do i have uprated torsion bars?

1. LeeM Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Feb 2008 Liverpool Posts: 7393 Black Corsa C SRi

   #1 24th February 2009, 19:01

   ive been thinking, everyone says my car is much stiffer than my friends, his is lowered with gmax shocks at the back and mine is lowered on what look like standard shocks.
   my torsion bars are black and when i jack the car up at the back the wheel only moves down 10-20mm. how could i find out for sure if theyre uprated?
2. user_21524 Established Member Joined: Feb 2008 wirral Posts: 2087 saxo vtr mk2

   #2 24th February 2009, 19:04

   take them out and measure them
3. DanT Established Member Joined: Feb 2007 P'boro Posts: 1619 R27 Clio

   #3 24th February 2009, 19:05

   its possible but if they were uprated on what looks like standard shocks and probably are indeed standard shocks then you would have a very bouncy/stiff/jumpy/skittish rear end.
   
   I wouldnt have thought that anyone would have spent money lowering a car on standard shocks and then uprating the rear bars to make it even worse.
4. AlexBp West Midlands Joined: Dec 2007 West mids Posts: 23149 Supra,civic GL

   #4 24th February 2009, 19:06

   i doubt they are mate
   but get a vernier to measuer them
5. LeeM Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Feb 2008 Liverpool Posts: 7393 Black Corsa C SRi

   #5 24th February 2009, 19:12

   Quote:

   Originally Posted by DanT its possible but if they were uprated on what looks like standard shocks and probably are indeed standard shocks then you would have a very bouncy/stiff/jumpy/skittish rear end. I wouldnt have thought that anyone would have spent money lowering a car on standard shocks and then uprating the rear bars to make it even worse.

   sums up the ride!
   thing is my power steering bottle has been moved too, which suggests to me it was modified and returned to standard. maybe torsion bars were too much effort so he left them in and swapped the shocks out.
   how wouldi measure them?
6. Steve Saxperience Hardcore! Joined: Mar 2005 Newcastle Upon Tyne Posts: 19910 CW Honda Integra DC5

   #6 24th February 2009, 19:16

   Quote:

   Originally Posted by dobbo_1 take them out and measure them

   dont be silly lol
   
   can get a gauge from netto for £1.25 just put it on and tells you the thickness of bars.
   
   standard VTR/S are 19mm
7. user_21524 Established Member Joined: Feb 2008 wirral Posts: 2087 saxo vtr mk2

   #7 24th February 2009, 19:17

   http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/6in-Caliper-Mi...QQcmdZViewItem
   
   just slide under and see what it reads standard is 19mm iirc
8. LeeM Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Feb 2008 Liverpool Posts: 7393 Black Corsa C SRi

   #8 24th February 2009, 19:30

   is it 19mm diametre? if so i could measure the circumfrence and divide by pi lol, save myelf £3
9. Steve Saxperience Hardcore! Joined: Mar 2005 Newcastle Upon Tyne Posts: 19910 CW Honda Integra DC5

   #9 24th February 2009, 19:33

   certainly is.
10. LeeM Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Feb 2008 Liverpool Posts: 7393 Black Corsa C SRi

    #10 24th February 2009, 19:34

    21mm....
11. AlexR Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Aug 2004 Kunt & Sorrey Posts: 5763 Rep mobiles & Joes ma

    #11 24th February 2009, 19:42

    Later mk2s were fitted with black 19mm bars.
    
    And without using a vernier you won't get an accurate result!
12. LeeM Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Feb 2008 Liverpool Posts: 7393 Black Corsa C SRi

    #12 24th February 2009, 19:48

    i see, will have to try that out to make sure, but measured them at 66mm circumference. and they dont look like the original ones as theres the remains of a sticker on one of them
13. Juz Regular Poster Joined: Jun 2008 Barnsley Posts: 343 106 Rallye 16v

    #13 24th February 2009, 20:11

    sorry to go OT a little, but any ideas which saxos had 18mm torsion bars? i bought a beam that the seller claimed had been refurbed, painted and new bearings fitted. he said it came off a vtr, but when i got it he had lied about the refurb and i measured the bars at 18mm with an adjustable spanner (same spanned rears 19mm on my original beams torsion bars). just wondering if this could tell me what car it actually came off?
14. AlexR Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Aug 2004 Kunt & Sorrey Posts: 5763 Rep mobiles & Joes ma

    #14 24th February 2009, 21:20

    Base models use a range of bars from 16 to 19mm.