Can you drive with broken torsion bars?
Depending on the vehicle you’re driving, you may have a front or a rear sway bar, or you may have both. If you suspect that a sway bar is broken, you can still drive the car, but you must use caution. It will feel “looser”, particularly when driving at high speeds.
Is torsion bar suspension good?
The main advantages of a torsion bar suspension are soft ride due to elasticity of the bar, durability, easy adjustability of ride height, and small profile along the width of the vehicle. A disadvantage is that torsion bars, unlike coil springs, usually cannot provide a progressive spring rate.
Where is the torsion bar on a car?
Shine a flashlight into the wheel well of the car or truck. The torsion bar will be sticking out from the car’s frame perpendicularly. Depending on the car, the other end of the torsion bar will be bolted to a control arm or the steering knuckle itself.
How can you tell if a torsion bar is too soft?
Any metal object can succumb to metal fatigue over time, especially if under constant, heavy loads. Pay special attention when driving over speed bumps. If you hear a bang, then the torsion bar has grown too soft and allowed some suspension parts to come into contact.
What does a torsion bar on a Volkswagen Beetle do?
Original Volkswagen Beetles used torsion bar suspension systems. Torsion bars are essentially metal bars that function as a spring. At one end, the bar is fixed firmly in place to the chassis or frame of a vehicle. The other end of the bar may be attached to the axle, suspension arm, or a spindle, depending on the specifics of a vehicle’s design.
Can a torsion bar be cracked or broken?
(e) Torsion bar. No torsion bar or torsion bar suspension shall be cracked or broken. (f) Air suspensions. The air pressure regulator valve shall not allow air into the suspension system until at least 55 psi is in the braking system. The vehicle shall be level (not tilting to the left or right).
Shine a flashlight into the wheel well of the car or truck. The torsion bar will be sticking out from the car’s frame perpendicularly. Depending on the car, the other end of the torsion bar will be bolted to a control arm or the steering knuckle itself.
How do you replace a torsion bar adjuster?
The lower control arm and adjuster have hex-shaped holes that the ends of the bar fit in. The end in the cross-member is held stationary, while the end in the lower control arm twists as the control arm moves up and down. Torsion bars can break, requiring replacement.
When did Chrysler start using torsion bar suspension?
The most famous American passenger car application was the Chrysler system used beginning with the 1957 model year in cars such as the Imperial Crown series, although Chrysler’s “Torsion-Aire” suspension was only for the front; the same basic system (longitudinal mounting) was maintained until the 1981 introduction of the K-car.