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Alfa Romeo Owners Club of Australia Forum

Technical => 116 Series (Alfetta Sedan/GT/GTV & Giulietta Sedan) => Topic started by: GTVeloce on March 21, 2011, 02:26:50 PM

Title: Torsion Bars - Old or New?
Post by: GTVeloce on March 21, 2011, 02:26:50 PM
Can someone tell me - do torsion bars lose their spring over time/with use like springs do? i.e. I'm looking at 27mm bars and wondering whether it would be fine to buy second hand or should I go new.

Thanks
Julian
Title: Re: Torsion Bars - Old or New?
Post by: Duk on March 21, 2011, 04:35:32 PM
Theoretically they would suffer fatigue and start to sag with use (not so much age) in the same way a coil spring starts to sag, but the more metal there is to make the 'spring' then the more durable it will be.
Title: Re: Torsion Bars - Old or New?
Post by: minipete on April 15, 2011, 10:49:31 AM
I've had my Giulietta for 25 years and 170,000kms.  The suspension hasn't been touched and it still sits at the same height as when I got it. 

My 1974 Renault 16 has torsion bars and has done 320,000kms without sag.

I would have no hesitation in using second hand bars.

Pete
Title: Re: Torsion Bars - Old or New?
Post by: alfa duk on April 15, 2011, 05:52:14 PM
 This is providing that you can get second hand, not that easy to find bars larger than standard.
Title: Re: Torsion Bars - Old or New?
Post by: Duk on April 15, 2011, 07:01:29 PM
Quote from: alfa duk on April 15, 2011, 05:52:14 PM
^^^^ Hmmmmmmmmmmm scary  :P :P :P ;) ;) ;) 8)
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