Lower front suspension

[John2kx]

I thought this was covered in past but could not find what I'm looking for in archieves.

Looking to lower my front suspension one to one and a half inches and was wondering if there is a known "x amount of turn on torsion bolt = x amount of drop to front end"?

Thanks,

John

[John2kx]

Using the search function a different way, I found what I was after.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/showthread.php?threadid=718&highlight=torsion+bar+adjust

John

[John2kx]

This is my first attempt at working with the torsion bars and successfully lowered my car the 1" I was after. The adjusters were running closer to their upper position (with weight of car on suspension) when I started and following the advice in previous posts, I lowered car by repositioning adjusters by popping them off and using the next spline on torsion bar.

I feared a stiffer ride and bump steer but did not experience either. My ride was stiff prior to lowering car and I assume this was caused by the adjusters being placed in their far extreme. As far as ride and look of car go, I'm happy.

One of the things I noticed while repositioning adjuster on torsion bar spline were chunks of material that was falling out when adjuster was removed. Looking at pics in some of my manuals, there appears to be a "seal" which is supposed to be installed in this location. What I have left appears to be the remains of 30 year old seals and they don't ressemble anything in the manual. I'd like to get this back where it should be and:

1. wonder if seals or bushings are installed on both ends of torsion bar?

2. what needs to come apart to install them? I've figured out the back side where the adjusters are installed, just not sure about the front portion.

3. the manual calls this part a seal but from the amount of play I see where torsion bar goes in tube, I'm wondering if this is really a place for a bushing to keep torsion bar centered in tube? Or is there in fact and bushing and a seal?

Thanks in advance,

John

[J P Stein]

There is no seal at the front mount.
The rear seal goes between the A arm and the rear mount.
It's a piece of foam rubber that stretches around the T bar.

Now for the baaad news....ya gotta pull the A arm to get at it.

[John2kx]

JP,

Thanks for your responce. Does the seal provide a barrier against corrsion to the torsion bar or really serve as a "bushing" to keep torsion bar tight in its tube?

As good as my car feels now, I find it hard to make any changes unless really necessary.

I don't mind pulling the A arms if necesarry to do this job right........just wondering if the "seals" are really needed.

John

[tracer]

As far as I can tell, it looks like the foam seals are to keep road dirt and grime out of the tortion bar cavity that is through the A-arm. I could be wrong, but seems that way.

[J P Stein]

The seal does nothing for centerting the T bar.

The seal is to keep out stuff, as tracer said....with the most important thing being water. My seals( since replaced) were in good shape. Metal with the paint scraped off had no rust in there. I slathered the new seals with grease to help here.

This is one of the things often bypassed by 914 owners (CSOBs)
which has contirbuted to the demise of many of the cars. Routine Maintenence.

They are a b!tch (the censor at work) to get at. One maybe could get in there without pulling the whole front end apart.....dunno.
The A arm would have to be moved about 1-1.5 in. fwd. Possible, me thinks.

The seal goes behind the adjuster to keep water and dirt out of the hole where the torsion bar goes. Nothing has to be removed except the adjuster to replace it.

P/N 901 341 475 00

Ken

[david c.]

I simply got some appropriate foam and trimmed it to fit. You'll see what I mean. Personally, I wouldn't pay Porsche for what's basically a dust seal you can make yourself for vitually no cost. It's not high tech.

If/when you pull off the adjuster cam, be careful about seperating the bolt from the cam itself. Because the adjustment requires that you aren't working at right angles it seems easy to cross thread them when you reinstall. Take your time.

Good luck!

[Barry2]

Hey John,

Are you running a 911 front suspension?

If so, do your front A-arms have the early drop link attachment points with a splined sway bar? Or the latter style where the sway bar attaches directly to the A-arm with a bushing?

thanks,
Barry

[J P Stein]

Originally posted by KenH
The seal goes behind the adjuster to keep water and dirt out of the hole where the torsion bar goes. Nothing has to be removed except the adjuster to replace it.

P/N 901 341 475 00

Ken

Could be. An expolded view seems to show it as you say, but that ain't the way mine came apart ....or went back together.

[JWest]

Barry, what is your question? If you need to convert your later arms to the early style sway bar (recommended) then you can buy the tab that bolts on. It's called the u-tab kit here:

http://www.pelicanparts.com/catalog/shopcart/9144/por_9144_racing_main.htm

Otherwise you could bring them over to my place and we can weld the tabs from a pair of my old 914 arms onto yours.

Per the WRITTEN instructions in the 914 repair manual - the SEAL goes behind the ADJUSTER.

ken

[JWest]

That's the way I have always seen them - the "seal" (donut of fiber stuff) goes between the adjuster cap and the crossmember. Only the adjuster screw and adjuster have to come off to install the seal.

[Barry2]

Thanks James, I may take you up on that. Just didn't know if the later 911 sway bar mounting would work when installed on a 914.

I'd much rather use the tabs and existing splined sway bar.

Best,
Barry

[JWest]

Barry, I think I have a set of a-arms that I cut up to go in the trash (the torsion bar splines were rusted beyond use) that have the tabs on them. They were in those boxes of junk that made it hard to get in my shed out back. We can just grind the tabs off and weld them onto your arms.

The through-the-body sway bar that the 914 uses gives you more options for future upgrades with aftermarket bars - definitely the way go for your project.

[J P Stein]

Originally posted by James Adams
That's the way I have always seen them - the "seal" (donut of fiber stuff) goes between the adjuster cap and the crossmember. Only the adjuster screw and adjuster have to come off to install the seal.

Ya think? OK........

The arrow points to a gap of about .200 which, on my car, is filled with the seal thingy. A bit tough to get a camera on it, but since I was there.

You'll note that it is on the side opposite the adjuster cap.....but, hey, put it where ever you want.