Hi everyone -
I see others wish to lower their rears; I have the opposite problem: I need to raise the front! 61 Series 1 Roadster back on the road, after a complete mechanical restoration done over 20 years ago. It appears that the rear suspension has taken a "set" that looks about right, but the front end is really low, with the tires well up into the fenders. It looks great, but I'd really like to bring the front end up about 1" to even things out a little bit, as well as handle speed bumps a little better!
I'm thinking I could dial in more preload in the front torsion bars to raise things up(?) How tough is this to do? Is it possible? Recommended? Is there an adjustable torsion bar mount to do just this?
Any input greatly appreciated!
George

Submitted by glandreth@sbcg… on Sat, 07/09/2011 - 22:45

Well, like they say in the NFL "after further review"........the torsion bars must have been installed wrong initially: the one on the left side of the car is stamped "RH" on the front spline end, and the one on the right is stamped "LH". Should I just switch 'em? I've put about 750 miles on them as installed - any chance of damage being caused by doing that? And would this explain the front end droop I described earlier?
Thanks for any info!
George

Submitted by glandreth@sbcg… on Sat, 07/09/2011 - 22:38

Well, like they say in the NFL "after further review"........the torsion bars must have been installed wrong initially: the one on the left side of the car is stamped "RH" on the front spline end, and the one on the right is stamped "LH". Should I just switch 'em? I've put about 750 miles on them as installed - any chance of damage being caused by doing that? And would this explain the front end droop I described earlier?
Thanks for any info!
George

Submitted by SE98-32482CJ on Tue, 06/21/2011 - 17:19

George they should be marked "L" and "R" on the end by stamping. They are pre-stressed hence the need for two different parts. The bars are non-reversable (front to back) as they have two different counts of teeth on either end which gives an unlimited adjustment within the capabilities of the other components.

Submitted by glandreth@sbcg… on Tue, 06/21/2011 - 17:07

Hi George - Thanks for your quick reply, I will check the Manual tonight. Interesting that the left and right bars are different (!), also interesting that, by design, the bars are not in 100% torsion, they seem to be a little off-axis of the center of rotation.
Adjustable torsion bar suspension was common on Baja race cars many years ago that used VW torsion bar suspensions; just showing my age, I guess! :-)

Thanks again
George

Submitted by SE98-32482CJ on Mon, 06/20/2011 - 20:53

George reset your bars to the factory specs in the workshop manual you must have after 20 years of work. If still low and you are sure you have not exchanged the right for the left then new bars are in order. As far as the adjustables there are a lot of opinions but they are not that friendly and have a limited range of adjustment. Stay stock!