Suspension Lowering (torsion bars)

  1. Frequent Poster Joined: Mar 2007 Dartford Posts: 874
    #1
    Right, aftere 3 months of having my lowering kit I decided to get a couple of mated round and try and do it myself.

    Decided to adjust the torsion bar first so I didnt end up with the front being done and nose diving. So we removed the nuts and bolts, removed the torsion bar, adjusted the car to new height, put the torsion bar back, and then fitted the new dampers. After a few hours or so we had finshed. The car now sits between about 60 or 70mm lower at the back.

    Do both the rear torsion bars need adjustng or just the one? I used the write up on badgersport as a rough guide but they only remove the one. But my ate who has a 206 180 GTI who helped me has had a word some some peeps on their forum, and they sai that they have to remove both torsion bars on the 206. Is this the same? Should I have adjusted both?
  2. Saxperience Addict Joined: Oct 2006 Inside Your Girlfriend Posts: 12190 Fabia vRS
    #2
    I think both need doing but im not 100% im sure both sides were done on mine and mines about 70mm
  3. Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Jul 2006 Posts: 4630
    #3
    if you do just 1 im sure it wrecks the axle?my mate had it done and the axle needed replaced for mot it cost alot of money!! and the cheeky bastards gave it bk standard height at bk and 70mm lowered at thwe front lol
  4. Frequent Poster Joined: Mar 2007 Dartford Posts: 874
    #4
    The front of mine is still standard height ass well atm lol. Lowering the front on Saturday cause im working all week.

    Might have a look tomorrow nd see if I can sort out the second torsion bar. I wsnt aware that they both needed doing. I dont thing that the guide on badgersport says to do both of them. So ive only done the one at the bttom of the roll bar, not the one the top behind it (oops!)
  5. Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Jan 2006 Northampton Posts: 5957 ED30
    #5
    im pretty sure both need doing.
  6. Newbie Joined: Mar 2007 Posts: 17
    #6
    yes both need doing, make sure u take correct measurements when doing so as u could end up with one side lower than the other...
  7. Frequent Poster Joined: Mar 2007 Dartford Posts: 874
    #7
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by rikki_vtr View Post
    yes both need doing, make sure u take correct measurements when doing so as u could end up with one side lower than the other...
    Well ive done one torsion bar- the one in front of the anti-roll bar. Its the lower one out of the 2. I removed the torsion that I have, adjusted the two sides to the height, put it back in and it seems to have done the job.

    However one side was harder to adjust than the other. Is this because theres one torsion bar for each side of the car?? If so then the reason it was harder one side was because its torsoin bar was still in place. But both sides look about right. I think if anything the side that was harder to adjust mite not be as low. But only about 10mm. Its nots noticeable unless you look closely.

    Well I guess that this weekend when me and my mate do the front I better adjust that second torsion bar. Is there any danger in me using the car till this is done? What could happen if I still use it???
  8. Super Moderator Joined: Mar 2003 Durham (England) Posts: 37932 1. AX 2. Mk2 Saxo VTR 3. MK4 R32 DBP
    #8
    very very sure you do both too mate, do a search theres a few guides kicking about and im sure it says to do both sides
  9. Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Mar 2007 Reading Posts: 8980 French tin can
    #9
    OMG! Don't drive the car FFS.

    You haven't adjusted the other side at all, and I can't even understand how you can assume that you did adjust the other side without removing the torsion bar??!!

    When you remove the torsion bar, there will be no spring in place, so the trailing arm will simply swing down, so....... What you need to do is:

    1) Once the rear wheels are off, measure the height between one area of the trailing arm and the ground. I find the the bottom of the caliper the easiest.

    2) When you take the corresponding torsion bar out, lift the trailing arm upwards to set the new ride height. Add about another 5mm to the overal change in height, as this covers the weight of the arm. So, if the arm sat (for example) 20cm off the ground, and you want a 35mm drop, lift the trailing arm upward so that it's now 24cm off the ground. (20cm + 35mm drop + 5mm compensation)
    3) Place the torsion bar back in, so the trailing arm is locked back into position.
    4) REPEAT FOR OTHER SIDE!

    Hope this helps chap.
  10. Frequent Poster Joined: Mar 2007 Dartford Posts: 874
    #10
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Toad View Post

    OMG! Don't drive the car FFS.

    You haven't adjusted the other side at all, and I can't even understand how you can assume that you did adjust the other side without removing the torsion bar??!!
    Nah im not driving it. Its on the drive atm. Im borrowing the g/f car for work

    Well this is what I dont get. The other side that I didnt remove the torsion bar is deffinately lower than it was by atleast 50 maybe 60mm. Ill get some pics up tomorrow if I remember of before and after of both sides.
  11. West Midlands Joined: Nov 2005 Nuneaton (West Mids) Posts: 13835 '64 Volvo V40 R’Design, '89 Ph1 309 GTi, ‘97 Mk1 S
    #11
    Definately dont drive it until you've lowered the other side aswel, one torsion bar obviously allows the drivers side arm to drop and be adjusted and the others for the passenger side.

    With them both at seperate heights the balance of the suspension will be insanely out of balance.

    On top of that i wouldnt drive the car with the rear down 60/70 either with the front at standard height.

    The car is designed for the rear to be slightly higher than the front so with an imbalance as wildly out as that again i wouldnt deem it safe for driving.

    you may get away with it for slow runs, but on the twistys or if you approach a round about at a higher speed than usual anything could happen


    Good luck in getting the job completed
  12. Frequent Poster Joined: Mar 2007 Dartford Posts: 874
    #12
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by willsy View Post

    On top of that i wouldnt drive the car with the rear down 60/70 either with the front at standard height.

    The car is designed for the rear to be slightly higher than the front so with an imbalance as wildly out as that again i wouldnt deem it safe for driving.

    you may get away with it for slow runs, but on the twistys or if you approach a round about at a higher speed than usual anything could happen


    Good luck in getting the job completed
    Ive already decied that the car is off the road until its finished. Its all being done Saturday.
  13. Frequent Poster Joined: Mar 2007 Dartford Posts: 874
    #13
    Right I said Id get some pics so here they are, before and after:

    Before:




    After:



    Ill add some more pics probs Sunday Morning After the front has been done on Saturday if all goes according to plan
  14. Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Mar 2007 Reading Posts: 8980 French tin can
    #14
    OK, here's what I think has happened here...

    When you set the ride height on the one side, putting the torsion bar back in was a MISTAKE. You should have lowered the other side, then put both torsion bars back in at the same time. So, by putting just the one torsion bar back in, (remember each torsion bar is connected to BOTH trailing arms) you would have had to adjust the height of the other trailing arm. (the non-lowered one) Now, when I say "you would have had to adjust" I don't mean that you did it to the other side in the correct manner, but you would have had to move the trailing arm upwards to get the torsion bar to fit properly. So, what you will now have, is a 1 side almost normal, and the other side will have the completely wrong spring tension. Does that make sense?
  15. Frequent Poster Joined: Mar 2007 Dartford Posts: 874
    #15
    It does and it sounds bout right. What I did was:

    1) removed the torsion bar from the drivers side
    2) adjusted both trailing arms to the new height, and then put the torsion bar back in.

    Both sides have lowered. The lowered pic above is from the drivers side (which is the side the torsion bar was removed from). But the other side looks just as low. The drivers side is about 70mm lower, but the passengers side is about 60mm. I dont get how the passengers side has lowered without removing its torsion bar though. But me and a mate have already decided that the car is off the road until we adjust the second torsion bar on Saturday.
  16. Established Member Joined: Mar 2007 Wolverhampton Posts: 1055 106 xsi 16v, Fiesta Tdci
    #16
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by jasonfitness View Post
    It does and it sounds bout right. What I did was:

    1) removed the torsion bar from the drivers side
    2) adjusted both trailing arms to the new height, and then put the torsion bar back in.

    Both sides have lowered. The lowered pic above is from the drivers side (which is the side the torsion bar was removed from). But the other side looks just as low. The drivers side is about 70mm lower, but the passengers side is about 60mm. I dont get how the passengers side has lowered without removing its torsion bar though. But me and a mate have already decided that the car is off the road until we adjust the second torsion bar on Saturday.
    Just a thought but could it be the anti roll bar holding the other side up to try and keep it levelled out with the lowered drivers side? Thus making it appear lower?

    Ste
  17. Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Mar 2007 Reading Posts: 8980 French tin can
    #17
    Err, I know I'm getting good at being invisible on this forum, but perhaps you should read my last post...?

    The trailing arms are connected, so if you lower one side, it will have a similar affect on the other side. However, as the torsion bar has not been adjusted, it won't be at the correct spring tension.
  18. Frequent Poster Joined: Mar 2007 Dartford Posts: 874
    #18
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Toad View Post
    Err, I know I'm getting good at being invisible on this forum, but perhaps you should read my last post...?

    The trailing arms are connected, so if you lower one side, it will have a similar affect on the other side. However, as the torsion bar has not been adjusted, it won't be at the correct spring tension.
    Sorry mate. I did read it but i must have misinterpreted what u meant. I think that what you jus put above is spot on. It sounds ecxactly like what has happened cause its deffinately not as low.
  19. Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Mar 2007 Reading Posts: 8980 French tin can
    #19
    Not worries chap. I'm not having a go at anyone in perticular...
  20. Frequent Poster Joined: Mar 2007 Dartford Posts: 874
    #20
    FINSHED!

    I completed the rear of the car- just the front to do now. BUT- I might have to make it higher. The originl measuremet with the car jacked up and the wheels off was 418mm. When I finsihed its now 340mm! Thats 78mm. But when going over speds humps I have to go EXTRA slow cause i hit the bumper sops.

    So im gonna do the front of the car , see what it looks like, and possibly have to raise the back by 15-20mm.

    Pain in the arse as the top torsion bar took early all day to get out!
  21. Frequent Poster Joined: Mar 2007 Dartford Posts: 874
    #21
    DONE!

    The whole car has been finished now and as I said above- I had to raise the back- was hitting bumper stops wiv a passenger in the front. The front is lowered 45mm and the back 60mm. Looks relly nice IMO. Car is filthy as ****

    Gonna hopefully wash it tomorrow if the weather holds out and then Ill get some pics up!
  22. Infrequent Poster Joined: May 2007 Kidderminster, Worcestershire Posts: 239 Black MK2 VTS
    #22
    going to be doing my rear torsion bar on sunday, no specific tools required is there?

    put some pics up, wanna see the end product
  23. Frequent Poster Joined: Mar 2007 Dartford Posts: 874
    #23
    Ok, Ive been waiting for some nice weather to give the car a clean and then take some pics but had to much bad weather so I took these. They might not be too good as they were taken at 06:20am at work in the rain, and on a
    my mobile!











  24. Frequent Poster Joined: Mar 2007 Dartford Posts: 874
    #24
    Just though I'd add that Im not actually disabled. Im just in a disabled space because its the only spot in the entire car park that is covered by a security camera!
  25. Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Mar 2007 Reading Posts: 8980 French tin can
    #25
    Glad it's all sorted. IMO, I wouldn't have it quite so low at the rear. I reckon just a smidgen higher at the rear, and it would be perfect. Looks good though, well done geez.
  26. Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Jan 2006 Northampton Posts: 5957 ED30
    #26
    looks good as said, had any prblems with big bumps ?
  27. Frequent Poster Joined: Mar 2007 Dartford Posts: 874
    #27
    only had 1 problem with 1 speed hump. Its an awkward speed hump and its one of those that you can get a wheel either side of it. But its got a bit higher in the middle so the cage that holds the spare wheel caught it. But only happened the once.

    My mate said he would have got up another 10mm as well lol.

    Ive managed to get me, and front passenger, and one person in the back and not hit anything. But I wouldnt wanna try anymore cause Ill probs end up on the bumper stops
  28. Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Jan 2006 Northampton Posts: 5957 ED30
    #28
    how low is it at the back then ?
  29. Saxperience Hardcore! Joined: Mar 2005 Newcastle Upon Tyne Posts: 19910 CW Honda Integra DC5
    #29
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by jasonfitness View Post
    FINSHED!

    I completed the rear of the car- just the front to do now. BUT- I might have to make it higher. The originl measuremet with the car jacked up and the wheels off was 418mm. When I finsihed its now 340mm! Thats 78mm. But when going over speds humps I have to go EXTRA slow cause i hit the bumper sops.

    So im gonna do the front of the car , see what it looks like, and possibly have to raise the back by 15-20mm.

    Pain in the arse as the top torsion bar took early all day to get out!
    if the bar was only out not long ago cant see it taking long to get it back out again

    Am going to have a crack at mine next weekend, only going down 30mm though.......
  30. Frequent Poster Joined: Mar 2007 Dartford Posts: 874
    #30
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Hopcraft View Post
    how low is it at the back then ?
    The back is now 60mm lower. The front is 45mm. But ive been told to wait cause the front needs time to drop properly. Might think bout dropping front 55mm but I think it looks good as it is
  31. Frequent Poster Joined: Mar 2007 Dartford Posts: 874
    #31
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Steve_VTS View Post
    if the bar was only out not long ago cant see it taking long to get it back out again

    Am going to have a crack at mine next weekend, only going down 30mm though.......
    Your not wrong there. I raised the back by 20mm cause it was originally 80mm lower. So now its sits 60mm lower as in pics above. We did the back in 45mins as where it took 2 days last time!!!
  32. Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Jan 2006 Northampton Posts: 5957 ED30
    #32
    oh fair enough, explains why it might hit speed bumps then.