914 torsion bars

[papak]

Just pulled mine out of my '73 today as I'm replacing the suspension bushings. Both bars are slightly abraded due to the very old bushings deforming (old? I hardly had to heat the retainers in order to get them off!). Replace or not? Mine measure a little over 18mm at the shaft (18.01 and 18.25mm to be precise). I've checked the usual sources but no luck as yet. Who might carry them? I really don't want to increase the spring rate with the 20mm ones from Pelican.

If I clean these up, can they be reversed? Does the minor abrasion significantly change the spring rate? Are those from the early 911 of that era an alternative?

[papak]

IMG_0067.jpeg (2.64 MiB) Viewed 368 times

[papak]

While I'm at it, one of the adjuster screws is showing signs of stating to split at the tip. Keep or replace?

IMG_0066.jpeg (1.53 MiB) Viewed 367 times

[Tom]

I don't know much about 914 torsion bars, but I'd definitely replace that bolt!

[dr bob]

It's been 40+ years since I worked on a 914, IIRC... From that time though, I seem to remember that the splines are different end to end. So no option to swap side-to-side and end to end. Those bars are pretty tough though so I would have little problem putting them back in new bushings.

The stiffer aftermarket options at the time were all but essential with anything wider than the original-width wheels and tires.

[J-Dub]

I would not worry about the minor abrasion. They cannot be flipped and should not be swapped side for side. I would reuse, coat them so the bare metal is no longer exposed.

Sway-A-Way still makes torsion bars however since they were bought out the website is much harder to navigate. Not sure if they make the stock size still. I recently up-sized my rear bars on my aircooled car and it did help with stability at freeway speed, if that is important to you.

That adjuster screw does look like it should be retired.

What type of bushing are you going back with?

[papak]

I'm using the 914rubber bushings. After cleaning up the replacement torsion bars, I had the LCAs and other bits sandblasted to prepare for painting. When attempted a trial fitting into the adjuster end, They don't fit! Was there a change in the number of teeth on the torsion bars over the model years? The original bars fit fine. ???

[papak]

I have discovered that the 914 torsion bars have 29 splines and a "VW" stamp on one end as opposed to the 911 bars. Those have no stamp and 30 splines! The lengths are exactly the same. On both bars, the spline count is the same on both ends.

[996C438]

I don't know if this is an old wives tale or not , but I was told NEVER swap used torsion bars side to side . Something about the metal getting used to springing in the direction it was installed . When you lower the car off a lift or you hit a bump the drivers side twists counter clockwise . The passenger side twists clockwise . Or something like that

[dr bob]

My "side to side and end to end" swap keeps the torque direction on each bar the same as original. Just moves the abraded area inside for new contact area with the new bushings.