Torsion Bars

[Cruize]

I measured ride height and found that my 4WD '95 Blazer is low everywhere - about 1.7 inches in the rear, 1.8 inches on the driver front tire and 1.6 inches on the passenger front tire. I just adjusted the torsion bars - I got four turns on the driver side before the bolt bottomed out, so now it should be 1 inch low. I adjusted the passenger side 4 turns in, and that side should now be 0.8 inches low. I still have about 3 or 4 turns on the passenger side bolt before it bottoms out.

Why is one side bottomed out but not the other? It is interesting to note that when I replace front shocks, the driver side shock is worse (less dampening remaining) than the passenger side and this side sags more.

What do I do now? Order new torsion bars? Are there bushings that wear out that need to be checked and possibly replaced? Any inexpensive "fixes"? Would turning the torsion bars 180 degrees about the long axis have any positive impact? (I would think the top side is either in near constant tension or compression and the bottom side is near constant compression or tension.)

I already got a low price of $335 for rear springs (for a set, springs only - not u-bolts or installation). I'm trying to figure out how much this whole thing is going to cost before I dump more money into it.

Thanks in advance.

[old_master]

Front suspension parts have a range of motion that they were designed to operate within. Front chassis ride height puts the suspension at the proper height so all of those parts are within their range. If ride height is correct, and the body is not level, don't try to correct it by adjusting the torsion bars, look for a problem where the body mounts to the chassis.

Front chassis ride height directly affects wheel alignment. Therefore it must be checked and adjusted if necessary BEFORE every alignment. The slightest adjustment to a torsion bar will change alignment angles drastically. Front ride height on GM T body vehicles is the vertical distance between the lower-most inboard point of the steering knuckle, nearest the ball joint, to the center of the lower control arm pivot bolt. It must be checked/adjusted when the vehicle is perfectly level, front to rear and side to side, (alignment rack). After it is adjusted, the front end should be aligned. A good alignment shop will check and adjust it if necessary with the alignment, afterall, it's part of the alignment. Specs: All except Z85 & ZR2: 4.6 to 5.0 inches with 4.8 being desired. Z85 & ZR2 is 4.6 to 5.2 inches with 4.9 being desired. If you can not achieve proper spec, the torsion bar is weak and needs to be replaced.