Cranking Torsion Bars

[kchasse]

I am looking to put about five turns on my torsions bars. I know that I need to do an alignment and can do it myself at a buddy's shop. What I am curious to know is do I realign it to within the factory specs that are in the machine or are there different specs?

[Matt_]

specs are the same.

[builderpaul]

I am looking to put about five turns on my torsions bars. I know that I need to do an alignment and can do it myself at a buddy's shop. What I am curious to know is do I realign it to within the factory specs that are in the machine or are there different specs?

 

 

I always wondered about this. It would be interesting to see before and after numbers. Just how much does the alignment change. I have never done an alignment but have cranked the bars on at least 4 of my trucks. Never noticed any unusual tire wear.

[kchasse]

I will be cranking mine in about two weeks and then getting it aligned. I know where the alignment was before because i did it so I should be able to tell how much change occurred. I was just wondering If i am supposed to align it to the same as before.

[builderpaul]

I will be cranking mine in about two weeks and then getting it aligned. I know where the alignment was before because i did it so I should be able to tell how much change occurred. I was just wondering If i am supposed to align it to the same as before.

 

Thanks,

I will check this thread for the results of the alignment.

[mtm700]

It changes the alignment quite a bit. When you crank them up, your camber angles change, which inturn, change the toe. A crank or 2 won't effect it that much, but you should still align it after that. Anymore cranks than that, you are definately gonna want to align it. Keep in mind, if you crank them far enough, you will bottom out your adjustment cams and not get the camber and caster where they should be. Also, the shocks will top out and the upper control arms will hit the frame.

[Fyrcaptain]

what is the "Z" axis allignment?

[mtm700]

Don't know, we never use it. Z axis has to do with chassis roll during turns or other steering menuevers.

Z height is the measurement for the front ride height. You set this the same on both sides. You can do this with a tape measure while cranking your torsion bars. There are alignment machines that have the capability of measuring this ride height, but you can do it much faster with a tape measure, lol. Set the Z height and take it in to have the front end aligned. Sometimes, depending on machine type, machine age, and machine condition, a Steering Axis Inclination alignment (Thrust Angle alignment) will be needed to get the steering wheel dead nuts straight.

[Matt_]

Just so everyones on the same page, the OP knows that he needs to align his truck after he cranks... he was just wondering if when doing the alignment he should be using the factory alignment specs. In which case, the answer is yes- use the OEM spec sheet when re-aligning after a crank.

[kchasse]

Update, So I cranked my torsion bars yesterday. I was only able to get about 3/4 of an inch. Is this what everyone else was getting? My bolts are pretty well maxed but that was only after like 4 turns. Anyways I took what I could get and went to align it and to my surprise only toe was off. Knowing how alignments work and being a mechanic I know the ill effects of cranking and which angles are bound to change. My caster was off a little bit but the difference between both sides was where it was supposed to be so i left it since caster does not wear tires. Camber was dead on almost right where i set it last time and once i quickly adjusted toe i was good to go. I can now clear 285's with slight rubbing. Just a little trimming and i will be good to go.

[AgDoctor]

when i had those body style trucks i used to turn them about 4 full turns to level the truck out. Sometimes it needed aligning and sometimes not too bad. Cheaper than tires theses days(alignment) but the specs wont change.

[pontiac69]

I have to ask this question after reading this whole thread. Now when i bought my 05 brand new the front end sat alot higher than it does 4 yrs and 50k miles later. If I turn these torsion bolts a little why would it need to be aligned? I never got it aligned since new and the front has to be at least 1 or 2 inches lower. Well at least it looks that much lower.

[kchasse]

That is actually a very good point. But there is no way to know if raising them will bring it right back to stock height. It may be that your alignment is off right now. Probably not enough to wear tires though. It is just better to be safe then sorry i guess. What ever the alignment will cost will always be cheaper than replacing a set of poorly worn tires.