TOWING & OFFROAD PERFORMANCE Towing |Suspension | Wheels | Tires | Drivetrain |where the pavement ends.

how to tell if torsion bar raised

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 06-02-2006, 02:11 PM
  #1  
TECH Fanatic
Thread Starter
iTrader: (6)
 
hourang's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: South Lyon, MI
Posts: 1,534
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Default how to tell if torsion bar raised

i went under my truck the other day and noticed that my front bumpstops are not touching by a good inch and a half or so. so from what i hear this means my torsion bars were raised by the previous owner right? problem is to me i coulda swore the truck has a lot of rake but when i look at the pics it looks level??




the truck is howeever on a hill in that pic. man i coulda swore it was a lot more raked than that. i guess i will have to look again after work. so how do i know how much it was raised? im wondering if it was raised all the way and that my tbars have just sagged? 100k miles on the truck now. i was wondering why it was riding like crap i thought maybe my shocks were gone. now i know why it needs an alignment too
Old 06-02-2006, 05:26 PM
  #2  
TECH Fanatic
Thread Starter
iTrader: (6)
 
hourang's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: South Lyon, MI
Posts: 1,534
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Default

took a side pic on level ground. looks a lil raked probably just needs another inch.
Old 06-02-2006, 07:38 PM
  #3  
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (13)
 
gao8302's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Kenosha WI
Posts: 1,102
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

My stock torsion bar key bolt were set at about 5/8 from the key to the head of the bolt. Thats all i know. That thing needs a lift man. HAHAHA. I have a body lift for that truck if your interested pm me.


I dont know if that will help.....
Old 06-06-2006, 05:45 AM
  #4  
TECH Apprentice
 
endo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Socal
Posts: 308
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Check how many threads remain before the key adjusters would bottom out. This won't tell you anything for certain, but if they're nearly bottomed out (or are bottomed out) it's a good sign it's been adjusted.

I'd definitely hit the shocks first to solve the crappy ride. If they're the originals, then they're long since dead.

A TB adjusted truck will generally have the bottom of the front valence at or above the height of the center of the front hub. If your truck did have its TBs adjusted, it's either sagged or they weren't adjusted much.

See sig photo for example of a 1" TB lift.
Old 06-06-2006, 10:49 AM
  #5  
TECH Fanatic
Thread Starter
iTrader: (6)
 
hourang's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: South Lyon, MI
Posts: 1,534
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Default

Originally Posted by endo
Check how many threads remain before the key adjusters would bottom out. This won't tell you anything for certain, but if they're nearly bottomed out (or are bottomed out) it's a good sign it's been adjusted.

I'd definitely hit the shocks first to solve the crappy ride. If they're the originals, then they're long since dead.

A TB adjusted truck will generally have the bottom of the front valence at or above the height of the center of the front hub. If your truck did have its TBs adjusted, it's either sagged or they weren't adjusted much.

See sig photo for example of a 1" TB lift.
ok thanks for the info. i didnt think they were adjusted until i saw that the bump stops do not touch the control arm. i heard this means that it was adjusted but im not sure. i will check the bolts. and yeah i will replace the shocks cuz im sure there probably bad at this point. i think im just gonna get the ford keys and be done with it. i think i saw somewhere that was selling the keys and the shocks as a kit. thanks.
Old 06-06-2006, 08:46 PM
  #6  
10 Second Club
iTrader: (18)
 
04BlackGmc's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: STL
Posts: 3,425
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Measure the fender opening to the ground. so from the middle of the fender to the ground in front.
Old 06-07-2006, 11:20 AM
  #7  
TECH Fanatic
Thread Starter
iTrader: (6)
 
hourang's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: South Lyon, MI
Posts: 1,534
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Default

hrm i just got back from an exhaust shop and they said all my shocks and stuff are in good condition. not sure if i believe them but im sure if it was bad they would jump all over wanting to replace them. maybe the poor ride quality is due to the tbar raise, maybe not, ill just replace them anyways when i do the ford keys.
Old 06-16-2006, 03:13 AM
  #8  
TECH Apprentice
 
endo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Socal
Posts: 308
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

btw, I think you might want slightly longer front shocks for ford keys. Otherwise you can be limited on negative travel by the shocks as I understand it.
Old 06-16-2006, 03:17 AM
  #9  
TECH Veteran
 
Mr. Sandog's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Sun Diego
Posts: 4,632
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Default

You can never tell really. I've seen trucks from the factory where one torsion bar adjustment bolt is barely tapped, and the other one has only 3 threads left.
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
dantheman1540
GM Drivetrain & Suspension
72
11-01-2015 02:59 AM
turbo6c3
Trucks and SUV Classifieds
1
10-05-2015 06:11 PM
Alco
GM Drivetrain & Suspension
4
10-04-2015 06:58 AM
carid
Sponsor's Announcements, Sales, and Specials
0
10-01-2015 09:22 AM
WICK3DxGATA
FORCED INDUCTION
4
09-24-2015 06:56 PM



Quick Reply: how to tell if torsion bar raised



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 01:08 PM.