Suspension. What Am I Doing Wrong?

[Darryl Vernon]

I've just fitted the front A & B torsion bars, as per the instructions.
The next step, is where I get my problem.

The instructions (page 13), state:- 'Screw a suspension arm firmly and fully onto a suspension shaft'.

My problem is, having done the above, the two grub screw holes, are facing down, not up as they should be.
If I turn the shaft/arm around, so the holes are in the right place, the suspension arm is pointing in the wrong direction.

What have I missed?

[Steve Norris]

Hi Darryl.
When i built my first Panther and Tigers for that matter, the grub screws could end up pointing in any direction. This was the result of the way the suspension arm screw thread and suspension shaft screw thread were cut, each having different start points. I got most of mine pointing around the right way up by trying different combinations of arm and shaft. I have not got round to assembling the suspension on my latest Panther yet, and it may be that swopping the arms and shafts around will not work on the twin torsion bar set up.
Sorry i can not help any further until i get to the suspension stage myself.
Regards
Steve

[Darryl Vernon]

Hi Steve, thanks for the input.
I understand what you say, and I'll try that tomorrow.

Somehow though, I don't think it will work, as the instructions further state (page 13) :- 'These threads have been specially machined, so that all the threads will tighten to the same position'.

I'll still try it though. Thanks mate.

[Tim Bowman]

Hi Darryl

I can't speak for the double torsion bar system but both my Panther and Tiger had several of the set screws facing downward when the swing arm was in the correct position. It was no big deal to loosen the cap srew that holds the far end of the torsion bar, rotate the assembly enough to access the two set screws, and tighten them fully. Once those are tightened, rotate assembly and tighten the cap screw at the other end.

Sounds more complicated then it is.

I've assembled and disassembled my Panther's suspension enough and having to do this step wasn't a problem.

Best regards
Tim

[Tim Bowman]

side note: On most of my Tiger's assemblies, I ground off enough of the set screws so that they sit flush with the swing arm part that the torsion bar is inserted into. This also ensures a good surface on the set screw to contact the flat on the torsion bar.

This way, the entire assembly can be securely assembled and its only a matter of inserting it through the hull, positioning the swing arm angle and tightening the cap screw at the other end. Can be removed as one assembly as well.

Hope this helps
Tim

[Darryl Vernon]

Hi Darryl

I can't speak for the double torsion bar system but both my Panther and Tiger had several of the set screws facing downward when the swing arm was in the correct position. It was no big deal to loosen the cap srew that holds the far end of the torsion bar, rotate the assembly enough to access the two set screws, and tighten them fully. Once those are tightened, rotate assembly and tighten the cap screw at the other end.

Sounds more complicated then it is.

I've assembled and disassembled my Panther's suspension enough and having to do this step wasn't a problem.

Best regards
Tim

Hi Tim.
Can't be done mate.
When following the instructions for the twin torsion bar set-up, everything should line up automatically.
The flat end of torsion bar B is in the correct position, in the pivot, due to the wedge clamp, and thus the flat on the shaft end is set up to take the grub screws from above. IYSWIM.

If I were to now (grub)screw the shaft onto the torsion bar, the arm will be facing forward on the r/h side of the hull, when they should be facing backwards.
The shaft screws have to go on from above, because that is where the flat is on the torsion bar.

The problem seems to be the way the suspension shaft screws into the suspension arm. It's left the holes in the wrong place, and yet according to the instructions, they should line up correctly, when fully screwed in.

Regards

Darryl

[Jeffrey Goff]

Hi Darryl, just a thought, the swing arms face back on one side and fowward on the other, and do not face the same on both sides
regards
Jeff

[Darryl Vernon]

Hi Darryl, just a thought, the swing arms face back on one side and fowward on the other, and do not face the same on both sides
regards
Jeff

Hi Jeff,

I know. That's the problem. I can't seem to get them to face the correct ways, due to the way the Suspension shafts and arms go together.

I must be doing something wrong, but can't see what.

[Adrian Harris]

Darryl - are you able to post a picture of the arms and their alignment ?

Adrian.

[Darryl Vernon]

Hi Adrian.

Here's some pics.
This is the shaft, screwed firmly into the arm, as per instructions.


Here, you can see the 'flat' on the torsion bar, and how the holes line up.


The angle of the flat, on the torsion bar, is due to the wedge clamp at the other end, and going by the instructions, seems correct.
Yet the holes on the shaft, put the arm at the wrong angle, if I were to attach it as is.

This is driving me nuts, because I cannot see what I've done wrong.

[Paul Morris]

Hi Darryl.

This may be a bit late for you but hope not. When doing the original type suspension set up i.e. old Panther style and normal for Tigers I fit all the shafts into the arms first then grind the flat onto the torsion bars one end only then fit the torsion bars into the shaft with grub screws slightly power filed down to allow the shaft and torsion bar to slide through the side of the hull and suspension bush freely...now if you then make a simple jig to hold your swing arms are the correct angle with the torsion bar sitting on top of the jig in a groove you can then grind the flat at the other end of the bar slide it in place and then finally tighten your bolt at the clamped end last.
Hope this is of some use but not having the new suspension set up here yet I am not sure.
Kind regards Paul

[Darryl Vernon]

Hi Darryl.

This may be a bit late for you but hope not. When doing the original type suspension set up i.e. old Panther style and normal for Tigers I fit all the shafts into the arms first then grind the flat onto the torsion bars one end only then fit the torsion bars into the shaft with grub screws slightly power filed down to allow the shaft and torsion bar to slide through the side of the hull and suspension bush freely...now if you then make a simple jig to hold your swing arms are the correct angle with the torsion bar sitting on top of the jig in a groove you can then grind the flat at the other end of the bar slide it in place and then finally tighten your bolt at the clamped end last.
Hope this is of some use but not having the new suspension set up here yet I am not sure.
Kind regards Paul

Paul,
On the new set-up, the torsion bar flats are pre-made, so everything is supposed to be in the correct place with no additional input required.
IYSWIM.

[Paul Morris]

Hi Darryl.

Well that means that what I siad was about as much use as a chocolate fire guard so best ignore it sorry like I siad I do not have the new set up here yet..
All the best Paul

[Armortek]

Hi Darryl

As you have spotted, all the advice from the other guys is out of date. The new set up is entirely different. It looks from your photos that the arms are not fully screwed onto the shafts. There is no gap between the back of the arm and the shoulder on the shaft when they are fully screwed on. I think that's the root of your problem.

Mark

[Darryl Vernon]

Hi Darryl

As you have spotted, all the advice from the other guys is out of date. The new set up is entirely different. It looks from your photos that the arms are not fully screwed onto the shafts. There is no gap between the back of the arm and the shoulder on the shaft when they are fully screwed on. I think that's the root of your problem.

Mark

Hi mark,
Thanks for the reply. They have been screwed in hard, by hand, but as you say, there is a small gap left.
I cannot nip it up any more by hand, so what's the best way to tighten that last bit up, without damaging the shaft?

Darryl