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Posted by: ctc911ctc May 18 2022, 10:38 AM

'74 2.0 - mostly original

I am in the middle of rebuilding of the front end - all new bushings, shocks, etc.

Torsion Rods are in very good shape though they are both marked "R"....

I was told on this board that an R can be inserted in reverse which would make it an L, is this OK......???

I am trying to replace the cotton washer that seems to hold the grease in the torsion rod container.

I have found some made of a spongy synthetic material instead of the cotton found in original cars.

I am thinking about replacing the original cotton washers since they seem OK,

Should these be replaced? How critical do we think this component is ?

See #22

Attached Image

Posted by: Root_Werks May 18 2022, 10:54 AM

If it was me, if they are in good shape, resuse them. No sense replacing something if it has another 10+ years of service left.

Posted by: mepstein May 18 2022, 10:54 AM

I think the cotton washer is just to help hold grease in and dirt out. I believe it’s fine to reuse them. At the shop, the guys would cut some out of foam rather than take the time to get one or pay the Porsche price for a new one.

Posted by: Olympic 914 May 18 2022, 10:55 AM

Probably good to have something in there, just to keep the dirt out.
I cut a slice of pool noodle foam and put That in there.

Mark beat me to it.

Posted by: Retroracer May 18 2022, 10:59 AM

ditto on the DIY foam fix...

- Tony

Posted by: ctc911ctc May 18 2022, 11:02 AM

We are in agreement - will wash and dry the cotton and reuse.

Thank you Teeners!

Posted by: Shivers May 18 2022, 11:03 AM

Or a piece of wool felt from a craft store. Comes in different thicknesses.

Posted by: dr914@autoatlanta.com May 18 2022, 12:27 PM

and of course they are still available new

Posted by: Dave_Darling May 18 2022, 11:21 PM

Note that if you swap a torsion bar end-for-end it is still loaded in the same direction. (If you doubt that, try marking a paper towel tube or something similar.)

What I have read (in Panorama years ago) is that the torsion bars were actually all the same. They were marked for installation so that they could be installed back in the same side they came out of, because reversing the stress tended to lead to premature failure.

If you can't tell which side they came out of, just re-install and hope. You have a 50-50 chance of getting it right, and even if you don't it may last for a while anyway.

--DD

Posted by: ctc911ctc May 20 2022, 02:16 PM

George,

You may have noticed I went to your site first, they stated OEM but the picture was of the porous synthetic foam - which started the discussion.

Buy lots of stuff from you - thank you! May still get these from you,

QUOTE(dr914@autoatlanta.com @ May 18 2022, 12:27 PM)

and of course they are still available new

Posted by: ctc911ctc May 20 2022, 02:17 PM

Dave - good solid logical advise, Seems that the bars are very simple, no pretwists or machining as to a L/R twist.

Also, mine are in pretty good shape so I am hopeful they will last a long time.

QUOTE(Dave_Darling @ May 18 2022, 11:21 PM)

Note that if you swap a torsion bar end-for-end it is still loaded in the same direction. (If you doubt that, try marking a paper towel tube or something similar.)

What I have read (in Panorama years ago) is that the torsion bars were actually all the same. They were marked for installation so that they could be installed back in the same side they came out of, because reversing the stress tended to lead to premature failure.

If you can't tell which side they came out of, just re-install and hope. You have a 50-50 chance of getting it right, and even if you don't it may last for a while anyway.

--DD

Posted by: worn May 20 2022, 05:26 PM

QUOTE(mepstein @ May 18 2022, 08:54 AM)