Raymond Rodeo,
It is what it is with the torsion bars. They are rigid and strong in ways that cannot be altered. The weight of the front end of your truck is currently being supported by them.
As you suggested, all you’ll do by “tightening” them is increase the front end’s height.
But in addition to elevating the truck, the following things will occur:
1. By lifting the front suspension, the control arms will be closer to the bottom of their suspension travel, which will result in a loss of some downward suspension travel. It has a similar impact to when you jack it up and let the suspension completely droop.
2. You will adjust the alignment, so if you want to retain it at the new height and avoid having strange handling characteristics and tire wear, you should get it aligned.
In This Article...
How much lift are torsion bars capable of providing?
On some applications, turning a wrench can be used to adjust the tension-bar. Adjustment allows for a safe raise of between two and three inches.
How can I tell whether my torsion bars are fully extended?
Registered. After driving it, you’ll realize that they are maximum. The bumpy ride will hurt your azz and give you headaches.
What does reindexing torsion bars mean?
Re-indexing your torsion bars entails taking the torsion bar out of at least one anchor, turning it in the anchor in either direction (usually 1-4 splines), and putting it back in. For a particular ride height, this procedure moves the adjustment finger into a different position.
How far can my torsion bars be turned?
You are allowed to go as high as you want as long as you keep at least 5/8 of an inch between the UCA and the frame stop. This also applies to the requirement to repair the OE shock since it is too short. Either a longer shock or a lower mount.
Does aligning torsion bars change how they behave?
If the bumper has a lot of droop, an alignment may also be helped by that. Although it is not an urgent need, you should not put it off for too long. Give the truck some time to settle when the bumper and new crank are added. Get alignment #2 after any required adjustments.
Is turning up torsion bars safe?
It will assist if you turn the torsion bars a couple turns. The ball joints and hubs will suffer serious wear if you go all the way. But a few jerks are OK.
How is a torsion bar preloaded?
To move the torsion bar and arm out far enough to insert the torsion stop, use a pry bar on the left rear torsion arm. Make sure the stop is turned as near as you can to the adjustment pad. 5. Adjust the stop bolts so that they just touch the adjustment pad and you start to feel a little tension.
What benefits does torsion bar suspension offer?
The key benefits of a torsion bar suspension include a smooth ride because of the bar’s elasticity, longevity, simple ride height adjustment, and a narrow profile over the width of the vehicle. It occupies less space within the car than coil springs do.
The adoption of unitary construction in the middle of the 20th century coincided with the peak of the use of tension bars on mass-produced road cars. Torsion bars were particularly alluring to vehicle designers at a time when the mechanics of stress and metal fatigue in monocoque body frames was not well understood since the bars could be affixed to reinforced elements of the core structure, generally the bulkhead. Strong turrets have to be built into the car’s frontal frame in order to use MacPherson struts to create independent front suspension with coil springs.
Torsion bars typically are unable to offer a progressive spring rate, in contrast to coil springs, which is a drawback. The bolts holding the torsion bars to the steering knuckles may usually be adjusted to vary the ride height, which affects several handling characteristics. Torsion bars may typically be switched out for a different spring rate in the majority of vehicles using this kind of suspension. While with transverse systems, the length of the torsion bar is constrained by the width of the car, longitudinal torsion bars extend under the passenger compartment and reduce interior space by raising the floor.
Torsion bars sag, right?
Typically, a truck is quite close to the bumpstop when it leaves the factory since it rides better that way than cranking it up. The torsion bar becomes more stressed as the volume is increased, finally being worn out and sagging down more. If you attempt to keep cranking it up to the same height, it will continue to sag. Torsion bars have a load rating based on the height for which they were designed.
With a broken torsion bar, can you still drive?
While it is still possible to operate a vehicle with damaged sway bar links, handling performance will be compromised, therefore proceed with caution by staying on paved roads, making moderate bends, and avoiding lane-change-required interstates and/or high-speed highways.
How does the torsion bar function?
The torsion bar is essentially a length of metal rod that is fastened to the suspension lower link at one end and the automobile body at the other. The bar twists when the wheel moves over a hump. When the bump is passed, it returns to its previous location, raising the automobile to its usual drive height. The impact of the spring employed in more traditional suspension systems is the same as the resistance of the bar to twisting. To keep the ride height of the car constant, a particular amount of weight is continuously applied to the bar. In the system, the torsion bar can be positioned either longitudinally or transversely. The system’s adjustable torsion bars are among its most beneficial features. Torsion bars were utilized in the Morris Marina and Chrysler Valiant, two older (we won’t call “historic” automobiles, because the Marina is unquestionably not one of them), longitudinally mounted cars.