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gschwell Samba Member
Joined: August 19, 2010 Posts: 25 Location: South Hadley, MA
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Posted: Tue Sep 14, 2021 7:04 am Post subject: Torsion Bar Socket |
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Before I buy the gowesty torsion bar socket, does anyone have one they want to get rid of?
Thanks! |
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TheOneTrueQuux Samba Member
Joined: May 26, 2021 Posts: 363 Location: Winona, MN
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Posted: Tue Sep 14, 2021 7:08 am Post subject: Re: WTB Torsion Bar Socket |
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gschwell wrote: |
Before I buy the gowesty torsion bar socket, does anyone have one they want to get rid of?
Thanks! |
I don't have one, but want to note that turning it with a regular wrench or crescent wrench isn't so bad. For just one vehicle, it probably isn't worth buying the socket. |
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gschwell Samba Member
Joined: August 19, 2010 Posts: 25 Location: South Hadley, MA
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Posted: Tue Sep 14, 2021 7:25 am Post subject: Re: WTB Torsion Bar Socket |
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Interesting. I'll give it a try with a crescent wrench and see if I can get it to move. I'm only trying to get 1/2" lift to level, so I think can deal with the tedious turning if it'll budge.
Thanks for the tip. |
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MrPulldown Samba Member
Joined: September 08, 2020 Posts: 649 Location: Truckee
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Posted: Tue Sep 14, 2021 9:26 am Post subject: Re: WTB Torsion Bar Socket |
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I think using a box end wrench would be better than a crescent/open end. Would be easy to round off the nut. The tool is a 27mm or 1,1/16".
I do not recall the go-westy tool costing $50 when I bought it. I know that it was out of stock for a while. It looks like GW takes a standard deep socket, cuts, and welds an extension to it.
https://www.gowesty.com/product/suspension/23304/socket-for-front-torsion-bar-?v= _________________ 2002 EVC |
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Saturn Samba Member
Joined: April 06, 2019 Posts: 192 Location: San Francisco
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Posted: Tue Sep 14, 2021 10:20 am Post subject: Re: Torsion Bar Socket |
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When started on replacing out the ball joints, tie rod ends, brake discs, etc this past May, I ended up picking up this socket up to loosen the torsion bar on my 1995 EVC. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006L23RUQ/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
The socket in combination with a DeWalt cordless impact gun made adjusting the nuts fast, simple and easy. Ended up utilizing the socket again when I had to replace out the front axle to removed the main bolt securing it to the hub. If you plan to do front suspension work it will be not just a one-off tool to have in the tool collection. |
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TheOneTrueQuux Samba Member
Joined: May 26, 2021 Posts: 363 Location: Winona, MN
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Posted: Tue Sep 14, 2021 10:45 am Post subject: Re: WTB Torsion Bar Socket |
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MrPulldown wrote: |
I think using a box end wrench would be better than a crescent/open end. Would be easy to round off the nut. The tool is a 27mm or 1,1/16".
I do not recall the go-westy tool costing $50 when I bought it. I know that it was out of stock for a while. It looks like GW takes a standard deep socket, cuts, and welds an extension to it.
https://www.gowesty.com/product/suspension/23304/socket-for-front-torsion-bar-?v= |
A box end wrench would be better, at least to break it loose. But once it's spinning an open end is fine. Make sure you lube the threads and maybe wire brush the exposed threads to remove any rust you can reach. |
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Mookacb Samba Member
Joined: March 06, 2017 Posts: 47 Location: Portland, OR
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Abscate Samba Member
Joined: October 05, 2014 Posts: 22670 Location: NYC/Upstate/ROW
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Posted: Wed Sep 15, 2021 4:58 am Post subject: Re: Torsion Bar Socket |
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Two Tekton 27mm , $20
Lop off one end and tack it on to the other with 220V glue
Better quality than that pos _________________ .ssS! |
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MrPulldown Samba Member
Joined: September 08, 2020 Posts: 649 Location: Truckee
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Posted: Wed Sep 15, 2021 9:07 am Post subject: Re: Torsion Bar Socket |
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Abscate wrote: |
Two Tekton 27mm , $20
Lop off one end and tack it on to the other with 220V glue
Better quality than that pos |
Not everyone has or knows how to work a hot metal glue gun.
You should make a few.
"Now mark it up 500%, put bendy chick #vanlife video on the ad, and let the dollars flow in"
Abscate wrote: |
Mr Pulldown....
Now mark it up 500%, put bendy chick #vanlife video on the ad, and let the dollars flow in |
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=751582&start=0 _________________ 2002 EVC
Last edited by MrPulldown on Wed Sep 15, 2021 10:28 am; edited 1 time in total |
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elise111 Samba Member
Joined: October 13, 2005 Posts: 106 Location: Redondo Beach, CA
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Posted: Wed Sep 15, 2021 9:49 am Post subject: Re: Torsion Bar Socket |
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The comment about cleaning and threads and adding lube is a good one. These threads bugger up, so if it feels hard to turn, stop, go backwards and then clean up the exposed threads with a wire brush or similar. There have been several threads here about people having them seize.
I bought the socket because it is tough to access one of the nuts with a box end wrench.
Pete |
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bigfoot_ev Samba Member
Joined: March 13, 2018 Posts: 158 Location: Anacortes, WA
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Posted: Thu Sep 16, 2021 6:56 pm Post subject: Re: Torsion Bar Socket |
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I found it completely frustrating to use anything other than a socket. I tried the box end wrench but the clearance on the passenger side was so tight that it would take forever to move the nut up or down 1/8". Save yourself grief and frustration and buy the socket that Saturn linked. That's what I did and I have no regrets for spending $35. Plus, if you run into the issues with gummed up threads, then having a socket and long bar will get you through that easily as well. Definitely spray and clean the threads, but even after that I needed to put some grunt into moving the nut. |
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TheOneTrueQuux Samba Member
Joined: May 26, 2021 Posts: 363 Location: Winona, MN
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Posted: Fri Sep 17, 2021 12:03 pm Post subject: Re: Torsion Bar Socket |
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bigfoot_ev wrote: |
I found it completely frustrating to use anything other than a socket. I tried the box end wrench but the clearance on the passenger side was so tight that it would take forever to move the nut up or down 1/8". Save yourself grief and frustration and buy the socket that Saturn linked. That's what I did and I have no regrets for spending $35. Plus, if you run into the issues with gummed up threads, then having a socket and long bar will get you through that easily as well. Definitely spray and clean the threads, but even after that I needed to put some grunt into moving the nut. |
Hmm, could there be some variation from year to year here? I didn't really have clearance issues on either side, though I did use an open end wrench once I got it moving, and I had it on jack stands, which made it easier. |
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Abscate Samba Member
Joined: October 05, 2014 Posts: 22670 Location: NYC/Upstate/ROW
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Posted: Sat Sep 18, 2021 5:27 am Post subject: Re: Torsion Bar Socket |
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MrPulldown wrote: |
Abscate wrote: |
Two Tekton 27mm , $20
Lop off one end and tack it on to the other with 220V glue
Better quality than that pos |
Not everyone has or knows how to work a hot metal glue gun.
You should make a few.
"Now mark it up 500%, put bendy chick #vanlife video on the ad, and let the dollars flow in"
Abscate wrote: |
Mr Pulldown....
Now mark it up 500%, put bendy chick #vanlife video on the ad, and let the dollars flow in |
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=751582&start=0 |
_________________ .ssS! |
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Abscate Samba Member
Joined: October 05, 2014 Posts: 22670 Location: NYC/Upstate/ROW
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Posted: Sat Sep 18, 2021 10:57 am Post subject: Re: Torsion Bar Socket |
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We should make one or two and ship them around as needed.
Socialism works well for some things _________________ .ssS! |
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bigfoot_ev Samba Member
Joined: March 13, 2018 Posts: 158 Location: Anacortes, WA
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Posted: Fri Sep 24, 2021 2:00 pm Post subject: Re: Torsion Bar Socket |
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TheOneTrueQuux wrote: |
Hmm, could there be some variation from year to year here? I didn't really have clearance issues on either side, though I did use an open end wrench once I got it moving, and I had it on jack stands, which made it easier. |
That's a good point and something for others to consider when looking into this. I have a 2003 EVW and the gas tank and rear compartment heater sandwich the torsion link nut. It's stuffed up in between the two. That's what restricted my wrench movement. I needed the socket to clear the bottom of the gas tank and give me swing room. |
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smores Samba Member
Joined: September 14, 2020 Posts: 91 Location: RNO
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Posted: Tue Sep 28, 2021 8:10 pm Post subject: Re: Torsion Bar Socket |
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Yes! This is EXACTLY the same as the one I bought, and it worked perfectly!
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TheOneTrueQuux Samba Member
Joined: May 26, 2021 Posts: 363 Location: Winona, MN
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Posted: Wed Sep 29, 2021 9:13 am Post subject: Re: Torsion Bar Socket |
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bigfoot_ev wrote: |
TheOneTrueQuux wrote: |
Hmm, could there be some variation from year to year here? I didn't really have clearance issues on either side, though I did use an open end wrench once I got it moving, and I had it on jack stands, which made it easier. |
That's a good point and something for others to consider when looking into this. I have a 2003 EVW and the gas tank and rear compartment heater sandwich the torsion link nut. It's stuffed up in between the two. That's what restricted my wrench movement. I needed the socket to clear the bottom of the gas tank and give me swing room. |
There you go. The 1995 I was working on doesn't have a rear compartment heater. |
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almond Samba Member
Joined: April 06, 2021 Posts: 38
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Posted: Wed Oct 20, 2021 9:59 am Post subject: Re: Torsion Bar Socket |
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Has anyone got one of these in the Portland, OR area they'd be willing to let me use to level out my van? Thanks! |
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gschwell Samba Member
Joined: August 19, 2010 Posts: 25 Location: South Hadley, MA
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Posted: Wed Mar 30, 2022 5:43 pm Post subject: Re: Torsion Bar Socket |
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I ended up buying this Sunex 27mm extra deep socket and it worked great.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B006L23RUQ?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title
Interestingly by leveling my front with the torsion bar, the rear is now level. I was planning to add a 1/2” pad in the rear, but I don’t think I’ll need to. I still need to drive it a bit to let it settle. |
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Saturn Samba Member
Joined: April 06, 2019 Posts: 192 Location: San Francisco
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Posted: Sat Apr 02, 2022 1:16 am Post subject: Re: Torsion Bar Socket |
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Just noticed this evening the Sunex 27mm deep socket is being listed at a 25% discount on Amazon ($26.77). For those of you on the fence of getting one of these, looks like now maybe the time to pull the trigger. |
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