How Necessary Is An Alignment After Messing With The Torsion Bars?

[sciggs]

I'm thinking about cranking them a few turns later today and was wondering if just a few turns needs a definite alignment? If so, does it need to be done right after i crank them or can it wait? I think i know what the answer to these are going to be but i figured i ask anyway. Thanks!

 

[BigJayDogg3]

Yes you do need an alignment, but I don't think putting a few miles on without one will be a huge problem. Just make sure you get one ASAP.

[builderpaul]

FYI,

04 2500HD

I cranked mine the day I brought it home new. Never an alignment. 42K later still have factory tires with no unusuall wear. Cranked my old 94 3500 no alianment and no unusuall tire wear. I have read about how important an alignment is but have yet to see the need. All you are doing is raising the body up. You are not changing the steering geometry or weight distribution. I was more concerned about the increase front drive shaft angles but that has not been an issue.

[VTSierra]

FYI,

04 2500HD

I cranked mine the day I brought it home new. Never an alignment. 42K later still have factory tires with no unusuall wear. Cranked my old 94 3500 no alianment and no unusuall tire wear. I have read about how important an alignment is but have yet to see the need. All you are doing is raising the body up. You are not changing the steering geometry or weight distribution. I was more concerned about the increase front drive shaft angles but that has not been an issue.

 

Actually, you change the steering geometry any time you raise or lower the ride height of a vehicle. You will also change the weight distribution slightly.

 

changing the ride height will change the camber, toe, and caster.

Raising= more negative camber, and more negative toe.

Lowering= more positive camber, and more positive toe(to a certain extent, depending on the incline angle of the tie rods)

[sciggs]

hmm.... mixed opinions here. Wonder how bad cranking them today and waiting till around christmas time would be for it?

[krww06]

hmm.... mixed opinions here. Wonder how bad cranking them today and waiting till around christmas time would be for it?

 

IMHO, you should definitely get an alignment (ASAP) after changing the ride height. However, if you decided not to get an alignment until Christmas, just keep an eye on your tire wear, and then get an alignment sooner if necessary.

[sciggs]

hmm.... mixed opinions here. Wonder how bad cranking them today and waiting till around christmas time would be for it?

 

IMHO, you should definitely get an alignment (ASAP) after changing the ride height. However, if you decided not to get an alignment until Christmas, just keep an eye on your tire wear, and then get an alignment sooner if necessary.

 

 

 

I see... is that the main thing that i should be worried about?

[omegafiler]

Well, tire wear, and it can also negatively effect handling since it results in a positive camber on the front 2 wheels.

 

Alignments are cheap and are never a bad thing, go for it man.

[Lincoln30]

hmm.... mixed opinions here. Wonder how bad cranking them today and waiting till around christmas time would be for it?

 

That won't be a big deal. I waited 2 months to align mine after I cranked the bars on my 99. The truck only had 2500 miles on it when we aligned it and it did need some adjustments to get it back in spec but it wasn't way out of spec.

 

BTW: I agree with the opinion that this DOES change suspension geometry.

[sciggs]

I never had time to crank them today but i guess i will crank them this weekend and go ahead and get an alignment just in case. thanks for the input

 

[xsports33]

make sure you jack up the front of the truck before you start cranking, you don't want to have a load on the torsion bars when you're trying to adjust them. A few times isn't so bad, but you'll start to torque the bolt and you could snap it or you might shave off the head that goes into the key and cause the bolt to misalign in the dimple and eventually fall out (most likely when you're driving). i've seen it happen a few times.