Rear Torsion questions

[Buzzfagan]

Trying to replace my rear spring plates with adjustable plates and new bushings on my Manx style buggy. Last weekend took off the old spring plates and the torsion bars came out with them. Not sure if that is supposed to happen or not but it did. I hammered off the torsion bars.

When I looked into the housing where the torsion bars go there is some dirt and what looks like small dirt size rust debree/grindings in the tube. The whole chassis was pretty rusty and has been disassembled/fixed and I am in the process of rust preventing and sealing it with the KBS 3-4 step process. The torsion bars look like they are in good shape.

My first question is after I clean it out should I spray the inside of where the torsion bars go with the KBS rust sealer system to prevent further rusting in there? Can I "damage" or inhibit anything from working correctly by doing so? If I get the coating in the splines will it affect the fit and function? Is there any downside or risk in doing the rust sealing system in there?

Next, I can't seem to find a picture or representation of what the inside of the torsion housing looks like. What does it look like and how does it function where the torsion bars insert? Do both the right and left side insert into the same female receptacle or do they have their own separate ones in the torsion housing? What gives it the springiness/load/tension?

Next, when reinstalling the torsion bars into the housing (just the housing itself, not the outer part connected to the spring plate) is there any particular way it needs to be put back in there (other than obviously the correct bar and end of bar on the correct side)? Does it have to be rotated in a certain direction? Do you use any lube or other product inside Thor the splines or in the tube at all?

Thank you for your help!

[BL3Manx]

There are dozens of threads in the Samba archives on the subject of adjusting/re-indexing the torsion bars. You should look through the threads on rear wheel camber or torsion bar adjustment.

Absolutely don't put sealant in the inner splines. Anti-seize on the splines
is a good idea.

[BL3Manx]

You asked for an image of how the torsion bars fit into the splines in the center section of the torsion housing. Here is a torsion bar in an aftermarket center section without the housing tube. Does that help?

[jsturtlebuggy]

As BL3 says there are plenty of threads on here about setting torsion bars and installing spring plates. Search is your friend.

As for what you are seeing inside the torsion housing, the left over welding slag and little dingle balls are normal. No reason to clean it out, it is there from when the torsion housing parts were welded altogether.
_________________
Joseph
Fair Oaks/Orangevale, CA
Elrod Motorsports
Motion Tire Motorsports
Having fun with Dune Buggies since 1970
Into Volkswagens since 1960