What To Use To Heat Torsion Bars

[djinuk 2]

ok folks, just started lowering torsion bars etc, however ive heard many people say, "heat them up" question is what with ? i imagine that a small £8 hobby burner from halfords wont do the job, where as not many people can get hold of a oxycetelene burner.

 

so what do i use ?

[Baz 421]

Blow torch?

[welshpug 1,645]

never used heat, persistence with the penetrating oil and brute force has worked fine

[Baz 421]

You've never done Xsara beams then!!

[oz. 2]

never used heat, persistence with the penetrating oil and brute force has worked fine

 

Brute force = sledge hammer at one point. That was funnn

[Tom Fenton 1,536]

You've never done Xsara beams then!!

Interesting you say that, I've also found Xsara beams the most difficult to get apart.

[welshpug 1,645]

You've never done Xsara beams then!!

 

don't 9-13 year old 306's that have never been touched count?

 

no, haven't done a xsara yet, probably wont what with the rate you and Anthony seem to be culling them

 

 

have noticed a definite trend where the r/h end of the r/h torsion bar is invariably seized and entails pulling the arm off with torsion bar attached then using a decent sized lump/sledge hammer on it, short bolt screwed into the end to save the torsion bar itself, few swift blows and out it comes.

 

as well as the r/h side being far worse off bearing wise than the left.

Edited December 29, 2009 by welshpug

[Baz 421]

That's the usual tool! Anthony wielding my 14lb sledge is a funny sight...

 

 

As when he misses, the sledge, with him still attached if he holds on, ends up on the other side of the yard!!

[Baz 421]

Interesting you say that, I've also found Xsara beams the most difficult to get apart.

 

That's what Anthony's always said, it seems they were never greased when assembled or something...

 

The one we took apart a few days before christmas was a pig, even with heat, aforementioned sledgehammer etc etc, and previous to that all the usual didn't move the bars, but it loosened the cast part that the mounts mount to, off the beam tube itself instead!!

 

In the end, we resorted to cutting into the splined cast part where the end of the TB sits to try and relieve them, this helped aswel as alot of heat, then freezing it with snow immediately after, and alot of sledgehammer action again eventually got them free!

 

Tbh we didn't even dare trying one of your pullers on it...

[taylorspug 7]

Complete lack of grease is the thing ive found too. Took me ages to get a ZX one apart the other week, i had to leave it in the scrap yard soaking in WD40!

[j_turnell 134 3 Cars]

Also found this with both zx and xsara beams, just require more brute force thats all! I tend to take the whole beam if there being really stubborn then belt the crap out of it back home.