Struts in the rear to fix broken Torsion Bar..........Taken and modified from USMB :-)
| McBrat Moderator | 82 Brat GL project.... need to add struts to rear... torsion bars are broken. can't get them out without pulling tube off car, and that doesn't look likely to happen because of rust... someone mentioned before about possibly putting rear struts from a newer 4wd wagon (newer than ea81). any thoughts on how to do this, or any other ideas of what I can do to lift up this current low-rider.... |
| McBrat Moderator | Re: 82 Brat GL project.... need to add struts to rear... what about mounting leaf springs on it? |
scoobydoo  Local user | Re: 82 Brat GL project.... need to add struts to rear... You would need a solid axle, and the mounts need to bolt somewhere. |
| McBrat Moderator | got some rear struts off a 85 4wd wagon. need to fabricate a bracket for the top for the mounting, but looks like it will work. if I try to use one of the existing holes though, the rear of the bat will sit up so high I may not be able to see out the rear mirror ha ha ha... the strut is a few inches taller, and the top mounts are wider... |
| McBrat Moderator (4/27/00 10:44:47 pm) Reply | Edit | Del | Re: 82 Brat GL project.... need to add struts to rear... The BRAT LIVES!!!!! The bottom of the differential is 11 inches off the ground, and I think this is within the limits... Anybody know? I ended up getting a 2 inch wide piece of 3/16 thick steel. cut extra long to add another bolt through the bed if I want, but I didn't. drilled 3 holes center one is used to mount the steel bar into the rearward bolt hole from the original shocks. bought metric bolt 1 inch longer than original, and added washers between strut and mount plate (to help keep the springs away from the body), and bolted into forward original shock bolt hole. Then bolted the other side of the strut mount to the third hole in the bar, with spacers in between again. took it out for a test spin. definitely better than the body resting against the trailing arm. Still rides like a lumber wagon (but what old soob doesn't  ) The suspension is a little stiff, and I didn't get it away from the body enough, so there are some interesting noises as the springs move now to swap in a different tranny, and maybe get a windshield... Original Page When I get a nice day where I'm home when the sun is out I'll take some pics... |
| McBrat Moderator | Re: 82 Brat GL project.... need to add struts to rear... you can see the before pic here, under Current Subes, 82 Brat - Black: 
Here is the new pic:  |
| McBrat Moderator (5/1/00 7:35:13 pm) Reply | Edit | Del  | Re: 82 Brat GL project.... need to add struts to rear... here's what the strut mount looks like: 
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