Torsion Arm/Leaf Spring problems

[NewBugger74]

Hey I have been working on redoing most of the front end of my 67' Bug and didn't have much trouble putting the torsion arms back in on the passenger side. I was able to get the top torsion arm in on the drivers side however, the bottom torsion arm is giving me a lot of trouble.
I looked through the forums and tried various suggestions such as zip tying the leaf springs together and filing the edge of the leaf springs as well to get it to slide onto the torsion arm better. I tried wiggling it a crap ton and still have that 1 inch gap before the leaf spring mates with the torsion arm.
I have some photos to show, my question is, should I get new leaf springs? Keep trying to wiggle it in? File more of the leaf spring down? And last of all should I get a new beam, it doesn't look bent from the photos but I could be wrong.
I also noticed my spring likes to sit in the bottom left corner, and is pretty tough to get it to center up when even just trying to put the Torsion arm in.
Let me know what you guys think.

[runamoc]

[NewBugger74]

Hey thanks for the reply [/b]runamoc I do not believe they are on incorrectly because there's a little short side that fits just inside the bar before being place in. That's how I arranged the other 3.
Here's a photo for what I mean by "short side"

[/b]

[aquifer]

I believe that the seals are installed correctly. The top leaf seems to be curving upward, so it's probably hitting the top of the channel before it can slide in place. A zip tie should fix that, as long as you make sure the leaf is bent back down and centered. But you said the zip tie didn't work, so be sure you put the zip tie out toward the end that's bowed up, and just tight enough to hold it down and centered. When you slide the arm on it will push the zip tie out of the way as the leaves slide into place.
_________________
Parts needed:
Front & rear NOS or used OEM door panels for a '67 in the original Gazelle color (dark tan/light brown).
Also looking for used white headliner pieces, both perforated and non-perforated.

[NewBugger74]

Hey aquifer, I had the zip tie on it as tight as I could get it, and it helped bring that bow you are talking about down. It just seemed that it still wasn't enough to get the leaf to slide into place. I put the zip tie right before the little insert where the fitting goes into, and it slid back as I attempted to put the torsion arm on. It seemed that no amount of wiggling would allow me to put into place. Could this be a leaf spring problem? I am just a little stuck on how to get it to properly go in, I am keeping the torsion arm in the correct position as I am wiggling it too.
Thanks for the reply.

[aquifer]

[NewBugger74]

Yes maybe a different type of tie would work, that's a good idea. They are the same leaves and arms, so yeah they should go back on!
Thank you for insight, I will hopefully get to it later today.

[aquifer]

I’ve never pulled the whole leaf pack out, but I bet you could loosen the grub screw on the opposite arm, and the ones on the beam and pull the top leaf out far enough so you could guide the bent part in by hand, then slide it all back together, pushing the top leaf back into the arm on the other side and seating the other leaves into the offending arm. Not sure if that would work, so someone can correct me, but it might be an option. It would give you direct control of the leaf with the bend in it. Once that leaf was seated, the others would probably just slide in place.
_________________
Parts needed:
Front & rear NOS or used OEM door panels for a '67 in the original Gazelle color (dark tan/light brown).
Also looking for used white headliner pieces, both perforated and non-perforated.

[NewBugger74]

Oh that's a good idea too, like you said it could give me much more control over where it is sliding into the arm. Hopefully it won't mess to much with it when putting the leaf spring back in, as I have never pulled a leaf spring out either. Alas that's another option if all else fails.

[aquifer]

If you have access to a parts washer or a way to clean inside the arm, that would be a good idea too. Maybe there’s a chunk of something in there that is keeping the leaves from sliding all the way in. I recently did my front end and I cleaned out all 4 arms in my parts washer. The old gooey grease can flow out of the grub screw hole as I stuck the cleaner tube down in there.

Also clean the grease off a couple inches on the leaves themselves. Smear fresh grease around and between them to make sure nothing is binding.
_________________
Parts needed:
Front & rear NOS or used OEM door panels for a '67 in the original Gazelle color (dark tan/light brown).
Also looking for used white headliner pieces, both perforated and non-perforated.

[RLFD213]

I put the big leafs in first and then work the other small ones in 1 at a time. It takes time but they do go in.

[NewBugger74]

As to your last comment aquifer I did do a little bit of cleaning on the arms with a pick and some paper towels to try and get some cleaning done before making this post, not sure it was enough, but I may be able to wash them out better honestly. I didn't put fresh grease on the ends of the leaves, I will try that as well. I may be able to get to it tonight, if not for sure tomorrow. I'll come back with updates.

[scrivyscriv]

As you found out, installing the first trailing arms is easy! It’s the other side that makes it hard
It’s a fight to get them in. You’re trying to line up the spring pack with the inner square, AND the outer arm with the beam bushings, just about at the same time. I had mine totally apart and reassembled with the same springs and arms.. it took some finessing. Don’t be afraid to smack the end (outboard side) of the trailing arms with a BFH a few times.
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Robert in Memphis
Dünkelgrügen 1967 Java Green bug thread
Engine rebuild thread
If you're ever in the Memphis area, you are welcome to stop by for advice and help.

[NewBugger74]

Yes it really is a fight Scrivy! Tried for about 2 hours straight yesterday and boy was it frustrating, but these replies are giving me some more confidence, just finesse it till I get it I guess.

[NewBugger74]

Well its with great excitement that I just got the torsion arm back in!!! Took a lot of wiggling and finessing, but boy, was I jumping for joy. Thank you everyone who helped in the forum, I really appreciate it.

[VW_Jimbo]

Glad that you got it! That is a bitch of a job!
_________________
Jimbo

There is never enough time to do it right the first time, but all the time necessary the second time!