T-bar Installed Incorrectly

sablowme · August 5, 2007

Hey guys i havent posted here before but figured this is the place to put this thread. I have an 04 z71 (k) truck and just recently put a truxxx kit on wich requires the removal of the torsion bar keys. When doin this the instructions do not mention the placement or the proper way to remove the torsion bar. So when i was taking the lever off the bar i hit the lever with a hammer and then slid the bar forward to the front of the truck....MY question is i belive the bar is now installed wrong. The kit is like a mini lift it gives you new levers and shock spacers and in the back it gives you blocks with new u-bolts.

is there a way that the torsion bars could be in there socket wrong....and if so how do i get them back into place. wich way is up or north..

diehrd · August 6, 2007

Did u leave bar slid forward and just slide it back into new key ? I can not see it going in wrong unless ya mixed left from right and I am not sure there directional front to back I do not think they are..

What exactly is the problem by the way ? Why are you questioning the install ??

sablowme · August 6, 2007

The problem is the truck does not sit any higher than stock and is sappose to be a 3" differance on the front. I did the install wrong i belive so thats why im questioing it. I did slide the bar into the new key and lined it up with the hole in the new key looked faily simple but as i started to crank up on the bolt i noticed hardly no increase in hight and now the bolts do not sit parralell to the ground they are pointing in a letter "v" almost as if too much was cranked up. But as truxxxs says for every quarter or half turn you get an inch of hight.

that being said after installing these you would just leave a quarter of an inch of bolt sticking through the key. and its done.

to sum up (alittle late now..lol) i have done this kit on other trucks and not noticed this problem but thought that maybe i had the bar installed in the wrong position. Cuz the socket end at the controll arm only fits one way and the key only fits one way. So i thought that i had it turned the wrong way thats all.

diehrd · August 6, 2007

I would be more suspect of the keys , a 2500 uses 1/2 ton keys for height and a half ton uses ford keys,,be sure they sent the right keys to ya ..

FiTxAg04 · August 8, 2007

The bolts aren't going to be parallel to the ground anymore when you install new keys. This doesn't hurt anything and is completely normal. Also, 1/2 turn will not give you an extra inch or ride height. It's goin to take a few turns to get the height you're looking for. Just measure from the center of the hub to the edge of your fender in the back and keep cranking on your bars until you get that same distance in the front (or until you're happy).

BE SURE to take a trip to the alignment shop when you're done with this as it will sure throw your alignment off and cause your tires to wear prematurely.