356A front torsion leafs condition and where to buy?

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Steve Raucher
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356A front torsion leafs condition and where to buy?

#1 Post by Steve Raucher »

Hi all,
So by now I am knee deep in the hoopla refurbishing the front end on '58 Speedster.
Removed top and bottom front torsion bars see picture. The one of left is top and other on right is bottom.
Seems to be separation, fair to say some welds have broken? Can these be reused once installed and compressed?
If not where to source these parts.
Regards,
Steve
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John Brooks
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Re: 356A front torsion leafs condition and where to buy?

#2 Post by John Brooks »

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Carl Swirsding
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Re: 356A front torsion leafs condition and where to buy?

#3 Post by Carl Swirsding »

Steve, Last year I had my torsion bars out when rebuilding the front suspension on my C Coupe. I too had separation between the "blades." Ron Chuck of Redwood City helped me get it all back together. Ron looked at my torsion bars and said they were fine because they are tightly captured at each end and in the middle. So I cleaned out all the crud between the blades and reinstalled them without a problem.
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Steve Raucher
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Re: 356A front torsion leafs condition and where to buy?

#4 Post by Steve Raucher »

Thanks Carl,
Will give Ron a call have dealt with him before.
One of my leafs is broken wonder if anyone knows if welding it would be alright?
Steve
 

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Carl Swirsding
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Re: 356A front torsion leafs condition and where to buy?

#5 Post by Carl Swirsding »

Torsion bar - 1.jpeg
Steve, Ron is an excellent welder. He may be able to give you an opinion after seeing what you have.

One of my torsion bars I had a leaf separation. I had it MIG welded (not by Ron) without an issue. See photo.
Carl Swirsding
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'64 C Coupe #215553

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Steve Raucher
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Re: 356A front torsion leafs condition and where to buy?

#6 Post by Steve Raucher »

Thanks Carl!
Can anyone confirm if front torsion bars have wide separation they can be reused that way or repairs are required?
How would repairs be done?
Thank you,
Steve
 

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Martin Benade
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Re: 356A front torsion leafs condition and where to buy?

#7 Post by Martin Benade »

I wouldn’t worry much about separation as long as the only thing broken is a weld holding the bundle together. I think the welds are mostly an installation aid and don’t matter much once it’s in place. The holes in the trailing arms hold it all together.
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Re: 356A front torsion leafs condition and where to buy?

#8 Post by Don Gale »

Ditto, shouldn't matter much. If fully rigidly held in the center, the welds will see differential shear, perhaps enough to break the weld if the wheel traveled to the extremes over rough roads or potholes or hanging free when lifted. Will affect the composite spring rate but not by much. Most likely the outer leaf will separate first.
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Steve Raucher
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Re: 356A front torsion leafs condition and where to buy?

#9 Post by Steve Raucher »

Well here is the proof in the pudding.
Broken outer torsion leaf. Not broken welds near each end of the torsion bars.
So need to replace. Some people have mentioned to be careful buying two unmatched torsion bars which could affect spring rates handling etc is this a concern?
Sure would love to find a good set from the same car but what is the likely hood of that?
Not going to try to get this break welded.
Still looking to buy. Should I be looking for one or two torsion bars as one of mine is still good.
Regards,
Steve
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Martin Benade
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Re: 356A front torsion leafs condition and where to buy?

#10 Post by Martin Benade »

As long as both bars look about the same I think there’d be no problem if they were not a matched pair.
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Carl Swirsding
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Re: 356A front torsion leafs condition and where to buy?

#11 Post by Carl Swirsding »

Steve, sorry to see the broken leaf. I think you are right to replace it. But the question in my mind would be, are all torsion bars in stock 356's the same? For example, would torsion bars from say a C work in your Speedster?
Carl Swirsding
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Steve Raucher
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Re: 356A front torsion leafs condition and where to buy?

#12 Post by Steve Raucher »

Just got a replacement torsion bar from John Willhoit.
Will install it Sunday along with C Spindles that has new link pins installed.King pins to follow new as well.
One spindle is very tight to articulate or turn left and right. Will it loosen up over time and use and new grease?
Or am I better off to not install and solve this issue at the front end?
Thank you,
Steve
 

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