Torsion Bar Adjustment / Custom Socket

[sigurross]

Has anybody taken the time to make the custom socket in this illustration:



And this leads me to my next question, can I borrow it? I can pay for shipping (unless of course you're in the Victoria area) and return it to you ASAP. Let me know. Thanks.

[TardisDeli]

Yeppers

[jessef]

if so inclined, you can buy a 5" long 1/2" drive 17mm socket. need to shop around. $15 - $80

http://www.alltiresupply.com/p-GP-2017XMD.html

proto, snapon, mac tools, grey pneumatics, sunex

[FalcoColumbarius]

I actually used a 17mm ratchet wrench, the kind with the switch on it. slid it on, budda-bing, budda-boom and Bob's yer uncle. It helps if you lift your wagon off the front suspension.

Falco.

[jessef]

Like Paul said, if you crave some arm muscles, use a ratchet wrench. Having access to a hoist or floor jack helps.

[RichD]

Jesse is trolling. I agree with Paul; the fancy extended socket is useless save for a few turns on one side.

I acquired a number of different tools to do this job - including the fancy socket. Before doing it, I watched two different mechanics including Butch do it, and several hobbyists. None of them employed the fancy extended socket. Then I did it myself on three separate occasions. The socket was useless.


Sometimes I think that people overcomplicate things to save a few turns of a wrench. Also this job is easily done using a creeper.

The best tool for the job is a ratcheting wrench. My uncle Bob would agree.

[CVI]

best way to adjust those torsion bars is to lift the front tires to release the tension of the torsion bars and it will make wrenching or socketing way easier....don't forget to do alignment after.

[jessef]

Ratcheting wrench is for people who don't have air tools or a extra deep socket.

Every shop (including CVI) I've been to use a 5" extra deep socket when doing the torsion bar adjustments. This accounts for all vehicles with IFS, not just limited to Delica's.

Reasoning : time

impact socket w/air = 1 min per side
wrench = 10-15 mins per side (longer on the passenger side - lack of elbow room)

I've installed many a suspension lift and assisted with control arm bushing replacements. All but one were done with the extra deep socket to save time and the pleasure of doing 1/4 turns with a ratcheting wrench a hundred times per side.

You have 10" inches of threaded rod and when removing the adjustment nut completely or slacking off the tbars to work on the front end, an extra deep impact socket is a god send.

OP. There's a few floating around. Hopefully you got the pm's.

[RichD]

You do not use air to precisely turn a nut a few rotations.

If reindexing, fine you have to turn it a few more rotations. However...

On the auto transmission, the fuel tank and some other hanger was in the way of using the socket. I had to keep switching to another tool. Its a complete waste of time IMO. Perhaps on a manual the tank is in a different position and it works better.

All I'm saying is that anyone can do this with a ratcheting wrench and that waiting for a socket wrench in the mail is an unnecessary delay to doing this simple job.

[FalcoColumbarius]

I'd be curious to see how one could get an impact gun up in the left side undercarriage of an L300 to twist the torsion bars.

Falco.