Installing Torsion Bars

[Mounty 09]

A few weeks ago I took the front end of my 97 Mountaineer apart and replaced the upper and lower control arms and all the bushings and ball joints. Got the front end back together and now I can't seem to get the torsion bars back in place. I clock the bar one way and there isn't enough tension, I put it the other way and I can't even get it close to being in place. Would it help if I disconnect the lower control arm from the spindle and let it drop to put the key in? Any other ideas? When I took them out they didn't seem like they sprung much but don't remember exactly how far down they were.

 

[sehaare]

I just did mine a few weeks ago. You shouldn't have to disconnect anything to get the torsion bar back in and adjusted. I did mine with the front end up on jack stands with the wheels up off the ground. You will need a 2 jaw puller to get the torsion bar adjustment lever up enough to get the key and adjustment bolt back in place.

There are a few videos on Youtube that might help you out.

 

[sehaare]

Since no one else has posted any suggestions I'll add another. When I put my torsion bars back in the adjustment lever hung down well below where the key and bolt go back in. This was further than I remembered when taking it out but after getting the key out, I don't think that I really paid attention to how far down the lever went when I backed off on the puller.

So position the torsion bar in the position that results with the adjustment lever being below the key and then crank it up with a 2 jaw puller and I bet you end up ok.

Steve

 

[Mounty 09]

I have tried a 2 jaw puller, it bent that. I tried a very heavy duty C Clamp, it bent the screw and broke the swivel pad off. I made a tool out of 1"x1.5" 1018 steel with 7/8 all thread and it bent that too. I am at a loss on how to get them back in place and I really don't want to take it to ford.

 

[sehaare]

I just used the two jaw puller out of this harbor freight set. And I don't consider any of the Harbor Freight tools as Heavy Duty.

http://www.harborfreight.com/5-piece-front-end-service-tool-set-60306.html

You should be able to borrow a tool at autozone to do it.

Do you have any pictures of where the adjustment lever is before you start to move it up?

 

[boominXplorer]

Unhook the shocks, sway bar links and knuckles so it's down to just the lower control arm. Have the bolts loose so it goes up and down easily. Then have a friend hold the control arm really low so you can get the key and flat peice in the slot. Then slide a jack under the control arm and jack it up till you can reconnect the shock. Then it's basic reassembly and put the adjuster bolts in last to make it easier.

 

[matthurd]

i used 2, 2 jaw pullers. i would seat 1 in the depression/dimple in the key, and the other somewhere else, can't remember since it was back in july. tighten 1 and lift the torsion bar a bit, then before the one in the dimple would start to twist, i'd tight the other, transferring the load. rinse n repeat until it was lifted high enough to slip the block in it.

 

[corkey]

i had mine on jackstands and used a bottle jack and a long socket on top of it to the key section,
after i got the bar up far enough, i slid the bar that holds the adjustment bolt back through the holes, than started the bolt,,

make sure the bottle jack is on a very solid surface,, i used a patio stone 16x16 inches, that way it could go sideways at all,