sloppy torsion arms

[chippi]

Ok, mot time is fast approching so today i jacked the bus up on the front and after pulling on the wheels to check for play i discovered that thier is a lot of slack where the torsion arms meet the axle.
Now the thing is this, if i pull hard on one wheel it pulls the arm out about 1/2", if i then go to the opposite wheel and pull hard it again pulls out the same but also pulls the first wheel back in ?, if i then have someone hold one side i can push both back in................................................................(pause for breath :roll
Most of the grub screws for the leaves appear to have been attacked by the po with mole grips and a hammer which looks suspicious, now i have tried to tighten them but this does not appear to be helping much.
Before i get really serious with it can anyone point me in the right direction please also the van has been lowered (no adjusters).

 

[ant]

Sounds like the centre securing bolt (the one in the middle of tube) isn't holding the spring. If this is the case you will have no suspension from that spring. Hope this isn't how its been lowered?

 

[chippi]

Looks to me like cut and turn, just to add i have had the bus for just over a year and have driven all over the place, it has gone like this since i have had it.

 

[Araon]

Sounds like one sides torsion arms set screws are loose fella, undo all the lock nuts and check the set screws and nip it all back up, vision aint a pretty one if this fails .....

Sounds like the centres are mullered too as there is deffinate lateral movement of the bars, may be worthwhile replacing screws and nuts for good quality....

 

[chippi]

vision aint a pretty one if this fails .....

I take it new torsion leaves :?: , think im gonna try a new set of grub screws and nuts anyway as mine are trashed.

 

[chippi]

is it common to have wear in the dimple on the spring as in the pic.Has anyone else had this prob, thanks for the help guys.

 

[ant]

cool graphic, i very much doubt there should be any wear of the dimple.

let us know how you get on, i'm intrigued now

 

[vwjim]

Had the same thing on a mate's beach buggy. Turned out to be dodgy centre grub screws / badly fitted adjusters.

 

[chippi]

I have been delving deeper today on the torsion issue and well, basically trying to rectify some half harted po's attempt at lowering :roll: , the centre grub screw that holds the spring in was never tigthened properly hence one side torsion arm has become slack on the screw, basically they have been fighting against each other to stay in the beam :x and the n/s lost.
Have ordered new screws for the beam which should cure it (fingers crossed).
Thanks for the help people.