Just did Torsion Bars got 3-4 inches

mattro · December 4, 2006

well i did the ford keys this weekend and cranked them up all the way to get my truck level with the add-a-leafs in the rear. Overall its like 3-4 inches of lift. My question is....can it be aligned because i went to goodguys tires and they did the alignment and when it was done told me it still wont drive 100% straight due to the torsion bar adjustment. I felt like i got screwed when i got in my truck drove it and it steered right just as much as it did before i didnt the torsion keys and alignment. It was already outa wack before the keys were installed and needed to be aligned. Anyways im thinking of going and getting my money back because whats an alignment without it driving straight? Oh yah i still need to add my new shocks because the ride is bouncy as heck when im running all 4 stock shocks, just didnt have time last weekend. ANyways does this sound legit or are they just making it up because the shop was about to close? Oh and i really like the way it sits now...much more truck like and yet doesnt look like im trying to lift it.

itsclay11 · December 5, 2006

i did the same with my truck...ended up lowering my torsion bars back down because of the ride....even added taller shocks...didn't help. the torson bars have a spring load and when you tighten them the ride goes to crap...that bouncy feeling is not the shocks, yes it could be a little, but most of it is from the torsion bars being jacked up all the way. also by doing that you are messing up tie-rods and bushings up front...gotta be careful...i did my research with my truck and found this out, hope i caught it all at the right time because i don't want to replace bushings and tie rods

carneyman · December 5, 2006

I raised mine by the torsion bars, then got it aligned. It drives straight as an arrow still. Actually, it drove straight right afterwards too, but it was way outta alignment.

Tex2kZR2 · December 5, 2006

The same happened to a friend of mine who added Ford keys to his GMC 2500HD.(bouncy) He back down the torsion bars some and the bounce went away.

Would defintely remove the add-a-leafs and back down the TBars and then drive your truck.

Yukon04 · December 5, 2006

From what I understand, the maximum lift without running into problems with the cranking is 2". Going too far results in issues such as these (from what I've seen..)

asilverblazer · December 5, 2006

There isn't enough adjustment to compensate the amount you lifted.

mattro · December 5, 2006

so i have to bring it down a bit to get a better ride? i guess i could make it only 2" but then it will have a tilt because of my add-a-leafs(left side was only a 16th of an inch off so i was satisfied. I pretty much did the bolts on the keys all the way up so that both sides sat level. Is there anything you can put under the torsion bars to help the ride...i noticed before they sat on or were close to sitting on something inbetween the key and the front of the bar. Looked like it rested there. Now they are more in the air not so close to resting there.

oh and carneyman how much did you raise them and did u use ford keys?

Tex2kZR2- how much was your friend able to lift his truck on the ford keys and have an acceptable ride?

Yukon04 says 2" and i can probably deal with that i suppose if thats what is needed to get the stock ride back or just less bounce.

Anyways I appreciate the advice from everyone because i wouldnt know anyone else to ask that has done this.

kssooner · December 5, 2006

I would venture to say that you lifted it way to much. I just got mine to level and it was all good still had it alligned just to make sure and still good today..*knocking on wood*

Yukon04 · December 5, 2006

The Ford keys do nothing more than add additional adjustment over stock keys. In my experience and from what I've read/heard, 2" is the "rule of thumb" for maximum allowable lift. Can you get more? Sure. And your seeing what happens when too much is allowed. Anything more than approximately 2" and the stock geometry gets so out of whack it won't handle. One suggestion is to lower it a little at a time until the ride smooths out. This will give your maximum lift while maintaining ride quality.

mattro · December 5, 2006

The Ford keys do nothing more than add additional adjustment over stock keys. In my experience and from what I've read/heard, 2" is the "rule of thumb" for maximum allowable lift. Can you get more? Sure. And your seeing what happens when too much is allowed. Anything more than approximately 2" and the stock geometry gets so out of whack it won't handle. One suggestion is to lower it a little at a time until the ride smooths out. This will give your maximum lift while maintaining ride quality.

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yea i was thinking that too...thanks for the advice i will lower the bolts and see how it rides. after i do that i will have a tilt to it..im guessing theres nothing small or cheap u can do to lift the front an inch

Zee71 · December 6, 2006

Well on 2WD you can add in a coil spring spacer which IIRC gives you 2". I wanted to do that instead of the T-Keys, but I can't find them for 4WD.

asilverblazer · December 6, 2006

Keep in mind you may be able to lower it back to an acceptable ride quality, but may need to lower more still to be able to align it properly. I would lower it to properly align it which would also be give the improved ride.

asilverblazer · December 6, 2006

Well on 2WD you can add in a coil spring spacer which IIRC gives you 2". I wanted to do that instead of the T-Keys, but I can't find them for 4WD.

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What coil would you space on your 4x4?

vxaxv17 · December 6, 2006

Well on 2WD you can add in a coil spring spacer which IIRC gives you 2". I wanted to do that instead of the T-Keys, but I can't find them for 4WD.

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What coil would you space on your 4x4?

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The invisible ones...