When are scratched torsion bars junk?

[caproader]

Guys,
As part of my 73 S (sporto) restoration process, I find that the deteriorating front bushings caused the left front torsion bar to rub against the mounting. There is about 2 inches of paint missing and some rust that I wire brushed away. Is the bar usable or terminal? Everything I read talks dire consequenses. Thanks
John

[Roland Kunz]

Hello

This problem is always a decison on the "edge".
We leave that desicion to our costumers.

As it is on the front where you can renew the torsion bar within several minutes you can reuse it and risk a failure.
The failure risk is depending on how deep the metall is cutet in and how much deep rust is on the bar. If you can polish it out and keep it greased I would reuse it for a normal street used car.
The same problem on the rear torsion bar would lead to dumping it as renewing a broken rear bar leads into major time investing work. Also the rears have more load and gets more duty under working process.

Now my observation is that your chances to risk a failure over the next years are very low.

So if your budget is tight then invest the money into the more needed parts and make a compromisse who needs a repair in future and have a failurerisk in your mind. However I even had seen failing perfect looking torsion bars so there is never a 100% waranty.

Grüsse

[caproader]

Roland, Thanks for your comments. My idea was also to use them and see what happens. I sanded off the rust, primed with acid etching primer and painted them black. I will definately grease them well before reinstalling them. Woher wohnen sie? Sind sie vielleicht Deutsch oder Oesterreicher? Vielen dank fur ihren brief.

John