Cranked my T-Bars and.........

BRZ71 · May 2, 2005

Ever since the dealer replaced my steering box, and int shaft my truck has wondered all over the road on the interstate. The front suspension also felt very mushy, and my height in the front was very low. Had some time yesterday to crank the bars three turns, got 1 inch of lift, and guess what ride is better and it doesn't wander all over the interstate anymore!!!!! I think their alignment guy f'ed up my Z height when he was doing the alignment. We'll see if the tires start wearing funny, then I will take it to a tire place for an alignment. I will not let the dealer align it again!!!! For a month there I thought I had the lowest Z71 on the road!!!!! I went from 35" from ground to top of wheel well, to 36" and it is funny how that 1" makes that much diff. in the look of the truck.

I also posted a while back a ticking noise under the truck, I am happy to say I think know what it is now, It is my drive shaft. 1 Piece Aluminum shaft, souns like you are twisting an aluminum can when it is under stress. I read somewhere, maybe here, that it is something with the welds not being compressed???? I do know it is getting worse, and it is hella anoying, especially when in a parking garage. It only does it on initial accel from a stop, and if the truck rolls fwd a little when put in park. We thought it was something in the tranny, but sometimes it comes from the front and sometimes it comes from the rear. We changed the Rear U joint but that didn't help.

I guess I'll just see what Mr Goodwrench finds!!!!!

JRW68 · May 2, 2005

Ever since the dealer replaced my steering box, and int shaft my truck has wondered all over the road on the interstate. The front suspension also felt very mushy, and my height in the front was very low. Had some time yesterday to crank the bars three turns, got 1 inch of lift, and guess what ride is better and it doesn't wander all over the interstate anymore!!!!! I think their alignment guy f'ed up my Z height when he was doing the alignment. We'll see if the tires start wearing funny, then I will take it to a tire place for an alignment. I will not let the dealer align it again!!!! For a month there I thought I had the lowest Z71 on the road!!!!! I went from 35" from ground to top of wheel well, to 36" and it is funny how that 1" makes that much diff. in the look of the truck.

I also posted a while back a ticking noise under the truck, I am happy to say I think know what it is now, It is my drive shaft. 1 Piece Aluminum shaft, souns like you are twisting an aluminum can when it is under stress. I read somewhere, maybe here, that it is something with the welds not being compressed???? I do know it is getting worse, and it is hella anoying, especially when in a parking garage. It only does it on initial accel from a stop, and if the truck rolls fwd a little when put in park. We thought it was something in the tranny, but sometimes it comes from the front and sometimes it comes from the rear. We changed the Rear U joint but that didn't help.

I guess I'll just see what Mr Goodwrench finds!!!!!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

when you cranked your torsion bars up... you more than likely threw your alignment off... but it doesn't sound like it was aligned properly anyways.. so no biggy.. just FYI

pastor scott.com · May 2, 2005

Whats really involved in ing those t bars ? my 04 burb hangs a little low in the frt for me, is it hard to do ?

Scott

BRZ71 · May 2, 2005

Whats really involved in ing those t bars ? my 04 burb hangs a little low in the frt for me, is it hard to do ?

Scott

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A Jack and an 18mm socket. Turn both the same amount of turns. Don't go to tight or they will strip the threads off the bolts and possibly kill you in the process!!! Or as GM puts it they will "release violently".

Also, yes, I don't think they aligned the thing right in the first place. I would get an alignment, but the "boss" is not going to let me get my 285's until the ones I have wear down. We may just have to accelerate the wear process a little this way. It handles better, etc. so I may just let it go until tire time.

snoman · May 2, 2005

A Jack and an 18mm socket. Turn both the same amount of turns. Don't go to tight or they will strip the threads off the bolts and possibly kill you in the process!!! Or as GM puts it they will "release violently".
.

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Lube the threads with a heavy oil or spray on white grease (not WD40 as it has no staying power) before you try to adjust them. Not so much to free them up as much as to work some lube into threads so future adjustments are easier and so bolt does not sieze and strip in threads with catastrophic results.

Wingnut · May 2, 2005

I didn't even use the jack.

I just got under there, and cranked them. Go drive over a couple of bumps, and it'll raise right up.

topo4u2 · May 2, 2005

Anyone know if you crank it up an inch if you need an alignment for sure? And how many people have cranked the Torsion bars up? It looks like my 2005 sits about an inch higher in the rear so I suppose if I cranked up the front it would be even....only common sense?

Ric · May 2, 2005

Anyone know if you crank it up an inch if you need an alignment for sure? And how many people have cranked the Torsion bars up? It looks like my 2005 sits about an inch higher in the rear so I suppose if I cranked up the front it would be even....only common sense?

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I will admit to cranking the bars on my last 4 chevy's and had no alignment afterward. I didn't raise the truck off the ground for the job either.

right or wrong, I didnt do it and saw no unusual tire wear your results may vary

pastor scott.com · May 3, 2005

Whats a few turns ? 1/2, 3/4, full turn ???

thanks Scott

BRZ71 · May 3, 2005

Whats a few turns ? 1/2, 3/4, full turn ???

thanks Scott

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I did three full turns. And yes you don't have to jack the truck up, but it makes it easier to turn the bolts.

jt1872001 · May 3, 2005

jack up the truck! to take some load off the t bars and to not f-up the threads!

asilverblazer · May 3, 2005

On mine proper alignment can not be achieved due to the camber being maxed out and mine wasn't turned up but maybe 1-2 full turns.

topo4u2 · May 4, 2005

Is everyone cranking up the T-Bars to level out their trucks?

lrymal · May 4, 2005

Is everyone cranking up the T-Bars to level out their trucks?

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Nope. Not me.... I'm the minority here. The t-bar adjustment is only for compensating for weight added to the front end such as snow plows and heavy front guards. It is not for cosmetic reasons.

But, I'm in the minority here. I don't touch mine. There's nothing that heavy on my truck's front end.

USA1Fan · May 4, 2005

I'm in the same group as Irymal on this one. If I could get replacement shocks for the front that were ~2" longer than the stockers as well as longer bump stops to match I'd probably go for cranking up the t-bars just to level out my truck (I do like the looks better that way). But I don't want to sacrifice any of the ride quality that I have now or risk any durability problems with the front suspension components over the long run.