Nissan Terrano Torsion Bars

Submitted: Tuesday, May 25, 2004 at 11:36
ThreadID: 13143 Views:15198 Replies:5 FollowUps:0
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Any suggestions please.

I've had my Terrano for 2 years now and have done all repairs need myself to save $$$.

But over time, the front end has been dropping, and as a result I have wound up the torsion bars. Basically maxed them out, and then turned them back a bit.

Since then, I have been getting a lot of creaking noise.

I'm not sure if it is because of what I have done or not. Has anyone experienced these symptoms at all?

If it is the torsion bars, are they easy to fir new ones, and if anyone has done it before, can you give me some insight to how it is done?

If it is the torsion bars, I would probably change the shocks as well so tips on that would help to.

I have already got some prices on parts from pedders and fulcrum, but would like to save on labor etc.

Can anyone help?

Cheers.
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Reply By: ianmc - Tuesday, May 25, 2004 at 14:01

Tuesday, May 25, 2004 at 14:01
Nissan torsion bars for some reason seem to lose their tension quickly. My Triton bars are original at 220,000 & dont need adjusting, maybe they are a bit too strong.
You have already found out how to adjust them, so the rest should be easy if they are same as Triton.
Jack up truck till wheels are off ground , completely remove adjuster nuts & bolts after cleaning & lubricating them to make it easier.
Pull the bars out & slide in new ones. May need some rubber seals.
Put adjusters back on & here begins some trial & error. Wind em up & see if ride heoght is right measured from road to edge of guard. If not remove adjuster if not enough thread left to wind up more & move them a spline or two around.
Should only take an hour or so, less with a hoist.
Now enjoy a better higher ride.
AnswerID: 60068

Reply By: Member - Jeff M (WA) - Tuesday, May 25, 2004 at 15:59

Tuesday, May 25, 2004 at 15:59
And from my experience, Pedders are not any better quality then a monro or similar and are just expesnsive, might be better looking at some alternate brands, perhaps OME, Koni, or any of the thousands of others, I have been using a no brand springs for about 6 months now on the rear of the surf and it has been excellent, done a fair bit of touring and off roading, probally 20k so far a lot of it loaded up with the family and all the gear. Cost me $200 fitted!
AnswerID: 60086

Reply By: BrianB - Tuesday, May 25, 2004 at 19:05

Tuesday, May 25, 2004 at 19:05
Hi,

I don't know if this will help but my son experienced a similar creaking noise on his Pajero after he wound up his torsion bars. Apparently they have a kind of spindle arrangement attached to the front crossmember and these can wear out. It was a suspension shop job to fix his. My apologies for being a bit sketchy on detail but it may at least be an area to look at. Perhaps someone with a bit more knowledge than me may be able to offer some more information on this.

Cheeers
AnswerID: 60115

Reply By: hoyks - Tuesday, May 25, 2004 at 22:00

Tuesday, May 25, 2004 at 22:00
The Terrano torsion bar arangement is quite a simple one with no secret or expensive locating bushes or anything. Just the torsion bar, adjusters and a few dust covers.

Highlights from Nissan manual:

1. remove anchor arm nuts and bolts
2. remove snap ring and dust cover from rear anchor arm.
3. withdraw bar and rear arm as one assembly from front arm (bit attached to front of car)
4. remove torsion bar from rear anchor arm
inspect for twists, cracks etc.

Adjustment of anchor arm nut is in the tightening direction only.

1. jack lower control arm to contact the bump stop
2. grease splined end with G.P. grease and install L+R (make sure you know your left from right)
3. install as reverse of above.
4. adjust rear anchor arm length (from bottom of cross member to lowest point of arm) to: 28-41mm(petrol) 32-45 mm (diesel)
5. install snap ring on dust cover.

If you are in Newcastle I can lend you a hand.
AnswerID: 60166

Reply By: Wayne (NSW) - Tuesday, May 25, 2004 at 22:17

Tuesday, May 25, 2004 at 22:17
Milham,
To remove and replace torsion bars
1. Jack up the front of the vehicle and support with jack stands
2. Back off the torsion bar adjustment.
3. This is where it may vary, but on the Pathfinder I had the torsion bar was removed by un bolting the front spline housing, tapping the housing off and sliding the torsion bar out of the adjusting housing.
4. To replace the torsion bar first check for a mark on either end of the bar. This mark will be either up or down depending on the maker of the bar
5. Replace the bar and tighten the front spline housing
6. Adjust the torsion bar until the bump stops on the upper and lower control arms are in the middle then wind it up another 10mm. That is about the max that they should be wound up so that you still have wheel travel.
The crecking noise could be that the torsion bars were wound up too high.
I would use Fulcrum suspension over Pedders. Shocks are easy to change, just undo the top and bottom nuts or bolts and re-tighten, but don't over tighten.

Wayne
AnswerID: 60172

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