Have I broken a torsion bar?!

[GeorgeHurst]

I dismantled the front suspension on both sides this afternoon, everything came off nice and easily, however I think I may have broken the near side torsion bar... basically the bit that goes through the eyebolt came away from the main torsion bar itself. Is this supposed to happen?!
It doesn't look like there is any mechanical way of it fitting together, i.e a thread, so I fear I may have just broken it off, the other side didn't do this at all.
Any ideas?!

[aupickup]

the torsion bar does not go through the eyebolt direct,

[GeorgeHurst]

ok, so is the bit that has come off supposed to have come off?! The bit that's come away from the torsion bar has a threaded end that goes through the eyebolt...

[aupickup]

the torsion bar passes through the thick wishbone, then this goes on to the eyebolt bolt and a large cup washer goes inside yje thick wishbone

[bmcecosse]

There is a shaft (exact same shaft as is used on lower trunnion!) that goes through the eyebolt and carries the bushes. It screws into the T bar - it may have broken off, or just come unscrewed - you should be able to winkle it out easily enough. Study the parts drawing on the Moss website!

[RobThomas]

This.... http://www.morrisminorspares.net/shop_item.php?ID=3044 ...screws into the front end of the bar and then passes throught the eyebolt. The Tbar is splined into the cast leg that goes to the bottom trunnion. I believe that only 3 bars were ever returned to BMC with breaks, suggesting a massive overdesign.

Is this the bit that has come off?

[bmcecosse]

Bully links don't work! The item is #74 (and #99! - although Moss give it a different part number) in this MOSS link http://www.moss-europe.co.uk/Shop/ViewP ... exID=17091

[GeorgeHurst]

Apologies for the delayed reply, and thanks for all the comments.
I now see from the replies and various parts/diagrams that the fulcrum pin bolts to the cup washer and the torsion bar slots into the cup washer! thanks for clarifying.... I now know I definitely haven't broken it, I was just bemused as to why the two came apart so easily but I now see that their just held tightly together when fitted.
Cheers!
George

[bmcecosse]

Yes - the rear part of the suspension arm sits over the washer (although more of a 'bush' then a washer) - and locates it.

[GeorgeHurst]

Right on, it just didn't seem like it should be that way - I guess I had always 'imagined' t bars to look a different way!

[rayofleamington]

I now see from the replies and various parts/diagrams that the fulcrum pin bolts to the cup washer and the torsion bar slots into the cup washer! thanks for clarifying....

I think you probably have understood it, but just to clarify a bit more
The pin that goes through the eyebolt is bolted to the Cup Washer.
The Cup Washer fits (tightly) in to one side of the thick suspension arm.
The torsion bar slides in to the other side of the thick suspension arm.

The reason the torsion bar slides is so that the actual length will adjust to the car body - the rear of the torsion bar is clamped to the centre cross member using the C-washer (in front of cross memebr) and the stepped washer + nut at the rear of cross member. The C-washer sets the length and the stepped washer aligns the rear end to the hole.

If the front splines do not slide (i.e. rusted up) then the length cannot adjust. If it is wrong it will cause early failure of the eyebolt bushes (the bush flange will get chewed off).

[GeorgeHurst]

Cheers Ray, that's good to know the background behind it all, thanks
George