I installed polybronze bushings and I'm working on getting everything put back together. But I noticed that with the torsion bars fully unloaded (trailing arm removed completely), if I grab the end of the spring plate I can rock it up and down a couple of mm. The play appears to be in the splines. Is that normal? I didn't notice if it was like this with the original spring plates (I used another set with the new bushings).

 

Purely rotational play should be expected. There has to be some clearance to make the splines fit together, so at the end of the spring plate the observed movement will be larger due to its length.

 

Good to know, thanks. I checked the other side and it was the same. I suppose the pressure of the torsion bar will keep the splines in contact all the time once it's under load.