[Tacfire11]

Hi Everyone,

Hope you all had a great Christmas, and Santa delivered of alot of Mopar goodies under the tree. I'm lucky I don't have much hair left up top, because I'd be pulling it out by now. I'm trying to put in my T-Bars, and that old ones just won't budge. Broke the entire front end apart, U-C Arm is out, the only thing holding the lower control arm now in the front strut. Took out the Clip, removed as much of the old road dirt as possible, and used air to blow out the rest. Since I'm not going to reuse of sell the old bars, I tried a Vice Grip on the bar, but this %$#@ thing won't budge. Even pounding it with a 5lb mallot, still holding in place.

Any ideas?

Thanks, and a Happy New Year. o----o<>

Pat

 

[440Dreamin]

be sure the tension is off the adjusting bolt, get out your pipe wrench thing and clamp it on, and your 5# mallet again, and wail away. you'll ruin the bar, but it should come out, pound pound pound

good luck it'll come! **(*)

 

[Tacfire11]

I already have the adjuster all the way backed off, in face even took out the screw just in case it adding the slightest pressure. I think there's a 12" Pipe Wrench downstairs. Thanks, I'll give that a try.

 

[automan63]

Try a Ford wrench lol lol lol lol

 

[moparrr07]

yes, i was going to say a ford hammer,

try making a torsion bar tool,

take a thick piece of metal and put two u bolts through it, tighten down on the bar and wail away with your hammer

 

[Jim_Lusk]

You can cut the bar or you can remove the front nut on the strut rod and the nut on the LCA pivot and push/pound/pry the LCA out.

 

[strange246]

If you have a cutting torch just burn them in half, I had the same problem, I cut mine in half and they came right out.

Ryan

 

[b569rr]

yes, i was going to say a ford hammer,

try making a torsion bar tool,

take a thick piece of metal and put two u bolts through it, tighten down on the bar and wail away with your hammer

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I was pleasantly surprised to find that Home Dopot had big enough u bolts. They were a part of some wire rope clamps. Use two with a peice of 3" angle iron and you'll be set for T bars in the future

 

[moparrr07]

i got mine at Menard's, they had a whole selection on sizes

note: this also makes a great installation tool

 

[Tacfire11]

Thanks.... doh, should have thought about cutting them doh.

I checked out my HD, but the largest U-Bolts they have are like 3/8". Looks like I'll be getting the saw out, and building that upper body strength bbat

As always, you guys rock.

Pat

 

[Brad4406]

You can cut the bar or you can remove the front nut on the strut rod and the nut on the LCA pivot and push/pound/pry the LCA out.

Jim's got it right. If you do it the way he's suggesting you won't even damage the torsion bars so you can either sell them or reuse them on another vehicle.

I unload them and pull the rear clips, unbolt the bottom of the shock and tie it up, remove both nuts from the LCAs, and beat the LCAs back by placing a short 2X4 on it and hitting with a mallot. The t-bars will pop out the back of the crossmember and then you'll be easily able to pull them out of the LCAs. I've never had one that wouldn't come out this way, even on extremely rusted cars.

 

[DartKnight]

You can cut the bar or you can remove the front nut on the strut rod and the nut on the LCA pivot and push/pound/pry the LCA out.

Jim's got it right.  If you do it the way he's suggesting you won't even damage the torsion bars so you can either sell them or reuse them on another vehicle.

I unload them and pull the rear clips, unbolt the bottom of the shock and tie it up, remove both nuts from the LCAs, and beat the LCAs back by placing a short 2X4 on it and hitting with a mallot.  The t-bars will pop out the back of the crossmember and then you'll be easily able to pull them out of the LCAs.  I've never had one that wouldn't come out this way, even on extremely rusted cars.

I agree; it's a LOT easier when you can move the control arm, they should pop right out after that. So far, I haven't had this problem yet, though. The first set I changed fell right out of the sockets and the second set I thought were stuck until I gave them a few love taps near the socket area.

 

[Small Block]

You did take out the rear clips????????

 

[MVRCorp]

Smallblock []{} []{} []{}

 

[Tacfire11]

Finally got them out .... The back socket was caked with road grim, old grease, and just 39 Years of gunk.... Took a small screw driver in there, cleaned them out. Two taps on a pipe wrench and they fell right out. The secret for me was to tighten down as close as possible to the rear of the bar. A couple of taps and out she came.

o[

That completes the front end... Now onto the Rear... stay tuned this should be fun lol

Happy New Year everyone....

Pat

 

[Small Block]

Now tell us the real story. Once you cleaned out the back socket you found the retaining clip. It's ok. Learning is a neat thing. The rear is easy.

 

[CFster]

**(*) )(/* bbat ;D ;D

 

[440Dreamin]

the 'ol pipe wrench wins again!

good job, keep us posted...

Joel

 

[Tacfire11]

**(*) No really, I had the clips out already . Gotta tell you though, the Drivers side was really tough, trying to work around the original /6 exhaust. It's coming out, but still need to move the car around until the 440 is built