Interesting experience from long ago.
I grew up a ford guy since parents always used them-and remember my first experience with a MoPar. I was in front yard and late 50's Plymouth came down the street and stopped in front of house due to broken torsion bar from bump a block away. Car was near dragging
bumper on street and had to be towed away. Not a good introduction to MoPars!!
If I hadn't married a gal whose father was MoPar parts man would probably still be doing fords.. Scary!
-----Original Message-----
From: Chrysler300@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:Chrysler300@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of John Grady jkg@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx [Chrysler300]
Sent: Friday, August 17, 2018 7:58 AM
To: chrysler300@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [Chrysler300] Burt’s Comments/ 57 Torsion bars
One of the things Burt spoke of at Keith’s home, was the suddenly discovered stress corrosion of 57 torsion bars at the end sockets . I know of this first hand , as going around a rotary ( Massachusetts bad idea) at very high speed as a passenger “ up on two
wheels type thing “ in 1960 , in a 57 plymouth the highly loaded one snapped , putting 4 of us into guardrail . Totalled the car . Had same thing happen to me in a 51 ford at same place , ( steering box tabs broke off box at frame bolts in those ) — maybe
it was just me at 17. Or debugging designs!
Burt described packing them with heavy grease when they found this out ( a line of corrosion encircles the bar at the mouth of the hex socket , due to salt rust etc . ) That raises stress , like a notch leading to failure . Being a spring in essence , the steel
skin is highly stressed there.
I loved how he calmly described this . Failure in engineering in new designs happens , somewhat normal , life testing 3x expected use is the only way to find obscure things — but spraying it with salt probably not part of it , that year. Bet it is now. We forget
that “ torsion aire “ ride was a major suspension and engineering innovation , a part of the 57 cars .. lots of new parts never used before .
I am working on a 57 dodge , and I know later years ?58 59 May have rubber boots for this , 60 does . Is it at both ends of bar ? When did boots start ? Do they fit 57 ? Because I never saw a failed one , seeking info on this . Bad surprise awaits if not addressed
, and the older the car more likely to happen . Pack with heavy grease at least . Bar interchange ??
When it snaps wheel goes way up into fender hits upper stop , iF in a curve at high speed can lose control .
Good thing to bang around , prompted by the meeting with Burt .
Thank you Burt !
Sent from my iPhone
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Posted by: John Grady <jkg@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
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