What is this part?

[captain131]

Hi folks. My front end suspension/steering is completely shot. I've had great success removing everything I want to replace except the lower control arms. No problem so far with the front bolts - I got those out just fine. However, getting to the rear bolt is an issue. I can see and get to the nut, but the other end of the bolt is not visible b/c there is an ~4 shaft that runs covers the bolt and runs straight back to the middle of the truck. It's on both sides. (1) What is the part? (2) I need some guidance on best way to remove them so I can get to the bolts on the control arm. Any guidance is greatly appreciated!
Thanks!

 

[captain131]

BTW - meant to say ~4' bar/shaft. Also, my truck is 4wd and I suspect it may be related.
thanks.

 

[inkman101]

torsion bar is my guess. It replaces a leaf or coil spring.

 

[usaf2006]

So is it like 4" wide and about 1" or so thick? It should just be the cross member. I would assume there would be some bolts on either end, but I'm not sure. I never looked at my crossmember on my 4x4. I'll take a look after work if it's not too dark.

 

[captain131]

Thanks for jumping in guys.

It's not the torsion bar - I know that for sure. Both are about 4 feet long and don't move. Both ends of the bar/shaft look like hex, but they would be like 80mm or something (like the size of a tennis ball). The hex type ends nearest to the control arm slides into a bracket that fits the hex end, which subsequently covers the bolt end of the control arm bolt. Same thing on the other end of the bar/shaft, except the bracket is slightly different. The bracket on that end (middle of truck) looks like it is part of frame member that runs perpendicular to the other side where it then receives this other 4' bar/shaft. It's odd. They don't look mechanical, nor do they look like they serve any real purpose.

 

[captain131]

Also note that my truck use the "A" frame lower arm controls.

 

[usaf2006]

Pictures would be great if possible. Cause now I have no idea lol.

 

[captain131]

I'm working now, but I'll snap some pictures in the morn. I've been searching on google for an image. Thanks for staying in the loop. I'm stumped...

 

[captain131]

Ok...have pictures of the part. I think I know how to remove it, but I'd still like to know what it is. I also figured out it does rotate slightly when you move the lower control arm up or down. Wondering if I even need these. Once I get them out, I have a feeling it's going to be rusted frozen at both ends. I plan on replacing the control arms and if I can do without them I'd rather not deal with trying to unfreeze. Feedback/thoughts are welcome-----please....!

 

[captain131]

Perhaps it actually is a torsion bar? hmmm....

 

[xtremewlr]

4WD torsion bar is what you are talking about and is in the pics. They are required and can't be eliminated as far as I know.

 

[pickleram]

Yup thats a torsion bar.

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk

 

[usaf2006]

Sure is.

 

[captain131]

So...definitely torsion bars. Now - is there any downside to removing these and not replacing them? Do I have to worry about anything at all? I don't really care about the extra little lift I get, but will the truck look slanted toward the front? Will I need beefier upper control bars to compensate for the loss? This is a "yard truck" with less than 4K miles per year.

 

[xtremewlr]

Only way to eliminate them would be to do a solid axle swap. They are part of the front suspension and required for the suspension to actually work. The coils around the front struts don't provide all the support for the front suspension.

Best bet is to soak everything down with PBBlaster or something similar to help break all the rust free.

 

[captain131]

Thank you everyone. I found it completely impossible to get these torsion bars unfrozen, even after soaking in PB and blasting with my torch. After too many hours of frustration, I cut the damn things in half and continued to hammer the sh*t out of them until they freed from the LCA's. I had to drop $170 on a replacement pair from mopar, but screw it, at least I can move forward now.

 

[Medic4302]

Ummmm, troll? If not, wow.

 

[xtremewlr]

Ummmm, troll? If not, wow.

I wouldn't call troll so easily. The pics showed the rust was pretty bad so it isn't surprising with what he ended up having to do to get them out. Hopefully all goes back together without issues.

 

[Medic4302]

I wouldn't call troll so easily. The pics showed the rust was pretty bad so it isn't surprising with what he ended up having to do to get them out. Hopefully all goes back together without issues.

perhaps, it just didnt sound like he even tried to remove them properly. under tension those things are dangerous. not sure i'd just take a torch to them but i guess it worked.

 

[captain131]

Hi Guys,
Not a troll. I had already removed all the tension, the problem I faced was that the bar slides into the control arm at least an inch, and another 1/2 inch on the key, with both ends frozen. I released the tension and dropped the key as much as it would go, but it wouldn't clear the cross member. I had very little wiggle room to hammer on the torsion bar, and believe me, I tried. Hammered it side to side, but such little play that it wouldn't budge. I then tried to drop the bushing on the cross member but that bolt was frozen in place. Another hour of PB and hammering.... I had the 3rd option of dropping the entire cross member, but I elected not to. In retrospect, I probably should have as that may have given me the side-to-side, up-and-down play and may have saved me $. In any case, I was super frustrated after several pain filled hours and I cut the torsion bar with 4 1/2 metal cutting disk. Once I had the two pieces hanging, I was able to bang and move the bar with enough play so as to free it from the arm. I had to put the other end of the bar in the vice to smash the key off. I didn't cut the 2nd one yet, as I haven't even been to that side of the truck. If it comes out I'll save 1/2 my money, but I ordered both just in case. I can always return the 2nd.