Front torsion bar suspension

C3Sierra · November 21, 2001

Does anyone know if the front torsion bar suspension is the same or has some of the same parts between the AWD Sierra C3, the 1500 4WD, and the Tahoe/Yukon suspension. I am desperately looking for a lowering kit for the front of my C3 but no one seems to have one. There is however a lowering kit for the Tahoe/Yukon 4WD and the 1500 4WD.

Shaners · November 21, 2001

There are about 7-8 different torsion bars under the front of GM trucks. You will see a tag on the bar with a couple of letters on it. This will tell you what "rating" your bars are. You can cross reference them with other trucks or Tahoes to see what works... I'm guessing the lowering kit you mentioned will work for the C3 also...

Chevy4x4trucks has them all listed on his website. Here's a link...

http://www.geocities.com/chevy4x4trucks/

chevy4x4trucks · November 21, 2001

Shaners is right, they have all different code listings on them so the only way to be sure is to physicall check it. On my site, it's in the GM Part Numbers area. It also lists the different torque rating of each bar.

C3Sierra · November 21, 2001

Chevy4x4trucks,

According to your web site VIN decoder it lists my C3 as a luxury 4X4. Therefore I would assume that I have the same suspension as you guys. I haven't had a chance yet to check my torsion bar number as I am currently in Kosovo. I will be home next month...woohoo! Anyhow, I assume that if I went with a lower torque number on the torsion bar then that should lower the ride height. Is this correct and would this make the ride too mushy or just change the height? Thanks for the help guys. It really is hard to build a truck when you are 5000 miles from it. ARRRGGGHHH!!!!

chevy4x4trucks · November 21, 2001

I wouldn't go assuming. I know that in the 1500's you can get at least 3 or 4 different t-bars. They have different bars in the regular 4x4's, the Z71, and the snow plow prep package. I really don't know if putting on lighter rated t-bars would give you the results you want. I wonder if you can uncrank them in the same way that most of us have cranked them for more clearance. I bet it's possible. For the new t-bars you'd be looking at about 250 including shipping from gmpartsdirect.com

Shaners · November 21, 2001

It's gotta be hard to be in Kosovo and have a truck like that in your driveway at home... My cousin-in-law (if that makes sense) is in Kosovo too. He's in the "Rangers". He's stationed in Germany and then rotates in and out of Kosovo.

FULLSIZEchevy · November 22, 2001

The most effective way to lower your C3, assuming it is the same as a 4wd. is to change the keys out. Much like you would do if you were going to raise it with a leveling kit. The new torsion bar keys are made to allow the torsion bar to be preloaded lower thus giving you a lower stance. Swapping out torsion bars for lower rated bars to lower your truck is not the best way to go. That's almost like saying, you would change your coils out for weaker ones to have a lower truck (if you had coils) know what I mean?

C3Sierra · November 22, 2001

Yeah it really sucks being this far from my truck. I bought it in May but didn't get to see it until July and then I was only home for 3 weeks. Oh well, if I wasn't over here I wouldn't have been able to afford it in the first place. Overseas contract jobs pay quite well. Anyhow, I have done a lot of lowering and other suspension work but I have never had a 4wd so I am new to the whole torsion bar thing. I appreciate the info you guys gave me. I think I will try Belltech's 4wd lowering system with the new keyways and hope it works. I don't want a ground scraper, just something a little sportier looking. The stock ride height on a C3 is the same as the Z71s and that is just too tall for me. Thanks again for all the help!

FULLSIZEchevy · November 25, 2001

You def. won't get a ground scraper out of a 4wd unless you remove the front halfshafts. Then what's the whole point? But you will get a decent stance. Let me know how it turns out!