Torsion Bars - Help Please

1. gazwiththevtr Infrequent Poster Joined: Mar 2010 Prestwick Posts: 239 Currently Own Citroen Saxo VTR Previously Owne

   #1 4th May 2010, 20:25

   Hi guys ,
   
   need some help ,and know its been covered a lot on here but ,I decided to have a go at lowering my rear torsion bars ,and have removed everything ,all the torx screws,all the offset wahers ,and have access to the torsion bars however ,they just wont budge !
   
   Ive tried hitting it with a lump hammer and the bar from my trolley jack ,all sorts of levers ,etc but dont know whats going on now lol
   
   Im trying to remove the bar from the passengers side so left hand side from the back first..
   
   Whats the best way to get the bars out ?
   
   Thanks Appreciate The Help
2. user_28436 Established Member Joined: Nov 2008 Shropshire Posts: 1786

   #2 4th May 2010, 20:32

   Lots of wd40, a bigger lump hammer. Also a better bar, as in practice iv found trolley jack lever's aren't ideal to be hitting against torsion bars lol. Infact im pretty sure iv used a sledge hammer before...
3. gazwiththevtr Infrequent Poster Joined: Mar 2010 Prestwick Posts: 239 Currently Own Citroen Saxo VTR Previously Owne

   #3 4th May 2010, 20:40

   ok what side should i be hitting from? as from passenger side space is a little tight
4. sebo123 Established Member Joined: Oct 2008 Bideford Posts: 1599 Saxo Furio

   #4 4th May 2010, 20:46

   i hit the shit out of mine and they would not move! ended up cuttin them in half with a grinder, for some reason they then cam out lol
5. gazwiththevtr Infrequent Poster Joined: Mar 2010 Prestwick Posts: 239 Currently Own Citroen Saxo VTR Previously Owne

   #5 4th May 2010, 20:49

   lol where can I get a suitable drift ? and what size of lump hammer should I be using?
6. gazwiththevtr Infrequent Poster Joined: Mar 2010 Prestwick Posts: 239 Currently Own Citroen Saxo VTR Previously Owne

   #6 4th May 2010, 21:59

   Just tried again ,and the bars are not shifting whatsoever, looks like im getting the bus for the next week
7. saxtreme Established Member Joined: Jan 2010 Posts: 1660 yamaha tzr50/dt125 cars: 1.0i spree

   #7 4th May 2010, 22:03

   i want to atempt this but as most the tools left with my dad i only have the shitty lil jack that comes with the car in the spare wheel will that be any use
   
   i have all the uther tools bar somthing to get the torsion bar out lol but m going to wait for my dad to stop being a twat and give me the wheels
8. user_33810 L-plater Joined: May 2009 Kent (SE of London) Posts: 92 Arctic Steel mk2 VTR

   #8 5th May 2010, 12:45

   you need a slide hammer mate, and yeah lube the fuck out of it
9. willsy West Midlands Joined: Nov 2005 Nuneaton (West Mids) Posts: 13835 '64 Volvo V40 R’Design, '89 Ph1 309 GTi, ‘97 Mk1 S

   #9 5th May 2010, 12:47

   Slide hammers are a complete waste of time!!!
   
   Big bar and decent size hammer will not fail if you're doing it properly
10. user_33810 L-plater Joined: May 2009 Kent (SE of London) Posts: 92 Arctic Steel mk2 VTR

    #10 5th May 2010, 12:50

    slide hammers worked easily for both my mates saxo's.
11. willsy West Midlands Joined: Nov 2005 Nuneaton (West Mids) Posts: 13835 '64 Volvo V40 R’Design, '89 Ph1 309 GTi, ‘97 Mk1 S

    #11 5th May 2010, 12:56

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by smallboi90 slide hammers worked easily for both my mates saxo's.

    Overall they have such a small rate of success and if used incorrectly theres a big risk of pulling the threads out of the torsion bar ends rather than getting anywhere with actually getting the bars out.
12. user_26394 Saxperience Addict Joined: Aug 2008 Bedworth Posts: 10221 106 gti

    #12 5th May 2010, 13:03

    When i first got mine lowered they used a slide hammer and it ripped the thread outta my bars!
    
    Have seen the bar and hammer method used in excess of 30 times with a 100% success rate thus far
13. Gareth_R Established Member Joined: Mar 2010 Basildon, Essex Posts: 1042 Citroen AX VTS

    #13 5th May 2010, 13:55

    the torsion bars only come out one way
    
    if you want to lower the passenger side first then you need to hit the torsion bar from the drivers side, where it meets the main beam, basically belt the living fuck out of it. Unfortunately if the torsion bar is seized to the trailing arm then the trailing arm will come off! you could leave the arb all bolted together, might help it all stay together
    
    if you hit the torsion bar from the trailing arm it wont do anything