Torsion Bars

When installing torsion bars into the torsion tube on a beetle, i see there is some markings, a dot and a letter, is there a certain way to line these up? Does the dot have to go in a certain position? I understand about the angle of the spring plates, i just cant find anything on installing the torsion tubes correctly to original position.

Thanks

If you take the torsion bar out there is no 'original' position; you just need to ensure the end that has L or R on it sticks out and that the left torsion bar (L) is on the left and visa versa.

Once you've taken them right out you've lost where they were complelety; so it's up to your adjustments to get it right from there.

And ensure when installing that the height is even on both sides.

Cheers

Shaun

I agree about the height... mind you i have taken these out on four or 5 occasions now and have never had any height alignment issues??? It seems to be a real bug bear though?

Use a protractor to get the angel of the spring plates the same on both sides (unloaded)
Once the angles are the same, then load up the torsion bars by lifting the spring plates into their final position.

Cheers

Flintstones wrote:Use a protractor to get the angel of the spring plates the same on both sides (unloaded)
Once the angles are the same, then load up the torsion bars by lifting the spring plates into their final position.

Cheers

I usually only use the protractor to set the height on one spring plate, then sight through under the car when doing the second one to check that they are both in wind (parrallel).

Lining both up to the same angle isnt a problem, i was hoping more for an original position of the torsion bars, or even an original degrees the spring plate is supposed to sit on an original unloaded position?

It can depend on whay model beetle, but in my Bently manual for 59-66 beetles with a swing axle (no Z-bar) it says between 17 degrees 30 mins and 18 deg and 20mins

if its on a double joint rear end then it should be 20 degrees and 30mins

the torsion bar as I said if taken out won't have an originals position; its just a matter of playing with the inner splines and out splines to achieve the correct spring plate angle unloaded.

Cheers

Shaun