Series 3 E -Type

Does anyone have experience of the torque rods sagging with age and lowering the ride height?
They can be adjusted by a cam, but it seems mine have run out of adjustment.
Can springs also sag?
Torque rods serve the same purpose.

Thank, Paul B

 

Apologies!
For torque rods read torsion bars!

 

Hello Paul,
Torsion Bars can lose their set over time and with rough use. There is, what is effectively a vernier adjustment built into the splines of the torsion bars, ie, the number of teeth in the spline at either end of the bar are different; 24 front and 25 rear. Accordingly, quite fine adjustment is available.

There is a prescribed method of adjusting the torsion bar position to obtain the correct ride height, that depends on the build date of the car (before and up to certain VIN number, and after). A setting gauge is fitted between the upper and lower shock absorber mount location. The pitch of the holes in the setting gauge depends on the build sequence (VIN) of the car.

Regards,

Brent

 

Hi Brent
Thank you for your reply.
My V12 has only covered 31k, has never been abused but has been sitting for some 25 years in my garage.
I never had problems with the ride height 'till I had the front suspension dismantled and rebuilt with new bushes and shocks.
Can I find the info about VIN numbers in the workshop manual?
(I have a manual due to be delivered any day now ...... should have been with me a week ago!)
My vin number is 1172, from memory.
If possible can you give me more info on the settings required for the particular VIN numbers?
Thanks again
Paul

 

Hello Paul,
You will find all the information relating to the VIN in the workshop manual. If you don't receive the manual, reply back and I'll send the information you require.

Regards,

Brent

 

Good description in manual to make the set up gauges to set torsion bars also.

 

Thanks for your information Guys.
My manual arrived yesterday and I have read the relevant section regarding the tool for setting the torsion bars.
My mechanic has made the tool and set up the torsion bars BUT the ride is still far too low, even at full adjustment.
I will check on Monday that he has used the correct dimensions but I think he will have as he is very experienced on e-types.
However, I read that the torsion bars are colour coded right and left to ensure that they are fitted to the correct side.
This leads me to suspect that it is possible to incorrectly fit them (if you're colour blind!)
But as these bars were removed from a 43 year old car I doubt that the paint is still visible.
SO, my questions are:-

Is it mechanically possible to fit the bars on the wrong side and, if so, would it affect the ride height?

Many thanks, Paul B.

 

hello Paul
The lower control arm is used to adjust rods. if you move arm one tooth that should be enough.drivers side clockwise passenger side the other way
Fred m

 

Hello Fred,
The spline at the opposite end of the torsion bar is also used to get the correct adjustment.
1. Indexing the lower wishbone one tooth of the spline will result in a 15deg move.

2. Indexing the spine in the rear mounting plate results in a 14.4 deg index.

3. Combining the two results in a Micro adjustment of 0.6 degs.


Regards,

Brent