Pro's/con's Of Cranking Tbars

[Stranger ranger]

Just curious, I know a bunch of guys who have their torsion bars cranked all the way up, as do I. The only thing I noticed was it rode a little stiffer, but that really doesn't bother me. I did however notice when accelerating in 4wd, there is a slight vibration but I figured that's just the tires trying to fight each other.

 

Would it be wise to keep them like this or should I eventually buy torsion keys instead to achieve the same amount of lift and get the factory ride back? This was just a quick fix for me to achieve some lift for 285's but if its going to effect the truck down the road, well I don't want that. In 2 and 4wd both it drives straight down the road so no problem there, Just that vibration and the stiffness.

 

Thanks.

[old dog]

tor

Just curious, I know a bunch of guys who have their torsion bars cranked all the way up, as do I. The only thing I noticed was it rode a little stiffer, but that really doesn't bother me. I did however notice when accelerating in 4wd, there is a slight vibration but I figured that's just the tires trying to fight each other.

 

Would it be wise to keep them like this or should I eventually buy torsion keys instead to achieve the same amount of lift and get the factory ride back? This was just a quick fix for me to achieve some lift for 285's but if its going to effect the truck down the road, well I don't want that. In 2 and 4wd both it drives straight down the road so no problem there, Just that vibration and the stiffness.

 

Thanks.

 

torsin key will still let it ride rough ,they twist the bars he same but give you more adjustment .if you crank them enough they will put the Axel joint in a cramped angle and cause some wear and vibration ,if you go to far it might be better to get a lift kit to keep the croect geometry (more money)

[Mclovin]

unless you get different control arms your alignment wont be within spec.. which will cause uneven tire wear.. you can still get it aligned to go straight. Ive also been told by BDS that with Zone's (owned by BDS) 2" kit (torsion keys) the stock shocks will need adapters to they dont bottom out..

if i decided to lift my truck im going with this set up

http://zoneoffroad.com/product?ki=244&gr=-1

I HATE blocks with a passion !!! so i may find something different for the back.. but those keys and shock relocaters are the ticket..

[Stranger ranger]

I dont like blocks either, but a 1.5" block is nothing. Hell my ranger came with one stock, so i really dont care about the block. Didnt give me anymore wrap than what I had. 6k miles and the tires are not wearing or cupping,,,,, sooo, i guess its down to ride quality and 4wd vibration.

[Prokopchuk_9]

my 2002 i had them cranked all the way then back a little bit. like a turn or two cant remember, its not good to have them all the way. leveling kit torsion keys are just indexed differently so you start out lifted up a little bit with the bolts loosened off. my 02 i had them like that for 3 years never had an issue, nothing in the front end went. had it like that for 160k kms, sold it like that too...the truck i got now i have them cranked like half-way...still rides nice and i got 33'' x 12.50''s stuffed in there. on a +12 offset too. never had an issue yet got like 60k kms on this one...you'll be okay. leveling keys are nice tho...you're ride will be "factory" like with them not all c**k stiff...

[BuckFeverZ]

my 2002 i had them cranked all the way then back a little bit. like a turn or two cant remember, its not good to have them all the way. leveling kit torsion keys are just indexed differently so you start out lifted up a little bit with the bolts loosened off. my 02 i had them like that for 3 years never had an issue, nothing in the front end went. had it like that for 160k kms, sold it like that too...the truck i got now i have them cranked like half-way...still rides nice and i got 33'' x 12.50''s stuffed in there. on a +12 offset too. never had an issue yet got like 60k kms on this one...you'll be okay. leveling keys are nice tho...you're ride will be "factory" like with them not all c**k stiff...

 

Bullshit. All those keys do is index them more so you crank the t-bars more. They have nothing to do with how it rides. Whether you crank the stock keys or get aftermarket keys the suspension will be compressed the same.

[Prokopchuk_9]

my 2002 i had them cranked all the way then back a little bit. like a turn or two cant remember, its not good to have them all the way. leveling kit torsion keys are just indexed differently so you start out lifted up a little bit with the bolts loosened off. my 02 i had them like that for 3 years never had an issue, nothing in the front end went. had it like that for 160k kms, sold it like that too...the truck i got now i have them cranked like half-way...still rides nice and i got 33'' x 12.50''s stuffed in there. on a +12 offset too. never had an issue yet got like 60k kms on this one...you'll be okay. leveling keys are nice tho...you're ride will be "factory" like with them not all c**k stiff...

 

Bullshit. All those keys do is index them more so you crank the t-bars more. They have nothing to do with how it rides. Whether you crank the stock keys or get aftermarket keys the suspension will be compressed the same.

 

 

i beg too differ buddy, they do index it but your ride wont be as harsh....cuz your starting height with the leveling keys is higher with the bolts slacked off. a leveling kit puts LESS compression on your front end...if you wanna call it compress...more like extends...pushes your downtravel of the suspension up...do you understand how the steering geomoetry/suspension works on a torsion'd front end??????? i had keys on a 98' and it made it ride way nicer, cuz i never jacked them right up!!! they are ment to give you lift without jackin them up!!!

[Matt_]

my 2002 i had them cranked all the way then back a little bit. like a turn or two cant remember, its not good to have them all the way. leveling kit torsion keys are just indexed differently so you start out lifted up a little bit with the bolts loosened off. my 02 i had them like that for 3 years never had an issue, nothing in the front end went. had it like that for 160k kms, sold it like that too...the truck i got now i have them cranked like half-way...still rides nice and i got 33'' x 12.50''s stuffed in there. on a +12 offset too. never had an issue yet got like 60k kms on this one...you'll be okay. leveling keys are nice tho...you're ride will be "factory" like with them not all c**k stiff...

 

Bullshit. All those keys do is index them more so you crank the t-bars more. They have nothing to do with how it rides. Whether you crank the stock keys or get aftermarket keys the suspension will be compressed the same.

 

 

i beg too differ buddy, they do index it but your ride wont be as harsh....cuz your starting height with the leveling keys is higher with the bolts slacked off. a leveling kit puts LESS compression on your front end...if you wanna call it compress...more like extends...pushes your downtravel of the suspension up...do you understand how the steering geomoetry/suspension works on a torsion'd front end??????? i had keys on a 98' and it made it ride way nicer, cuz i never jacked them right up!!! they are ment to give you lift without jackin them up!!!

 

 

ugh.... :facepalm:

 

do you know how torsion bars work and how the front end is held up? If you did, you would realize how completely wrong you are.

 

you do realize that ALL that matters is how much the torsion bar is "twisted" right? for 2" of ride height the torsion bar needs to be rotated (twisted) the same amount, it doesn't matter what keys you have in there. The only thing the re-indexed keys change is how much the adjustment bolt sticks out. At 2" of increased ride height, the ride quality AND geometry of the front end will be identical REGARDLESS of which torsion keys you have in there and how much of the adjustment bolt is sticking out. If you don't follow this, you need to learn how torsion bars work.

[Dooner]

[killergixxer]

I agree with you Matt! Achieving 2" of height through the torsion bars whether it's cranking the stock or the leveling reindexed keys is still the same! So in order to get the front raised properly do you have to put an actual 2" suspension lift?

[Riverjet502]

 

Dooner Could you please pass the salt...Thanks

[Matt_]

todd, everyone has their own opinion of what "properly" means for 2" of increased ride height. the general consensus is that as long as you dont go over 2" you should be "OK"

 

my personal opinion is to stay in the 1.5 to 1.75" range via torsion bar adjustments. and if you want more than 2" then you should look into body lifts or small suspension lifts. and by "suspension lifts", im talking about a real kit that retains complete OEM suspension geometry and travel (upper balljoints,lower balljoints and steering components).

 

fwiw; i cranked the torsion bars on my 2005 just under 2". at first i told people that the "ride was great" and that "it rides like a truck [insert manly voice here]". after a few months i came to my senses and realized that the ride sucked! being a mechanic i tried a few different shock options to try to soften the ride up some, i had clearance between the UCA and metal droop stops so i did have some down travel left too. the end result was that i threw out those keys (my stock keys only gave me 1" so i needed aftermarket torsion keys to get the height i wanted) and installed a real suspension lift.

[Stranger ranger]

where did you get that "real" suspension lift from? I tell everyone the ride is ok but everyone knows that it still blows lol. I wanna do it right, when the money comes available.

[Matt_]

i ordered it online and installed it myself. i went with a 5-6" kit and set it at the low end of 5" to run 33s.... i didnt want to spend the money on a 2-4" suspension lift because i knew id eventually want to run 35s.... which i did... and then added a body lift and ran 37s lol

[Prokopchuk_9]

my 2002 i had them cranked all the way then back a little bit. like a turn or two cant remember, its not good to have them all the way. leveling kit torsion keys are just indexed differently so you start out lifted up a little bit with the bolts loosened off. my 02 i had them like that for 3 years never had an issue, nothing in the front end went. had it like that for 160k kms, sold it like that too...the truck i got now i have them cranked like half-way...still rides nice and i got 33'' x 12.50''s stuffed in there. on a +12 offset too. never had an issue yet got like 60k kms on this one...you'll be okay. leveling keys are nice tho...you're ride will be "factory" like with them not all c**k stiff...

 

Bullshit. All those keys do is index them more so you crank the t-bars more. They have nothing to do with how it rides. Whether you crank the stock keys or get aftermarket keys the suspension will be compressed the same.

 

 

i beg too differ buddy, they do index it but your ride wont be as harsh....cuz your starting height with the leveling keys is higher with the bolts slacked off. a leveling kit puts LESS compression on your front end...if you wanna call it compress...more like extends...pushes your downtravel of the suspension up...do you understand how the steering geomoetry/suspension works on a torsion'd front end??????? i had keys on a 98' and it made it ride way nicer, cuz i never jacked them right up!!! they are ment to give you lift without jackin them up!!!

 

 

ugh.... :facepalm:

 

do you know how torsion bars work and how the front end is held up? If you did, you would realize how completely wrong you are.

 

you do realize that ALL that matters is how much the torsion bar is "twisted" right? for 2" of ride height the torsion bar needs to be rotated (twisted) the same amount, it doesn't matter what keys you have in there. The only thing the re-indexed keys change is how much the adjustment bolt sticks out. At 2" of increased ride height, the ride quality AND geometry of the front end will be identical REGARDLESS of which torsion keys you have in there and how much of the adjustment bolt is sticking out. If you don't follow this, you need to learn how torsion bars work.

 

 

why on my 98' when I put keys in it rode nicer??? I do understand how it works, Ive done almost all my own work on all my trucks. When I did keys and blocks in my 98 I swear it rode nicer, imnot making things up. The were skynacker keys if I remember correctly....it was a noticeable difference after I put them in. I feel like buying some right now just too see. And to the OP I have almost the exact same truck as you, what size wheels you gonna run with the lift?? If your not gonna go to 35's than there is no point in putting a lift in your truck waste of money. You can fit 33's with no lift. If you aren't going to 35's or 37's don't bother with a lift.