Home-made torsion bar removal tool

[Michael & Allison Conrey <conrey@xxxxxxxxx>]

   I just swapped out my torsion bars last week and made my own removal 
tool for less than $5.  My first attemp was to follow advice on the 
shankle torsion bar instructions and purchase an M10 x 1.25 bolt, start 
threading it into the back of the torsion bar and beat it with a hammer. 
Note that the lower a-arm must be removed in order for this method to 
work.  After destroying three bolts, I decided that this method was not 
going to work.  Then I took a piece of 1/2" plate, measuring about 2" x 
4" and drilled a 7/16" hole through the center of it.  I put the an M10 
x 1.25 bolt through it and threaded it into the back of the torsion bar 
trying to pull the bar out the back.  After stripping the threads on 
three more bolts, I decided this was not going to work either.  In my 
third attempt, I purchased two 1-1/2" U-bolts, took a piece of 4" x 4" x 
1/2" angle about 5" long and drilled four holes in one leg of the angle. 
I then slipped the U-bolts over the torsion bar at the front of the bar 
just before the splines begin and attatched them to the angle.  Using a 
three pound hammer, I beat the crap out of the bottom leg of the angle 
and basically pulled the bar out towards the front.  It took ALOT of 
force, patience, heat and penetrating oil, but it finally came out.  If 
you can't understand my description, I can snap a photo and send it to 
you.  Note that the lower a-arm must be removed in order for this method 
to work as well.  Counting my failed attempts and trips to the store, I 
probably spent 5 or 6 hours on this one bar.  On the other hand, you 
might get lucky, on the drivers side, I was able to pull the bar out 
with my bare hands!  If I had it to do over again, with the tool already 
made, the passenger side would probably take 15 minutes.  One other word 
of caution, Paul at DiFatta Bros. warned me to be careful with the heat 
because you could catch the carpet on fire!  
Michael Conrey
Smithsburg, MD

PS - anyone from the digest going to VIR this weekend?
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