going to adjust my frt torsion bars. How to determine Height?

[bcolins]

I just installed new front Bilstein B6 shocks. There’s some improvement but I’m still hitting the bump stops on compressions so thinking I need to take Go-Westies advice and correct the front end height to compensate for the characteristic torsion bar suspension sag that happens after a year or two.

I read enough to know there’s some risk of the torsion bar popping out of the frame or the thread stripping off and yes I have spray down the torsion bar adjustment nuts with WD-40 and I will wire brush them and spray them again.

My question is how do I determine proper height of the front end of the van while I am adjusting the torsion bars? Complicated by the recommendation that they just made while the van is on jackstands with the front wheels/tires off the ground.

Suggestions??

[Abscate]

First off, penetrating oil like Kroil for those nuts, WD40 is a protectant, not a penetrant. Best penetrant is a 50-50 mix ( emulsion) of acetone and ATF
_________________
.ssS!

[bcolins]

[bigfoot_ev]

I don't know if you have the room for this suggestion, but it is what I did fairly recently. My van is already raised a bit and I had done a number of maintenance fixes to the suspension so I needed to readjust and even out both sides.

With the front wheels on the ground and suspension fully loaded I am able to squeeze under the van and reach the torsion bar nuts. Using a measuring tape put the end of the tape against the top shock mounting plate and measure the distance to the bottom shock bolt. I used the top of the bottom bolt because it was easier for me to get a good measurement. Do it exactly the same on the left and right and that should give you good measurement.

The actual value, according to Bentley is an alignment spec based on your vehicle group. For instance, I'm group 5 and the empty value is 257 mm, full load is 248 mm. I don't remember my actual value, it's more than 257. Bentley also mentions rolling the van forwards and backwards about 2 m before measuring again. I didn't bother with this, I just evened both sides to the highest value and I was done. Also note, this will change your front end alignment so you should plan on having that checked after this.

[bcolins]

[bigfoot_ev]

[bcolins]

[bigfoot_ev]

[VWinny]

Its difficult to say exactly the height determination, as it is correlated to the amount of wear and pressure the existing torsion bars were previously under.

However, generally speaking you get 1 inch ride height for every 10mm up the torsion bar adjustment bolt you go.

Knock er loose penetrant works best along with a large crescent wrench. I used a little bit of white plumbers tape and a micrometer to determine distance the nut had moved when i adjusted mine.