RE: [Chrysler300] Burt's Comments/ 57 Torsion bars

I remember in Toledo in 56 - 57 when a Plymouth dealer would drive a 57 Plymouth around town with the right front wheel removed. I was 13 or 14 then and very interested in Chrysler cars and I thought it was pretty impressive and I guess I thought the dealer was trying to show how stout the front suspension was. I didn’t know if they had done anything to the car but I suppose it would have helped stability if they had placed a few hundred lbs of weight in the left rear of the trunk.

From: Chrysler300@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:Chrysler300@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of RICK AND DEBBIE CLAPHAM rixpac@xxxxxxx [Chrysler300]
Sent: Friday, August 17, 2018 1:22 PM
To: 'John Grady'; Chrysler300@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx; Terry & Andree Hoeman
Subject: Re: [Chrysler300] Burt’s Comments/ 57 Torsion bars

I remember going skiing in our 57 Desoto fire sweep station wagon, when the right front torsion bar let loose. My brother and I were assigned to sit in the left rear. We all made it home with my dad driving, and did not endure any other damage. Must have been 1959 or 1960, used the long segment of the broken bar as a pry-bar for years.

From: Chrysler300@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx <Chrysler300@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> on behalf of 'Terry & Andree Hoeman' tehoema@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx [Chrysler300] <Chrysler300-noreply@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Friday, August 17, 2018 10:22 AM
To: 'John Grady'; chrysler300@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: RE: [Chrysler300] Burt’s Comments/ 57 Torsion bars

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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Posted by: "Carlton Schroeder" <schroe99@xxxxxxxxxxxx>

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