Front torsion bars., What is the life span? |
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Front torsion bars., What is the life span? |
Krieger |
Dec 8 2017, 08:23 AM
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#1
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Advanced Member Group: Members Posts: 4,726 Joined: 24-May 04 From: Santa Rosa CA Member No.: 2,104 Region Association: None |
So these things are getting old. The newest ones are 41 years old! Of course mileage comes into play. I am not taking into account your rubber bushings have sagged to the point your torsion bars are grinding against the a arm (very common). Let's go with an optimum, best case scenario: no grinding and 130k miles and 41 years old. Do they loose there ability to work through there range of motion as intended? Sag?
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mepstein |
Dec 8 2017, 11:59 AM
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#2
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914-6 GT in waiting Group: Members Posts: 19,313 Joined: 19-September 09 From: Landenberg, PA/Wilmington, DE Member No.: 10,825 Region Association: MidAtlantic Region |
The paper is a bit over my head. My son would understand the calculations but I just zipped to the conclusion. My gut feeling is that while the torsion bars will eventually fatigue, most of the other moving parts will wear first so the bars are sort of the last thing on the list, unless they are rusty, cracked or worn.
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bbrock |
Dec 8 2017, 01:02 PM
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#3
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914 Guru Group: Members Posts: 5,269 Joined: 17-February 17 From: Montana Member No.: 20,845 Region Association: Rocky Mountains |
The paper is a bit over my head. My son would understand the calculations but I just zipped to the conclusion. My gut feeling is that while the torsion bars will eventually fatigue, most of the other moving parts will wear first so the bars are sort of the last thing on the list, unless they are rusty, cracked or worn. How rusty is too rusty? I was going to post a pic of one of mine when I got closer to suspension work on my resto, but since the subject has come up... The rear bushing had obviously leaked on one and pitted the surface just a little. Not sure whether to repaint and reuse. I had a torsion bar break on my first 914. It broke while parked, which I've read is common. I've no issue with walking out to the garage to find a sagging corner on the car. Less thrilled about the idea of snapping one during a hard corner. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/yikes.gif) |
barefoot |
Dec 9 2017, 08:11 AM
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#4
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 1,281 Joined: 19-March 13 From: Charleston SC Member No.: 15,673 Region Association: South East States |
The paper is a bit over my head. My son would understand the calculations but I just zipped to the conclusion. My gut feeling is that while the torsion bars will eventually fatigue, most of the other moving parts will wear first so the bars are sort of the last thing on the list, unless they are rusty, cracked or worn. How rusty is too rusty? I was going to post a pic of one of mine when I got closer to suspension work on my resto, but since the subject has come up... The rear bushing had obviously leaked on one and pitted the surface just a little. Not sure whether to repaint and reuse. I had a torsion bar break on my first 914. It broke while parked, which I've read is common. I've no issue with walking out to the garage to find a sagging corner on the car. Less thrilled about the idea of snapping one during a hard corner. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/yikes.gif) If you can polish out the rust pit the bars should last much longer. Re-paint with a good rust proof coating. It's when a pit leads to the initiation of a stress concentration crack that they fail. The corrosion almost always starts when the rear bushing deteriorates and lets the bar rub in the ID of the A arm and cuts thru the protective coating. then rust pits start |
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