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HD Torsion Bars: worth it? cost? Interchange?

Posted: Mon Mar 11, 2013 8:02 pm
by Yokohama
I noticed that there are L300 heavy duty torsion bars available, but are they really that much more stiff?

Also, will the bars from a similar year Montero or Mighty Max interchange?

I also want to know how much I should pay and where to get them. I don't want to have to have them shipped in from some place like Australia at high cost.

Thanks.

Re: HD Torsion Bars: worth it? cost? Interchange?

Posted: Mon Mar 11, 2013 8:41 pm
by sasquatch-hunter
Funny enough that the heavier duty, the softer the ride. It is because the HD T-bars hold the ride height without the need of cranking them. I had HD T-bars on my old Trooper and the ride is actually softer than stock.

Re: HD Torsion Bars: worth it? cost? Interchange?

Posted: Tue Mar 12, 2013 11:02 pm
by josh
Heavy duty torsion bars arent made anymore. However I do have a set that I havent yet installed in my Delica. If you want to get a copy machined you could do that. I tried sourcing HD torsion bars (Ironman suspensions used to make them) but they have been discontinued.

Josh.

Re: HD Torsion Bars: worth it? cost? Interchange?

Posted: Wed Mar 13, 2013 6:05 am
by Yokohama
The Delica Shop in Australia seems to be selling them.

Does the L300 4WD made in Taiwan by CMC use HD Torsion bars? I presume they have not changed the suspension, so they should fit.

Re: HD Torsion Bars: worth it? cost? Interchange?

Posted: Wed Mar 13, 2013 7:58 am
by yojimbo
I've looked into this a little.

If you search on here you will find the part numbers for Mitsubishi original torsion bars, and they are allegedly uprated from them anyway, being a little thicker.

Also, Hyundai torsion bars from their knock off van also fit, and are thicker.

Re: HD Torsion Bars: worth it? cost? Interchange?

Posted: Wed Mar 13, 2013 8:13 am
by thedjjack
Maybe Rising Sun can get the Hyundai ones?

Re: HD Torsion Bars: worth it? cost? Interchange?

Posted: Wed Mar 13, 2013 1:10 pm
by josh
Yokohama wrote:The Delica Shop in Australia seems to be selling them.

Does the L300 4WD made in Taiwan by CMC use HD Torsion bars? I presume they have not changed the suspension, so they should fit.
My bad. A few years ago when I was looking for them they were nowhere to be found. The Delica Shop price point of 350 a pair seems reasonable. If they can get them I am sure, like thedjjack stated, rising sun can probably source them. They do make all the difference. The ones I have were on dcsavage's Delica before he wrecked it. They make a massive difference to ride quality and stability.

Josh

Re: HD Torsion Bars: worth it? cost? Interchange?

Posted: Wed Mar 13, 2013 4:22 pm
by yojimbo
I expect just new bars would transform the ride! I've often toyed with getting delishop ones, but with shipping they aren't cheap. But I would love to see how good they are

Re: HD Torsion Bars: worth it? cost? Interchange?

Posted: Thu Mar 14, 2013 3:31 pm
by macro
Anyone have info on L400 HD torsion bars that can be sourced in Canada? The ride is brutally rough, time for a suspension upgrade.

Re: HD Torsion Bars: worth it? cost? Interchange?

Posted: Thu Mar 14, 2013 6:34 pm
by Artacoma
My van came from japan with 2" ish lift that is no spacers but bigger springs and after market torsion bars and sway bars that are a lovely lime green , nice ride , no manufacturers info tho ..... sorry just braggin....... but they must exist somewhere.

Re: HD Torsion Bars: worth it? cost? Interchange?

Posted: Thu Mar 14, 2013 6:52 pm
by macro
Artacoma wrote:My van came from japan with 2" ish lift that is no spacers but bigger springs and after market torsion bars and sway bars that are a lovely lime green , nice ride , no manufacturers info tho ..... sorry just braggin....... but they must exist somewhere.
But WHERE?!??? The struts and springs I've searched the site enough to see that the consensus seems to be Bilsteins and custom made springs unless you can find Lovells. The torsion (and now sway) bars still elude me domestically. From what I've heard though, the upgrade is worth it.

Re: HD Torsion Bars: worth it? cost? Interchange?

Posted: Thu Mar 14, 2013 8:54 pm
by Manitoba deli
My series 2 also came with a 2" lift, the coils and torsion bars had lime green, can't recall the color of the sway bars, anyways, "ironman 4x4" stickers were on the torsion bars and driveshaft. The biggest problem I've found with poor riding l300 and l400's is improperly adjusted torsion bars. Most have been cranked way too tight, and a few need to be tightened up. Usually they have been cranked up too tight in an effort to get the most lift out of the front end, or to compensate for worn out shocks. Maybe you've done this already, but if not, ensure your shocks are in good condition, and then have someone who knows how to properly adjust the torsion bars take a look to make sure they are adjusted correctly.

Jason

Re: HD Torsion Bars: worth it? cost? Interchange?

Posted: Fri Mar 15, 2013 4:13 am
by yojimbo
Manitoba deli wrote:My series 2 also came with a 2" lift, the coils and torsion bars had lime green, can't recall the color of the sway bars, anyways, "ironman 4x4" stickers were on the torsion bars and driveshaft. The biggest problem I've found with poor riding l300 and l400's is improperly adjusted torsion bars. Most have been cranked way too tight, and a few need to be tightened up. Usually they have been cranked up too tight in an effort to get the most lift out of the front end, or to compensate for worn out shocks. Maybe you've done this already, but if not, ensure your shocks are in good condition, and then have someone who knows how to properly adjust the torsion bars take a look to make sure they are adjusted correctly.

Jason

As above, the first order of business should be shocks, they get worked hard on the front of an L300 and I dont think they last very long, mine are only a few years old and I wonder how worn they are already. People use the torsion bars to stiffen the ride, but the slack ride is because the shocks arent doing their job anymore.