Torsion bars and the front suspension

The E-Type's front suspension uses double wishbones with longitudinal torsion bars providing the springing and telescopic dampers controlling them. Torsion bars do not wear out the way leaf springs do, but the system around them does, and its condition shapes the way the whole car drives.

What wears

• Dampers. Tired dampers let the car float and pitch, and are the cheapest meaningful improvement to a wayward front end.
• Bushes. The wishbone and anti-roll bar bushes are rubber, and rubber ages. Perished bushes produce knocks over bumps and wandering under braking.
• Ball joints. Wear shows as play at the wheel rim with the car jacked, and as vague, notchy steering.
• Wheel bearings. A rumble that changes on corners, or play at the wheel, points here.

Ride height and sagging

A car sitting low at the front may have tired torsion bars, incorrectly set ride height or simply the wrong assumptions about how these cars sit. Ride height is set by the torsion bar reaction plate setting and is adjustable, so a low car is not automatically a car with dead springs. Measuring ride height against the manual's datum is the honest way to know.

The value of symmetry

The most telling single check is comparing the car side to side: ride height, damper behaviour bouncing each corner, and tyre wear patterns. A front end that agrees with itself left and right is usually a healthy one. One that does not is telling you where to look.