Turned T-Bars Up

bsimpson · June 2, 2004

I have a 04' 2500 Crew and just had the T-Bars turned up about 1.5". The truck looks like a different truck especially after adding the 285 tires. Before the truck didn't ride like a Cadilac, but did have a fair ride for a truck of this size. After turning up the T-Bars it rides like a covered-wagon. I never thought it make it that noticable. Should I live with it, change the keys, or have the t-bars turned down a little? Would a different size shock make any difference?

Help...

Brent

bsimpson · June 4, 2004

Anyone have any ideas?

Thanks, Brent

lrymal · June 4, 2004

There is a lot of geometry involved and when one adjusts those torsion bars, the ride quality may suffer. For the most part, the ride will firm up, and you'll see many posters will claim liking the firmer ride. I don't like that firm ride, especially when on these rural roads here. I have been in some vehicles where the torsion bars were adjusted and the ride felt as if the tires were horribly over inflated. Definitely jarring, and not comfortable.

I wish I could offer some advice, other than saying to place the ride level back to where it was. One of the other trucksites had a message exchange on this very thing. One guy claimed that just changing the passenger side by a single turn, after getting the ride height to where he wanted it, could dramatically change the ride quality. He emphasized "dramatically". Basically, you'd get the height level to where you want, then adjust upwards or downwards on the passenger t-bar---just a bit at a time. Drive around the block, hit some speed bumps. Took him DAYS to get it right and he still wasn't happy but claimed it was close.

In my opinion, put 'em back and install either a suspension lift or body lift. If the ride quality remains harsh, you might need the dealer's help.

And FINALLY, do NOT cut the "bump stops" as some folks in other lists are saying. These are "jounce bumpers" (didn't know any of this until a month ago) and are use to smooth out the bounce when the suspension is moving to its limit during a bounce, mimicking a spring. A torsion bar doesn't behave the same as a spring and these jounce bumps help. You will also find that these jounce bumpers are touching their target, just barely though. Crawl under a new truck which has these, and you find that they can move if you place firm lateral pressure on them.

I'd suggest setting your ride to about this level. Use a new vehicle that is sitting at the dealer lot during after hours.

And if you still can't regain the ride quality, the dealer really has to be brought in. The service manual has a section on adjusting the torsion bar, but that section needs a bit of interpretation by a suspension technician, at least for me. I read a message by one guy on another truck site stating that his dealer spent a full day, getting the ride quality back. But, if one is on the road a lot, it would be worth paying the price and chalk it up to a lesson learned. Don't want a tooth-jarring ride on a crummy old concrete freeway with worn out expansion joints.

Ok, sooooo, here would be my question. Say we have one of our good folks who live up north, using snow plows and adjust their t-bars to accomodate the extra weight of the plow. Can they get their ride quality back with the bars tightened as much as they have to be to get that front end up? And when they remove the plow, and readjust their t-bars to lower the front end back to where it was prior to the plow, can they get their ride back?

Anyway, it is an unpleasant issue because it is so easy to recall how nicely the truck rode prior to the t-bar adjustment. I haven't touched my bars and love the ride. Smooth, controlled, and caddylacky.

GlennRMK · June 5, 2004

Have been talking to a few tire shops and most say you don't want to go over 1" of lift by cranking on the torsion bars.

I think I am going have mine cranked up 3/4"-1". That small of a change shouldn't be to big of a deal.

This thing riding so low looks kinda dumb. Maybe I should of bought a 3/4 ton Dodge. Or I need a lift.

AZ-Z71 · June 5, 2004

Dude you need a lift. These trucks sit ridiculously low. Pull up next to a Ford or a Dodge the same class size. They make our trucks look like wimps, or better yet make a four wheel drive look like a two wheel drive. I heard many reasons why GM went lower, like to attract more buyers that didn't want to climb into a truck. HELLO, these are trucks not some scoccer mom van. I liked the GM truck but I absolutely hate the height, or should I say the lack of height.

Do a lift, you wouldn't believe the difference in appearance and ride quality. I never believed the ride quality part until I did mine. Now wishing i did it a lot longer ago. You don't need to go super high like a 12" lift, even a nice 3" body lift makes a big difference in appearance. Mine I went with a 6" suspension lift and a 3" body lift and I think the truck now is the perfect height, not too tall, and definately not to short.

Look around there are some other guys on here with some nice lifts.

Here is a link to mine.

My lifted truck

I wish I had two in the driveway for the comparison. Maybe on Monday I'll take a photo next to my co-workers to show the difference.