how to install ford torsion bar keys

n8huntsman · July 4, 2003

To remove old keys:

Jack up vehicle and remove tires.

Remove shocks, sway bar, and unbolt lower ball joint.

Remove adjustment bolt.

Have someone push down on the a-arm while you remove the half circle shaped nut from the crossmember.

Now slide the t.b. forward. Be careful because the old key will fall out. and if it lands on your head it will hurt.

Put the bar back into the hole in the cross member just enough so it will stay.

This way youll have enough room to slide the new key in.

While holding the new key in posion ( tip should be about an inch down from bottom of the cross member) slide the t.b. back into the new key.

Now again have someone push down on the a-arm and try to insert the half circle shaped nut. If this is too difficult, you may have to remove one or both of the a-arm bolt, slide in the half circle nut, and then try to align the a-arm and get the bolts back in.

Then just put everything back together. When its done, remove the tie rod ends and put them back in. This is to make sure that they have enough travel and are not in a bind. Sometimes they look ok but they really arent. The joint between the center link and the tie rod only allows a certain amount of travel. If you exceed this you could break it and loose your steering.

With the adjustment bolts out you will already be higher than a maxed out stock key so you may just opt to leave the bolts out. If you want to go a little higher, tighten the bolts but your gonna get close to your bump stop so watch that closely. If you have any question respond to this and ill reply. Check my page for detailed pics.

Torsion Bar pics

marcski · July 7, 2003

why do all that ?

Before following steps, take and record all measurements to determine before and after measurements. My suggestion is from middle of wheel to bottom of the fender opening.

1) Jack up the front end and set on jack stands.

2) Remove the load on the torsion key bolts with an unloading tool or two jaw gear puller.

3) Remove bolt and keys and SLOWLY remove tool of choice used above.

4) TB slides forward easily, remove the key and replace with more indexed key

5) add tension to new key with tool and replace torsion bar bolt and bracket.

6) crank bolt about half way, remove tool

7) remove jack stands and bounce front end several times to settle things out. Take measurements, shoot for 1.5 to 2 inches to level and also check the side to side.

If any further cranking is necessary, it is easily done with the truck on the ground.

Thats it.

Tools needed: 18MM socket, 5+ ton gear puller or torsion bar unloading tool, jack, jack stands.

60 minutes of time

NoWake200 · October 29, 2003

Ok, I just read this post and I am starting to get worried! The guy yesturday leveled(2") my '04 in just miniutes, the longest thing they worked on was my alignment. I know that I did not buy any keys...was my job done right?

Rick

Wingnut · October 30, 2003

It was done right, if you like it.

All they did was crank the torsion bars. It has the same end result as replacing the keys.

It's just that some trucks don't have enough turns left on the factory keys to level it out, so those folks would need new keys to level it.

NoWake200 · October 30, 2003

Wingnut, it looks good but the ride was truned into one of a leaf spring front end. Other than that I like it. If I added the key would that help out the ride?