An note on using C-clamp when adjusting torsion keys...

[Herbie]

This I had time weekend to make a little headway on some jobs I had on my AWD van. One of my activities was to put back in the turns I had taken out of the torsion-bar preload while trying to get the front CV axle out. Per normal "procedure" here, I used a C-clamp to hold the key so that I wasn't turning the adjuster bolt directly against the key. Every time I've done this, I've just used whatever c-clamp was at hand (I have a big mix). Somewhere on another project the spinning anvil on one of my Harbor Freight clamps popped off and wouldn't go back on, so I figured "Hey, that's now my dedicated torsion-bar adjusting clamp", since the ball without the anvil would fit the key perfectly. Whoops. Looks like I'm back to making sure I use a Craftsman or better clamp for this job (click for enlargement):

[mdmead]

Did it pop quickly, or go slowly?

[Herbie]

Slowly. In fact, I assume it sort of "tore" and opened up until the key was back to resting on the adjuster screw because I think in retrospect there was increased effort to make the adjustment. I didn't even notice the failure until I had the clamp back on the driveway. Perhaps if things had been "tighter" it might have failed more spectacularly, but as it was, it didn't have far to go.

Not easy to see in the picture is that the "C" is no longer flat in the plane, either. It's curled sideways somewhat. Anyhow, lesson learned!