Adjustable Sway-a-way setup

[jkh2cpu]

Hi. About 15 years ago I put a set of sway-a-way adjustable spring plates on my 1973 911. I changed tire sizes and find that I have run out of adjustment on one side. Does anyone know the routine for setting these spring plates up?

[Kemo]

I just installed mine...i would guess that you would just have to pull the arm out and adjust one tooth in the right direction. Maybe two. I haven't put mine on the ground since install so im kinda interested in this thread. If things go well, i might have mine on the ground this weekend.

[jkh2cpu]

Thanks, Kemo. Do you know what the degree settings should be? As I recall, sway-a-way had directions for that. They're long gone here.

John.

[mnmasotto]

You have to re-index your torsion bar. Start by jacking up the rear and removing the rear wheels. Measure the spring plate angle on the opposite side. Adjust the affected side to match the measured angle. You may have to turn the torsion plate in one direction and the torsion bar in the opposite direction to obtain fine adjustments. You should be able to get the right and left spring plate angles within 1-2 degrees of each other. The fine adjustment can them be made on the spring plate adjuster. Make sure you center the adjuster screw on the affected side so you have room to work with once the torsion bar has been re indexed.

[jkh2cpu]

Thanks, mnmasotto. I understand about the splines and reindexing, and that is what I've done (two forward, two back). What I am interested in is the technique that sway-a-away recommended for setting the spring plates using degree measurements. I've got a nifty device to readout the angles of the door sill and spring plate. Right now I figure that I'm at about 36.5 degrees, which is what Porsche specifies. I like to know if I'm figuring correctly, as my 65 year old body complains when I act 30 years younger. I'd like to do it just this once, and let my kid worry about it when he gets the car years from now ;-)

John.

[Kemo]

i can look in my pile of paper in the garage to see if the Sway Away directions are still in there. I have a scanner at work I could probably email them to you. I do recall that they had a recommended angle depending on the spring rate of the torsion bars. With my 31mm bars, they recommended a -20 deg angle off horozontal... I think. Sway away may even have this info online.

[bkreigsr]

all that re-indexing should not matter.

the instructions are for the initial install.

all you need to do is move the fixed stop on the bearing section closer to the adjusting screw to gain more adjustment - pull out the short leg and reinstall it one or two notches lower (clockwise on left, ccwise on right)

Same as the fronts when you run out of adjustment - slide the cap off, bottom the set screw, re-install.

Bill K

[Miguel Antonett]

There is no critical adjustment relationship between T-bar and S-bars. They act totally independent from each other.

Sway bars must be neutral - no load on either side, and adjusted with the car on the ground not jacked up. Arm distance (if adjustable) must be similar on both ends. The closer arm the stiffer they are.

[jkh2cpu]

Thanks, Kemo. Please don't make a big effort to find that stuff, copy, and e-mail. My torsion bars are stock, and Porsche recommended 36 d 30 m to 37 d for the free-hanging spring plate. I was just wondering if sway-a-way had special instructions for the initial setup. I think I have it right (famous last words ;-) ) Anyway, I've got it all bolted back together now, and all I have to do is bleed the brakes put the tire back on and zoom around the block to settle the suspension. Then I'll see if I can get the adjustment that I need... If not, I'll punish my decrepit body some more tomorrow ;-)

John.

John.

[Kemo]

Originally Posted by bkreigsr

all that re-indexing should not matter.

the instructions are for the initial install.

all you need to do is move the fixed stop on the bearing section closer to the adjusting screw to gain more adjustment - pull out the short leg and reinstall it one or two notches lower (clockwise on left, ccwise on right)

Same as the fronts when you run out of adjustment - slide the cap off, bottom the set screw, re-install.

Bill K

thanks bill...

I guess you know you got it just right when the adjustment screw is at about 50% screwed?

[jkh2cpu]

I made an adjustment to the sway-a-way adjustable spring plate which put the ride height right at the factory specification, but the setting of the spring plate on the torsion bar is at the limit of adjustment... I'm popping the engine either this fall or in early spring to check out the clutch and TO bearing and to track down an engine oil leak, which I suspect is going to be rocker arm shafts. At that time, I'll get the suspension centered.

The photo shows the adjustable swing plate, and also my method of supporting the rear of the car on jack stands. I jack at the jack receiver using a support plate, and support right under the torsion bar tube. I've been doing this for over 30 years with no problems yet. When the car went in for body work in 1991, the jack receivers and outer longitudinal members crumbled from rust when I tried to jack it up (I'm in Michigan where salt is used to melt snow and ice, and I drove the car daily for 8 years), so I picked the car up with the engine and rested it as shown here with no problems.

Have a good Labor Day.

John.


[IMG]home/jkh/digi_camera/nikon/2008/2008_08_f/Porsche_911_Jack_Stand_4392.jpg[/IMG]

[jkh2cpu]

I'll try the image again...

[IMG]/home/jkh/digi_camera/nikon/2008/2008_08_f/Porsche_911_Jack_Stand_4392.jpg[/IMG]

[jkh2cpu]

So what is the trick to posting an image?

John.

[jkh2cpu]

OK, here's the image :-)

John.

[bkreigsr]

correct
the sway-a-aways will give you about 3 inches of total adjustment .
if you are at 50% you have 1 1/2 inches either higher or lower of adjustment.

Originally Posted by Kemo

thanks bill...

I guess you know you got it just right when the adjustment screw is at about 50% screwed?

[scottyj]

Hi bkreiger,
Do Sway Away Torsion Cover Bolts Each Get a Spacer Under the Plate Cover (1975 Porsche 911)? There are 3 Welded Spacers on the Body Already. Thanks, But I Dont Remember When We Removed the Original Toraion Arms.
Thanks,
Scotty

[scottyj]

Hi bkreiger,
Do Sway Away Torsion Cover Bolts Each Get a Spacer Under the Plate Cover (1975 Porsche 911)? There are 3 Welded Spacers on the Body Already. Thanks, But I Dont Remember When We Removed the Original Toraion Arms.
Thanks,
Scotty

[A930Rocket]

Only the bolt circle in Red gets the removable spacer. The rest are welded to the body.