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TogglePeople are familiar with the leaf springs – despite being old, they are still useful for passenger vehicles to keep them running fast and staying stable while hitting potholes on roads. On the flip side, torsion bars have faded in the background. Debuted in the 1930s, torsion bar suspension systems used to be mainstream but are not now for several reasons.
Let’s start with the basics of what it is and then continue reading to understand its pros, cons, and other technicalities.
What Is A Torsion Bar?
According to Track Rat M, “The torsion bar is nothing more than a coil spring straightened out. Or a coil spring is nothing more than a coiled-up torsion bar. Take your pick; both statements are correct.”
Apparently, it is just a regular rod of spring steel. In reality, it is regarded as one of the most important parts meant for suspending a vehicle as well as absorbing the pressure brought by bumps and dips on the road without altering the mass (weight). Thanks to the spring’s flexibility!
It is commonly used in cars or trucks, manufacturing and industrial-scale pieces of machinery, and plenty of precision equipment. Typically, the design for the bars is decided upon:
- The amount/power of torque used
- The total size of the bar
- The angle of the torsion
- The construction material of the bar.
Pros of A Torsion Bar
- It is fairly inexpensive. After all, it is only a bar positioned on metal, which can be easily, quickly, and efficiently made at a minimal cost.
- It is a low to no-maintenance item.
- Anyone can replace or mount it effortlessly. No more complex suspension systems consuming hours of your day!
- How can you miss out on its legendary durability.
- The torsion bar is compact – the whole system carries a smaller footprint – which makes it perfect for use in limited spaces.
- Apart from dependability, bar’s adjustability is also a characteristic it is loved for. One can adjust the vehicle’s height whenever they want.
Points To Remember
- You can hear a piercing sound coming from under your vehicle while driving on an uneven road if the torsion bar is broken.
- In case the torsion bar is worn out, you may notice an unexpected shaking of a car at a particular angle along with an abrupt rattling.
- How can you know if you’ve tightened the torsion bar too tight? The vehicle becomes difficult to maneuver, harder to accelerate, and starts turning slowly.
How Does Torsion Bar Work?
Talking about its working process, first you need to understand that a torsion bar serves the function of a central weight-bearing spring in a torsion bar/spring suspension.
Where it is attached to the handlebar (lower control arm) from one end, the other end of the bar is kept to the chassis. The first connection allows for movement, and the latter is in a fixed position. When adjusted into an arrangement of suspension, it is kept in a natural/ordinary state with no rotations, and spring tension is incorporated by twisting the bar. This torque makes the torsion bar seek its original, untwisted position, resulting in a counter-rotational force. This force strongly pushes the handlebar down, efficiently suspending the car.
In other words,
Whenever your vehicle hits a pothole, the pressure is usually sent to the wheels, and the torsion bar gets twisted as soon as it absorbs the shock. Once extra energy from the bump is captured, the bar adjusts the car’s frame to the most suitable height. This is how your vehicle glides so smoothly over the uneven surface.
Why Aren’t Torsion Bars Still Used?
Yes, these are amazingly stable, reliable, maintenance-free, and flexible. Moreover, bars ensure a satisfactory ride experience. Then, why are they not used nowadays? Well, bars have a few inadequacies that cannot be compromised.
- Consider, torsion bars fail to offer progressive spring rates, the stationary spring rate limits the riders from achieving superior performance or comfort.
- Their position in the chassis is pretty vulnerable, resulting in minor to major nicks that can also cause the bar to snap.
- Due to the fixed placement, they may deteriorate as debris will stick, and obstacles will put the excess stress on other mechanisms.
- Being not high-tech and advanced, torsion bars are not comparable to new systems and are surely incapable of handling crashes like others.
Bottom Line
With a common use in vehicle suspension systems, a torsion bar is nothing like traditional coil springs. When the vehicle encounters a collision, the bar winds along its axis, offering resistance and cushioning. Yes, it is difficult to find, but it can still be fitted in older versions and off-road vehicles. People still value torsion bars for their ruggedness and straightforward design.
