Leveling kits

Ideeho · October 19, 2003

I am looking to level out my 02 Sierra. Any conclusions as to if this is the right thing to do? I have seen both pros and cons on this, and am wondering if the deal I see on www.central4wd.com is good for $149 or if I can find a place online to sell me the parts, if they are just keys, cheaper. Thanks again fellas.

Mega Dogmeat · October 20, 2003

I got ripped off on the "Hill Leveling Kit" before I read how those keys were just Ford F150 keys with the serial numbers ground off

Just go to your local Ford dealership and tell them you need the torsion bar keys out of a 1997-2003 F-150, and they'll hook you up for about $40 or so I hear.

wandell · October 20, 2003

I would crank up the torsion bars first and see how you like that. It's free (other than the cost of an alignment), and easy. The replacement keys do the same thing as cranking up your stock keys, it increases the preload on the torsion bars. The replacement keys just allow you to put more preload on the stock bars.

Wingnut · October 20, 2003

Hmmmm....I thought that the Ford keys were just a slightly increased angle, and your torsions would not need to be cranked to achieve a higher front end. Thus giving a softer ride, like the stock tension. Unlike just cranking, where you get a somewhat harsher ride due to the stiffer front end.

Mega Dogmeat · October 20, 2003

Hmmmm....I thought that the Ford keys were just a slightly increased angle, and your torsions would not need to be cranked to achieve a higher front end. Thus giving a softer ride, like the stock tension. Unlike just cranking, where you get a somewhat harsher ride due to the stiffer front end.

The ford keys are indexed so that when you install them, and re-install your torsion bars and related hardware, the bars wind up being indexed so that there is more pre-load on the bar.

In effect, you could run with these keys and the adjustment bolt backed off from what it was "stock" and have the same ride and frame height, etc, but when you put these keys in and then crank back the same number of threads, you get about a 1.5" rise on the height of the fenders (at least that was my reference point when I did mine).

I wound up putting the Ford keys in and cranking just a few turns past what it was from stock, and wound up picking up like 1 5/8" t the center of the front fenders from stock ...

I ran thise way for about 10,000 miles then got sick of how harsh and bounch the ride was, took the keys off, and sold them at about a $100 loss

I suspect that cranking your torsion bars with an aftermarket shock like a Rancho or Bilstien would negate the "bouncy" effect that I had, and probably smoothen out the ride too ... the stock shocks are absolute crap, and I really wouldn't recommend cranking your torsion bars with them, because you *WILL* top them out on a regular basis.

Ideeho · October 21, 2003

Anyone have a link to a cheap place to get the Ford keys? Part numbers would help too. Thanks mucho.

03GMC2500HD · October 21, 2003

Ideeho, the Ford PN is XL3Z5B328CA and they run about $20 ea at your local ford dealership. I'm sure there is a "Ford parts online" somewhere like gmpartsdirect.com but don't know a link.

The bouncing effect comes from cranking them too much and rubbing the bumpstops which causes the bounce. You can back them off a bit or some people buy shorter bumpstops. I know my 2500HD with the green keys rides just slightly stiffer than stock but no where near as stiff as just cranking the stock keys. Good luck!

Ideeho · October 23, 2003

Good looking rig you have there. I called the local Ford dealer, $22 each, not bad, I think I will give it a shot. What's a ballpark figure to expect for a local mechanic to install these and realign the front end?