure twice ( or 3 or 4 times) cut and weld once
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07 GT3 Cup S 4.0, 00 986, 78 911 old school gt car 77 BMW R100S 99 Ducati 996S 04 BMW R1150R DanielJacobsLLC.com |
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01-01-2014, 03:22 PM
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| Tags |
| suspension , torsion bar tube , torsion tube replacement |
