Torsion Bar Cranking

I am about to crank my torsion bars but had a few questions first.
How many turns have most of you done to get the truck level and how many turns is safe to do?
Will extra weight on the front end make a difference at all? I have a heavy ranch hand grill guard on the truck.

Here's a good link for you to look at......has alot of good info.

http://www.fullsizechevy.com/forums/showthread.php?t=65871

Thanks for the link man. I already know what to do and how to do it i just don't know how much to crank it. Anybody????

Usually about 4 full turns per side is plenty.

i donno how many cranks my buddy did but he lifted the front 2 inches by cranking and has had 33 in buckshots on for over a year has no problems and the tire wear is perfect and he never went to the alignment shop crazy aint it?

Well i cranked them last night and could only crank the driver side 3 turn before it bottomed out. The passenger side had plenty of room though. Is it usual for the bolts on each side to be cranked to such a different degree. I am the only owner the truck has ever had so i know it came like this from the factory. The truck was perfectly level from side to side just had the tipical front sag. Anyway i got frustrated with it and went to the ford dealer here and bought the ford keys and put them on and the truck looks great now.

Thanks to all the replied

Make sure to get an allignment or it will chew the shit outa your tires!!

yeah i will, its on the to do list for this weekend

Well i cranked them last night and could only crank the driver side 3 turn before it bottomed out. The passenger side had plenty of room though. Is it usual for the bolts on each side to be cranked to such a different degree.

Thanks to all the replied

Mine are like that right now. Driver one bottomed, passenger side has plenty....go figure. Guess I need the Ford keys now.

the reason the driver side is maxed and the passenger isnt is due to the weight distrubution in the truck, the driver side is heavier and will hang low if you adjust them the same. so to counter the weight they raise the driver side up more so your truck doesnt look like goofy

Hey Rugerlab, what Ford pn# did u buy?? I was wanting 2 lower my truck about 1-2", will these Ford keys do that 2, or only raise our trucks??

Hey Rugerlab, what Ford pn# did u buy?? I was wanting 2 lower my truck about 1-2", will these Ford keys do that 2, or only raise our trucks??

Is your truck 2WD? I can't imagine why you would want to lower the front of a 4x4. If your truck is 2WD, then you don't have index keys because you don't have torsion bars

The ford keys will only raise the front end due to their higher indexing. In other words, if you install the ford keys and keep the adjusting screw at the same thread number you were at with the factory keys, your truck will sit higher. All the keys allow you to do is to get the front of the truck higher without bottoming out the adjusting screw.

Yeah he's right the ford keys will only help you raise the front end. It looks like you have a vho though which is a 2wd so you don't even have torsion bars/key in the first place. But if you do have a 4wd and want to raise the front end the ford part # was XL3Z5B328CA and they were 19 bucks a piece and you need 2 of them.

Yeah he's right the ford keys will only help you raise the front end. It looks like you have a vho though which is a 2wd so you don't even have torsion bars/key in the first place. But if you do have a 4wd and want to raise the front end the ford part # was XL3Z5B328CA and they were 19 bucks a piece and you need 2 of them.

Sorry, that is wrong. The VHO is a 2wd on a 4x4 frame WITH torsion bars. Click on my link and you will see that the VHO is not a normal truck.:nono:

Well... I Stand Corrected... I had no idea the vho's came with torsion bars. I just assumed they didn't since they were 2wd. So does the ss have them as well? or no?

The VHO is built on the SS platform which is a 4x4 frame. The '06 SS is now the same 2wd setup as the VHO was. The VHO is a strange setup and very few people really know what is hidden under its skin:evillol: :smokin:

The VHO is built on the SS platform which is a 4x4 frame. The '06 SS is now the same 2wd setup as the VHO was. The VHO is a strange setup and very few people really know what is hidden under its skin:evillol: :smokin:

I wish I did.....I'm trying to buy a house and cant afford one :banghead:

Yes, the SS Silverado has the same design as well. I only wanted 2 lower my ride like 1.5-2"....But you guys r saying that the Ford keys will ony RAISE our trucks huh?

Yes, the SS Silverado has the same design as well. I only wanted 2 lower my ride like 1.5-2"....But you guys r saying that the Ford keys will ony RAISE our trucks huh?

Yeah all they'll do is raise it, they can't lower it. I had absolutely no idea that something called the "VHO" even existed until I read this thread. Pretty cool.

If you want to lower the front 1.5" - 2" just cut off one bumper off the bump stops and get some longer shackles. Then get a front end alignment. If you want more than 2" you can get keys that are degreed diferently but it would be better to get the new spindles and rear hangers.

I installed the shackles and turned my bars and am more than happy. You more than likely will need to shim the rear axle to prevent driveline shudder.

Good Luck.....

i recently bought a 99' f-150 4wd... i wanna raise the front end a lil bit by turning the tortion keys but i dont know if theyve been turned already and i dont want to over turn them... HELP

i recently bought a 99' f-150 4wd... i wanna raise the front end a lil bit by turning the tortion keys but i dont know if theyve been turned already and i dont want to over turn them... HELP

this is the silverado forum ...go to the ford 150 forum for your answer.

with a OEM manual with the chevrolet , there is a proceedure to adjust this to the spec.....

I raised my height to the point where the CV joints on the front axles were straight...then I checked the OEM spec for proper measurement and it was good..

once these have been adjusted after vehicle breakin they usually hold the position ,,,unlike the 2wd springs used on the trucks...

thanks

Great info guys. 2 questions:

1.- Are both bolts to be turned clockwise for raising front?

2.- Do torsion bars have bushings?

I ask this because I want to raise my front a bit, and also because they seem to be making this clunk noise everytime I start to accelerate or decelarete.

2001 Silverado 2500 HD 6.0L.

Thanks.

Great info guys. 2 questions:

1.- Are both bolts to be turned clockwise for raising front?

2.- Do torsion bars have bushings?

I ask this because I want to raise my front a bit, and also because they seem to be making this clunk noise everytime I start to accelerate or decelarete.

2001 Silverado 2500 HD 6.0L.

Thanks.

raise the front until the CV joints are straight...screw clockwise ..bunce the front end a few times with each turn...

clunking fwd/rev. is most likely the U joints better check them...

clunk on start from a stop like a red light is usually the transfercase fluid or the bushing...when checking the U joints check all this out..

"U" joints/bushing located @ ...? Not familiar with the setup, sry.

And transfer case fluid I did replace about a year ago., rechecked level afterwards. No leaks.

"U" joints/bushing located @ ...? Not familiar with the setup, sry.

And transfer case fluid I did replace about a year ago., rechecked level afterwards. No leaks.

what fluid in the transfercase ? what transfercase ? auto [push buttons] or manual shift lever ?

Doesn't the transfer case hold fluid?
Anyway, push button...

Doesn't the transfer case hold fluid?
Anyway, push button...

the transfercase with the auto push button 4wd switch takes TRAC II transfercase fluid available at the dealer...this is 2 qts and a couple of oz..when the fluid starts to go bad it sometimes causes a clunk on start from stop..the drive shaft does not slide as it should and you get the clunk...or the other as mentioned componets..

I know, that is why I mentioned that I had already replaced it, with no leaks and all...

I know, that is why I mentioned that I had already replaced it, with no leaks and all...

I was asking what fluid did you use exactly ? also . what type transfercase ?, yes there are different transfercases ...they do not all use the same fluid !

Oh, Ok. I used the one dealer indicated from VIN #, I believe it was TRAC II. As for transfer case, do not know which one it is specifically...

Oh, Ok. I used the one dealer indicated from VIN #, I believe it was TRAC II. As for transfer case, do not know which one it is specifically...

did you check the U joints and the drive shaft spline bushing..?

jack rear wheels off ground. block front wheels first then check all this ..place tranny in neutral..rotate shaft check for looseness lateral play.

I recently replaced mid shaft bearing. And seems that I need to replace both universal joints of the drive shaft. But Spline seems OK, tight and present (It still has the blue teflon coating for it)

I recently replaced mid shaft bearing. And seems that I need to replace both universal joints of the drive shaft. But Spline seems OK, tight and present (It still has the blue teflon coating for it)

good its just U joints no big deal....just mark the shaft /yoke prior to removal and on install put back in the same position..

I give it a quick hit with the spray paint...for marking..