Torsion Key ?

babb · November 13, 2007

Thinking of getting a rough country level lift for my 04 silverado, I plan on keeping this truck for quite a while. Just wondering if this will cause premature failure of front suspension components. Thanks in advance.

jrrod2004 · November 13, 2007

Thinking of getting a rough country level lift for my 04 silverado, I plan on keeping this truck for quite a while. Just wondering if this will cause premature failure of front suspension components. Thanks in advance.

is that a kit? if so it should not really affect suspension since you will be replacing key components on the vehicle, really depends on the setup and usage.

2000DV4.8 · November 13, 2007

Thinking of getting a rough country level lift for my 04 silverado, I plan on keeping this truck for quite a while. Just wondering if this will cause premature failure of front suspension components. Thanks in advance.

If it is just re-indexed torsion keys (chances are it is), it will speed up the wear on your front end. Torsion keys are no different than cranking your t-bars, they just let you crank further. The further you crank, the worse your CV angles (and all the other angles) get. In the long run, this could lead to failure of various different parts, which could be dangerous to yourself, and others, as well as costing more money to replace suspension parts. The max you can safely crank your t-bars is about 1" -1.5". Any more than that, and it will really accelerate the wear of all your IFS parts, and anything above that and the ride REALLY starts to suffer.

If you want to level your truck, I'd suggest cranking the t-bars about an inch. It won't sit completely level, but it'll be closer (and won't look like it's sagging when you tow or carry a load), and you don't need to spend $100+ on new keys. The stock keys will easily allow for 1" of crank.

jrrod2004 · November 13, 2007

Thinking of getting a rough country level lift for my 04 silverado, I plan on keeping this truck for quite a while. Just wondering if this will cause premature failure of front suspension components. Thanks in advance.

If it is just re-indexed torsion keys (chances are it is), it will speed up the wear on your front end. Torsion keys are no different than cranking your t-bars, they just let you crank further. The further you crank, the worse your CV angles (and all the other angles) get. In the long run, this could lead to failure of various different parts, which could be dangerous to yourself, and others, as well as costing more money to replace suspension parts. The max you can safely crank your t-bars is about 1" -1.5". Any more than that, and it will really accelerate the wear of all your IFS parts, and anything above that and the ride REALLY starts to suffer.

If you want to level your truck, I'd suggest cranking the t-bars about an inch. It won't sit completely level, but it'll be closer (and won't look like it's sagging when you tow or carry a load), and you don't need to spend $100+ on new keys. The stock keys will easily allow for 1" of crank.

I am glad I have coils and A arms, cause I did not consider the CV joints, the front end and IFS parts.

Silverado4x4 · November 13, 2007

Thinking of getting a rough country level lift for my 04 silverado, I plan on keeping this truck for quite a while. Just wondering if this will cause premature failure of front suspension components. Thanks in advance.

If it is just re-indexed torsion keys (chances are it is), it will speed up the wear on your front end. Torsion keys are no different than cranking your t-bars, they just let you crank further. The further you crank, the worse your CV angles (and all the other angles) get. In the long run, this could lead to failure of various different parts, which could be dangerous to yourself, and others, as well as costing more money to replace suspension parts. The max you can safely crank your t-bars is about 1" -1.5". Any more than that, and it will really accelerate the wear of all your IFS parts, and anything above that and the ride REALLY starts to suffer.

If you want to level your truck, I'd suggest cranking the t-bars about an inch. It won't sit completely level, but it'll be closer (and won't look like it's sagging when you tow or carry a load), and you don't need to spend $100+ on new keys. The stock keys will easily allow for 1" of crank.

I have been cranking keys since my 1993 4x4 and never had any problems with the front end just dont max them out and if you do you wont be able to stand the ride anyway. Go about 4-5 even turns on both sides which will give you about 2". I have had 4 trucks with the keys that I cranked and 2 of them I got ride of with about 110,000 miles and never had a front end problems on eather one. Dont forget to have it lined up after cranking the bars.

Christine-C.S.C · November 13, 2007

I've got a 2002 Silverado with Ford keys cranked to the max. I've had it this way about 4 years now , and i've never had a problem with the ride nor wear and tear. But, one thing i did do when I put the Ford keys in was add 4 inch lift kit shocks all the way around it. The fad around here is to make the front end of the truck sit higher than the ass end, so it looks like its sagging. I cant say it wont hurt your cv axels but i've never busted a boot in 4 years and i use 4x4 often.

Spoonman · November 13, 2007

Thinking of getting a rough country level lift for my 04 silverado, I plan on keeping this truck for quite a while. Just wondering if this will cause premature failure of front suspension components. Thanks in advance.

If it is just re-indexed torsion keys (chances are it is), it will speed up the wear on your front end. Torsion keys are no different than cranking your t-bars, they just let you crank further. The further you crank, the worse your CV angles (and all the other angles) get. In the long run, this could lead to failure of various different parts, which could be dangerous to yourself, and others, as well as costing more money to replace suspension parts. The max you can safely crank your t-bars is about 1" -1.5". Any more than that, and it will really accelerate the wear of all your IFS parts, and anything above that and the ride REALLY starts to suffer.

If you want to level your truck, I'd suggest cranking the t-bars about an inch. It won't sit completely level, but it'll be closer (and won't look like it's sagging when you tow or carry a load), and you don't need to spend $100+ on new keys. The stock keys will easily allow for 1" of crank.

Cranking the t-bars, Is this something for a do-it-your-selfer? Any special tools needed? Really interested in pics and/or instruction,.............