TheSamba.com :: View topic - Removing Front Torsion Bars

Thu Jan 29, 2015 11:21 am

Greetings...

I can't seem to figure out how to remove the dust caps. I have cleared the muck and see the cap and a ring that was peened in three places, and I have frozen myself there in concern that if I just slip a chisel type instrument under the peening it will either work, or destroy an unobtainable part.

Any suggestions?

Bill
CA Central Valley
Halfway between Manteca and Modesto

Mon Feb 09, 2015 3:30 pm

Does anyone know sources for the bushings and bearings for the torsion arms. The front end on Bluebird (a double cab) was not given proper maintenance by previous owners, and it is all dry and FUBAR in there.

So, are new bearings and bushings available?

Tue May 19, 2015 3:46 pm

wclark4000 wrote: Greetings...

I can't seem to figure out how to remove the dust caps. I have cleared the muck and see the cap and a ring that was peened in three places, and I have frozen myself there in concern that if I just slip a chisel type instrument under the peening it will either work, or destroy an unobtainable part.

Any suggestions?

Have this exact same question.

Tue May 19, 2015 7:35 pm

http://www.bus-boys.com/frontaxle68-79.html
https://www.vwheritage.com/shop/211405127/seal-axle-tube-1970/
http://www2.cip1.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=C24-211-401-321-A
http://www.justkampers.com/211-401-301-b-front-axle-needle-bearing-vw-t2-bays-1967-1979.html
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=7099479#7099479
http://www.jerseylooker.com/FicheDump/EarlyBaywindow/EarlyBay-4.html
http://www.jerseylooker.com/FicheDump/EarlyBaywindow/4-002.jpg
http://www.jerseylooker.com/FicheDump/EarlyBaywindow/4-003.jpg
http://www.jerseylooker.com/FicheDump/EarlyBaywindow/4-004.jpg
http://www.jerseylooker.com/FicheDump/EarlyBaywindow/EarlyBay-Main.html

Sun Jun 21, 2015 12:15 pm

Just replaced all 4 torsion arms as the ball joints were shot. Could not have gone any better, you guys rock. :D

Sun Jun 28, 2015 7:57 pm

So instead of posting a new thread I figured I would post in here for ideas. So I got it mostly apart, however I cannot get the lower arm out of the knuckle. Ive tried a 2 jaw puller pickle fork and BFG. Lots of penetrating oil.. So now what could I try? I busted my knuckle pretty good. ALSO I have new arms and do not have a bently. Do I need to mark the old ones before I pull them? How do I install the new ones properly? THANKS!

Sun Jun 28, 2015 8:29 pm

Before you get hurt anymore :P Pull the speedo cable out and then pull
the trailing arm out of the beam and you will have better luck getting that ball joint out .

No Bentley? do you have a vice mounted on a table? that will help too since
that ball joint is looking pretty damaged.

You also need a long pipe to lift the Upper arm off the rubber stop so it can be removed AFTER you remove the clip.

Leave the grub screws IN UNTIL THE RUBBER STOPS ARE OUT

as for the eccentrics they also will need to pressed off and NOT damaged so you can put them on the exchange arms. NO bOOK Scares me. how about You :shock:

Mon Jun 29, 2015 8:35 am

old DKP driver wrote: Before you get hurt anymore :P Pull the speedo cable out and then pull
the trailing arm out of the beam and you will have better luck getting that ball joint out .

No Bentley? do you have a vice mounted on a table? that will help too since
that ball joint is looking pretty damaged.

You also need a long pipe to lift the Upper arm off the rubber stop so it can be removed AFTER you remove the clip.

Leave the grub screws IN UNTIL THE RUBBER STOPS ARE OUT

as for the eccentrics they also will need to pressed off and NOT damaged so you can put them on the exchange arms. NO bOOK Scares me. how about You :shock:

Wait what are the grub screws?

What are the eccentrics? The new arms I got i believed to be complete.

I was too cheap to buy the bently and hoped I could find all my answers on the interwebs. This bus is expensive lol

Mon Jun 29, 2015 10:18 am

http://www.jerseylooker.com/FicheDump/EarlyBaywindow/EarlyBay-4.html
http://www.jerseylooker.com/FicheDump/EarlyBaywindow/4-002.jpg
http://www.jerseylooker.com/FicheDump/EarlyBaywindow/4-003.jpg
http://www.jerseylooker.com/FicheDump/EarlyBaywindow/4-004.jpg
http://www.jerseylooker.com/FicheDump/EarlyBaywindow/EarlyBay-Main.html

Mon Jun 29, 2015 12:40 pm

If you're too cheap to buy Bentley, you may be too cheap to buy this:

But you can rent one. I use a ball joint puller, but since your boots are shot you could easily use this kind of puller to get that lower ball joint out and also your eccentrics stuck to your top ball joint.

Mon Jun 29, 2015 6:36 pm

Tcash wrote: http://www.jerseylooker.com/FicheDump/EarlyBaywindow/EarlyBay-4.html
http://www.jerseylooker.com/FicheDump/EarlyBaywindow/4-002.jpg
http://www.jerseylooker.com/FicheDump/EarlyBaywindow/4-003.jpg
http://www.jerseylooker.com/FicheDump/EarlyBaywindow/4-004.jpg
http://www.jerseylooker.com/FicheDump/EarlyBaywindow/EarlyBay-Main.html

Bookmarked thanks, is the eccentric ring pressed on or removable with wrench? I have access to a press and tools from orileys. Im gonna take the knuckle off with the arm still in it so I can get a better angle on it.

Mon Jun 29, 2015 7:25 pm

They are just pressed on. My torsion arms came with new eccentrics. Mine came off pretty easy with the pitman arm puller I posted earlier.

Mon Jun 29, 2015 7:32 pm

khalimadeath wrote:

Bookmarked thanks, is the eccentric ring pressed on or removable with wrench? I have access to a press and tools from orileys. Im gonna take the knuckle off with the arm still in it so I can get a better angle on it.

Does not thread on but is Usually rusted on and requires a puller or press to remove.
Tcash

Tue Jun 30, 2015 9:27 am

We did this two? maybe three weeks ago...Pretty much, before we did anything...we just sprayed kroil in each of the knuckles where the ball joint went in, then tapped the bottom of the ball boint with a hammer, for two or three days. when we started dissasembly, the top ones came out pretty easy, the bottoms I had to whack with the pickle fork a few times... do you have the right sized fork?

I find kroil works where other penetrating oils wont.

Tue Jun 30, 2015 11:38 am

Yarkle wrote: We did this two? maybe three weeks ago...Pretty much, before we did anything...we just sprayed kroil in each of the knuckles where the ball joint went in, then tapped the bottom of the ball boint with a hammer, for two or three days. when we started dissasembly, the top ones came out pretty easy, the bottoms I had to whack with the pickle fork a few times... do you have the right sized fork?

I find kroil works where other penetrating oils wont.

i am using Kroil, I have a small pickle fork and may need a bigger one.

Thanks for all the help and tips I am gong to work on it some more today. Im gonna check my new arms to see if the ring came on those.

Tue Jun 30, 2015 12:58 pm

Yep, if your pickle fork isnt tall enough in profile, it wont provide the leverage to pop the joint off. I think i ended up using both of the ones i had.

Sun Jul 29, 2018 3:52 pm

Hey folks, before anyone gives me grief, I know this post is years old but I used the search and it brought me here. I needed to remove my 70 bay’s torsion arms and the uppers were giving me some trouble. Just want to thank everyone that explained it on here, I ended up using the pry bar and pry out method. It made it a flash. Thanks again.

Wed Sep 30, 2020 1:09 pm

My upper torsion arms will not budge. Simply cannot get any movement on them. Grub screws out....

jacking up the arm, and removing the rubber snubber, then releasing the pressure on the jack- this relieves the spring tension?

Wed Sep 30, 2020 1:28 pm

Answered my own question. The rubber bumper stop does have to be removed. At least for mine it did. Scary proposition, reaching in there to pull out the rubber stop with the torsion arm jacked up. :shock:

Wed Sep 30, 2020 1:35 pm

mattlockwood wrote: Answered my own question. The rubber bumper stop does have to be removed. At least for mine it did. Scary proposition, reaching in there to pull out the rubber stop with the torsion arm jacked up. :shock:
sort of like playing with a loaded bear trap eh? Made me nervous as all heck. Maybe someone can make a tool......... .