Citroen Berlingo 1,4 1999 Snapped Torsion Bar

[FlyingKipper]

Hi,  Can anyone advise on a supplier in the UK ( or Eu) for a torsion bar?  

I have the back axle off and all else is in good condition,  bearings etc so just need the torsion bar.  As I live in Norway refurb axles are rare and expensive.  So for me the simplest solution is to put in a new bar.

Car is old but good with low mileage.  Used to be owned by the local council and has a full 20 year service history so is worth keeping and fixing.

Thanks in advance.

[jj9]

This ebay seller may be able to help you...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Torsion-bar-R...SwMqBaeDHA



.

[Gadgetman]

Rare? no...

Expensive... not compared to OEM, or even the crappy Chinesium axles sold by the les than well-meaning online sellers.

You can get a refurb rear axle for around 5000NOK on Finn, delivered to your door.
(Mine came from 'Auto Partner Halden' that was selling them then.)
They even come with a 2year warranty.

Replacing a torsion rod is NOT listed in the Gospel of Haynes. And a major reason for that is that the torsion bars are 'pre-tensioned'. That's probably also why no one is selling them. They expect people to either break them or themselves trying to fit them.

Mine's also a 1.4i 1999 model.

[jj9]

Replacing a torsion rod is NOT listed in the Gospel of Haynes. And a major reason for that is that the torsion bars are 'pre-tensioned'. That's probably also why no one is selling them. They expect people to either break them or themselves trying to fit them.    

I'm not sure if I have already had this conversation with you... it's ringing a bell....  but never mind....

Can I ask, what exactly do you mean by the torsion bars are 'pre-tensioned'


.

[FlyingKipper]

Rare? no...

Expensive... not compared to OEM, or even the crappy Chinesium axles sold by the les than well-meaning online sellers.    

You can get a refurb rear axle for around 5000NOK on Finn, delivered to your door.
(Mine came from 'Auto Partner Halden' that was selling them then.)
They even come with a 2year warranty.

Replacing a torsion rod is NOT listed in the Gospel of Haynes. And a major reason for that is that the torsion bars are 'pre-tensioned'. That's probably also why no one is selling them. They expect people to either break them or themselves trying to fit them.    

Mine's also a 1.4i 1999 model.

Hi,

Thanks for the reply.  I have seen them for sale in Halden from Nordic Trading.  Guess they are the same.  5000 NOk or 500 pounds is still pretty expensive.  As far as I can see the rods are not pretensioned.  If you remove both rods then you lose the correct position of the hubs on the axle.  So if ypu replace the rods one by one then you maintain the correct position.  Looking at tge vids online I have seen them being changed on the vehicle.  AS I said the rest of the axle is OK so dont need to go the whole way and change the axle.

So please guys any info on good quality suppliers in the UK is appreciated.  

Thanks

[jj9]

https://rearaxle.co.uk/

List the torsion bars.


.

[Gadgetman]

Unlike an old VW Beetle or Porsche, the rear axle assembly on a Berlingo will be 'sprung' so that it stays in the 'fully elevated' position until you put a load on it(lower the car from the stands)
There's no slack in it when you jack it up.

Get that wrong and you compromise the handling capabilities of the car.

If you have a video or other source that says otherwise, feel free to link it.
(I don't particularly like being proven wrong, but I will accept proper evidence)

Anyway...
The videos I've seen for fixing this all suggest removing the axle assembly from the car.
A couple of tips for that.
1. You DO NOT need to disconnect the brake pipes. It is possible to 'unwind' them from the axle assembly without disconnecting them. It's a bit fiddly, but it'll save from doing a brake line renewal and bleed job. (Unless the car has had the rear brakes serviced/renewed in the last few years, the odds are that the pipe nuts are rusted solid, and removal means hacksaw)
2. you may want to remove the brakes anyway if they haven't been serviced in a while, and this IS the perfect time to do so...
3. You will need to release the parking brake wires, though. That can be fiddly.
4. you will need a special, LONG torx bit to get to the rear mounting bolts(bit must reach through a hole in the assembly and up to the rubber block) Biltema art.no 10-363 is what I used.
5. The rear mounts(rubber block with metal frame) is probably shot. You may want to get a new pair at the same time. When they fail the ends will be allowed to swing down so that the entire assembly pivots on the front mounts. Not safe...
6. The front mount. You DO NOT unscrew the big nut that is oh so obvious. you go for the 3 torx head bolts on the plate that attaches to the car. Because the turning the nut will just rotate the bolt. It can't be undone until you get the mount plates off the car.
7. Splurge on a new set of shocks at the same time. It's not as if they're expensive.
8. Feel free to remove rust and add some Hammerrite enamel (I use a wire brush, Rusteter 36-189 and cheap brushes, and Hammerlakk Sort 36-040 for this. ) on anything that's rusty under there. I do this any time I work on my car.
9. This car may have a 'load sensor' near the righthand rear wheel. (follow the brake pipes to a metal block. There's a lever at one end. This has probably corroded and seized. give it a few whacks. There should be a spring from it down to the trailing arm... (It's how it can 'sense' the load and adjust brake pressure.) Non-ABS cars have it. Not certain about which 'ABS level' cars doesn't have it.

[FlyingKipper]

Hi Thanks for all the info.  As I said the aksel is off the car and lying in the garage.  

This guy has a few videos .

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rIzeAFpIs1M&t=377s

As far as I can see the suspension is still in the elevated position as one torsion bar is still intact and the link bar is intact.  So as I have said the relative postion of the axle components is still the same.  Therefor the broken rod can be simply replaced.  

As to handling capability...Its a Van FFS.

mvh..

[cancunia]

https://rearaxle.co.uk/

List the torsion bars.


.

Just being curious as I'd never heard of them I checked the address. They have a 'virtual office' in the centre of London.
I have no idea if their products are any good, anyone used them?

[jj9]

Unlike an old VW Beetle or Porsche, the rear axle assembly on a Berlingo will be 'sprung' so that it stays in the 'fully elevated' position until you put a load on it(lower the car from the stands)
There's no slack in it when you jack it up. 

Get that wrong and you compromise the handling capabilities of the car. 

If you have a video or other source that says otherwise, feel free to link it. 
(I don't particularly like being proven wrong, but I will accept proper evidence)

Sorry, but that is incorrect and you are wrong, there is no pre-tension on the torsion bars.

With the rear of the the vehicle off the ground and the shock absorbers and anti roll bar removed the only tension will be from the weight of the trailing arms, lift the trailing arms up to eliminate this weight and there is no tension whatsoever on the torsion bars, I know this is 100% accurate as I have disassembled the Axle on my car so I'm speaking from first hand experience.


.