Torsion bars

[1LEThumper]

Hey I have heard from some other guys that you can raise the front of the truck slightly on the front by tighting the torsion bars. Well I was changing the oil for the first time tonight and I see the bolts that they are talking about...and I got to looking at the truck and it seems like it sits higher on the driver's side by about a 1/2" I was thinking about getting under it and seeing if I could level it out.

I was wondering if anyone had messed with them or if they are suppose to set a little higher on the one side.

 

Thanks

[Victory Red]

Some have one side higher than the other for some reason. Others don't. Go figure!

 

Anyhow, yes, you can crank up the bars to level it out, or raise the front about an inch, if you like, but get your front end aligned afterwards. I would suggest putting some kind of mark on the heads of the bolts BEFORE you mess with them. This way, you can always return to factory settings if needed. Clockwise turns will raise, and counter-clockwise turns will lower the front of your truck. Park on a level surface and take measurements to the top of your wheelwells on both sides first, then crank the bars, and measure again to get it where you want. Write down how many turns you gave both sides, so you can go back later if needed. Also, I wouldn't go more than about 5 turns up. You don't want to bottom out the cams that are on the ends of the bars. Make sure there is space between the top of the cam and the cross member above it.

 

VR

[Shaners]

It seems most trucks that "lean", are lower on the drivers side.  That's the way mine was and I cranked up the bar on that side.  Remember to measure off the frame and not a body part so you wil get a good measurement.  Like Victoryred said, an alignment is a good idea if you make a very big adjustment.

[siume99]

Could the missmatched sides be because you always have a driver on the driver's side, but not a passenger on the passenger side?  While driving (at least just with the driver) your truck might be close to level.  Just my $0.02

[ryr8828]

Not wanting to put you down siu, but backwards thinking there. My truck is 3/4 inch low on Driver's side empty. Driver and full load of fuel would only make it more out of level. Every post I have seen, the trucks are low on the driver's side for some reason. I didn't notice it on mine until a friend pointed it out.

[siume99]

RYR8828 ...but....but...but.   None taken.    (I stick my tongue out in your general directon)    j/k  However, here's why I say that: 1LEThumper mentioned

sits higher on the driver's side by about a 1/2"

But going with your statement of the driver side is lower.....check to see where your truck was built.  Was it built in England and they forgot to move the steering column?    I can't think of any other answer except perhaps the assembly line had the torque set wrong.  ???  

 

Going with this idea that things are off plumb.  I notice the '95 era F150s had their beds tilted weird from the back.  It looked like the drivers side of the bed was lower.  I always thought that they did this to keep the load level on typical 2 lane roads.  AH HAH!!!!  That's it!!!  (While explaining my F#%d theory, I thought of this.)

 

Theory 2:  The torsion bars are unequal to balance (plumb even) the truck on a typical 2 lane road.  Usually cars tilt with the crown of the road (passenger side lower).  I think GM decided there are too many people complaining about their right butt cheek falling asleep.    Perhaps they did this to to make the ride more comfortable.   ???  :0

[ryr8828]

WHOOPS! Sorry, siume. How about those Salukis? :blush: I should pay more attention.

[siume99]

WHOOPS! Sorry, siume. How about those Salukis? :blush: I should pay more attention.

Actually I'm a bit upset with them.  I went to the Bradley SIU game last night.  I thought SIU was going to really school them.  Well for the first half they did, but slipped by with a 5 point win.  I don't know about the SIU basketball players, but I wanted the SIU cheerleaders there.  This is the first time that I didn't see two different squads of cheerleaders.  Don't cheerleaders travel on school nights?  ???