356A front torsion leafs condition and where to buy?
- Steve Raucher
- 356 Fan
- Posts: 772
- Joined: Sat Jan 09, 2010 9:58 am
- Location: Seaside CA 93955
356A front torsion leafs condition and where to buy?
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
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
- John Brooks
- 356 Fan
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- Joined: Tue Jul 08, 2008 11:50 am
- Location: Whidbey Island WA.
- Contact:
Re: 356A front torsion leafs condition and where to buy?
This my help
https://youtu.be/EWHPlUNzMXU
https://youtu.be/EWHPlUNzMXU
John Brooks
62 Roadster
66 912
84 Cab
getting pushed around in porsches since 1965
62 Roadster
66 912
84 Cab
getting pushed around in porsches since 1965
- Carl Swirsding
- 356 Fan
- Posts: 178
- Joined: Thu Dec 02, 2010 10:11 pm
- Location: Los Altos, CA
Re: 356A front torsion leafs condition and where to buy?
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.
Carl Swirsding
Los Altos, CA
'64 C Coupe #215553
Los Altos, CA
'64 C Coupe #215553
- Steve Raucher
- 356 Fan
- Posts: 772
- Joined: Sat Jan 09, 2010 9:58 am
- Location: Seaside CA 93955
Re: 356A front torsion leafs condition and where to buy?
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
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
- Carl Swirsding
- 356 Fan
- Posts: 178
- Joined: Thu Dec 02, 2010 10:11 pm
- Location: Los Altos, CA
Re: 356A front torsion leafs condition and where to buy?
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
Los Altos, CA
'64 C Coupe #215553
Los Altos, CA
'64 C Coupe #215553
- Steve Raucher
- 356 Fan
- Posts: 772
- Joined: Sat Jan 09, 2010 9:58 am
- Location: Seaside CA 93955
Re: 356A front torsion leafs condition and where to buy?
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
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
- Martin Benade
- 356 Fan
- Posts: 12345
- Joined: Wed Nov 23, 2011 10:52 am
- Location: Cleveland, Ohio
Re: 356A front torsion leafs condition and where to buy?
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.
Cleveland Ohio
62 Cabriolet
56 VW
02 IS 300
04 Sienna
62 Cabriolet
56 VW
02 IS 300
04 Sienna
- Don Gale
- 356 Fan
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Re: 356A front torsion leafs condition and where to buy?
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.
1958 356A 1600 Super Sunroof Coupe
former 1966 Euro 912 Sunroof
former 1978 Intermeccanica Speedster w/'68 912
Member Since 1983, #4039
"Nostalgia isn't what it used to be"
former 1966 Euro 912 Sunroof
former 1978 Intermeccanica Speedster w/'68 912
Member Since 1983, #4039
"Nostalgia isn't what it used to be"
- Steve Raucher
- 356 Fan
- Posts: 772
- Joined: Sat Jan 09, 2010 9:58 am
- Location: Seaside CA 93955
Re: 356A front torsion leafs condition and where to buy?
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
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
- Martin Benade
- 356 Fan
- Posts: 12345
- Joined: Wed Nov 23, 2011 10:52 am
- Location: Cleveland, Ohio
Re: 356A front torsion leafs condition and where to buy?
As long as both bars look about the same I think there’d be no problem if they were not a matched pair.
Cleveland Ohio
62 Cabriolet
56 VW
02 IS 300
04 Sienna
62 Cabriolet
56 VW
02 IS 300
04 Sienna
- Carl Swirsding
- 356 Fan
- Posts: 178
- Joined: Thu Dec 02, 2010 10:11 pm
- Location: Los Altos, CA
Re: 356A front torsion leafs condition and where to buy?
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
Los Altos, CA
'64 C Coupe #215553
Los Altos, CA
'64 C Coupe #215553
- Steve Raucher
- 356 Fan
- Posts: 772
- Joined: Sat Jan 09, 2010 9:58 am
- Location: Seaside CA 93955
Re: 356A front torsion leafs condition and where to buy?
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
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