torsion arms reinstall

[mentalQtip]

I have a '77 westfalia and have taken the torsion arms off on the passenger side only for ball joint replacement. Now I'm trying to put the arms back into the tubes and for the life of me I can't figure out how get the torsion bars to seat all the way at the bottom of the arm. The leaves of the bar slid such that I can't imagine how it is possible to get them aligned to slide all the way in. Is there some secret to this mess?
Thanks

[fusername]

there is no good way, there is supposed to be a bead of weld to hold the leaves aligned, but it always breaks. there is a LOT of cursing to get it back together, easily the worst part of any front end work is getting that second arm back on the torsion leaves

[mentalQtip]

I think I needed someone to just say, "There is no good way".
But following up on the idea of welding, where was the original weld, and why couldn't I find someone who could put the weld back?
I'm afraid that I might never be able to get the arms back on the leaves. Or am I just being to impatient and I should just keep trying?
Thanks

[fusername]

you will continue to feel that way untill it suddenly and inexplicably goes on. there is no good way. pull the arm off and look at the end of the springs, you will see the weld bead

[mentalQtip]

Still struggling. Spent probably near 45 minutes trying to "english" those leaves into place. Even tried putting a loop of string through the threaded opening of the arm and then over the leaves and then sliding the arm into place and trying to pull the leaves into a different position as I pushed. Nope.
Someone told me of putting a jack under the torsion tube in the middle to change the position of the leaves in the tube. I thing I'll try that tomorrow or Wednesday, weather permitting.
Thanks for the imput.

[busman78]

Is this the top, bottom or both?

It is near impossible to install the top torsion with the bumper stop in place.

Can you get a picture of the leaves in the tubes and post?

[mentalQtip]

[img][IMG]http://i1010.photobucket.com/albums/af2 ... ure055.jpg[/img][/img]

Hope that worked. First time using photos.

[busman78]

http://i1010.photobucket.com/albums/af2 ... ure055.jpg

Looks like the top stack has slipped, appears the first grub screw has kicked the top leaf out of align. Bottom looks the same. Look into the arm end, you will see how the leaves must stack to fit.

[mentalQtip]

Busman78. I see how the leaves are slipped sideways, but I'm not so clear on how to get them back into a neat stack so I can slip the torsion arm back on. Where is this "grub screw"? and does this mean that I need to loosen it? The bottom stack has slipped also in the same way.
Assuming that I somehow get the arms back on, am I to slather multipurpose grease on the leaves before pushing the arms all the way in?
Thanks most sincerely

[busman78]

Grub screw is the set screw held by a lock nut to the tube, the end ones should be out now, they hold the arms on, if they are still in this may be the problem. There is also one on each tube in the center which aligns the stacks to center of the torsion tube.

What you may have to do is loosen the center set screw or remove it, slide the leaves to one side to get a torsion arm on, secure that arm to the stack, then slide the arm with leaves secured back in, center, secure with center set screw, this should make putting the other side on easier. Yes, you grease the leaves.

[mentalQtip]

I've only taken off the passenger side torsion arms. Are you saying that I should loosen/remove the center grub screw, move the leaves around by moving the torsion arm from the drivers side, get the passenger torsion arm on, and then replace the central grub screw?
Do people go through this every time they do their ball joints? Hard to believe.
No wonder that guy in Seattle wants to replace ball joints with the torsion arms still on the bus.

[fusername]

the reason they are twisted like that is because the opposite arm is twisting them. if you pull the other side of the car half way off, so it is off the stops but still engaged on the springs, you can get it started a bit easier. still not easy, but less uphill of a battle.

don't touch the center grub screw, it will help nothing, and if you are super unlucky make stuff worse. just ignore it.

[busman78]

Yes to what Fusername said, if the other side is on just move them off the stop, springs will align on the other side.

[fusername]

Yes to what Fusername said, if the other side is on just move them off the stop, springs will align on the other side.

will align better, still not perfect I am afraid

[mentalQtip]

Ok. I gave up. I struggled with wiggling those arms until my own arms were to tired to continue.
Then a guy I know at the local Philips station said he new a vw nut guy that I should call.
Longs story short, I called and he put them on in a couple of minutes. I looked at him and said that I was mostly pleased and somewhat pissed at him for making it look so easy.
Anyway, bus is aligned back on the road again.
I missed driving the damn thing. Looking forward to a summer of family camping.
Thanks to all and for all good suggestion.

Thanks again