Great site. Just finished reading the discussion from Nov on leveling your truck with the torsion bar. I have a different problem. I was backing out of my driveway today when I heard a loud bang. I got out and looked under the truck and the rt torsion bar is twisted off at the control arm. Any ideas on what may have caused this? I have done very little 4 wheel drive/off roading, and the roads here are not that bad. How difficult is the repalcement? What kind of job is this, one best left to a pro? Any ideas on how much a replacement bar costs? I am stationed in Germany so parts might be tough to get.

 

Did the control arm fail or did the torsion bar actually break? I don't believe there is any preload on these, as you should just be able to jack up the vehicle and remove and replace this. Just make sure that you properly adjust the adjuster on the new bar or you'll have one side higher than the other.

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1997 F-150, 4.6, automatic, Dark Toreador Red, Supercab, Flareside, 4X4 Off-Road, Towing Package, Ford hvy dty rubber floor mats, Chrome Grizzly Wrap Around Push Bar with 2 KC 100w Daylighters, Ventshades, Ford bedliner, cab and bed professionally undercoated, Code Alarm Sure Start RVS remote starter, Ford alarm, Realistic CB with Wilson Little Wil antenna and Astatic power mic, ported MAF sensor, and Lots of TLC!! (Besides being an F-150 nut, I am a Ford auto technician.)

 

GI
I was driving down the road today and heard the same thing. I looked and my torsion bar is broke in half, right behind the bracket. I wonder if the warranty will cover this? If not, I hope it is not too hard of a job. 25k miles, and a broken torsion bar? JMC, any ideas???

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98 XLT SC Flareside 4.6, 3.55LS, ORP, loaded (no leather), chrome Smittybilt Outland, 2 KC lites, chrome diff cover, Ventshades, catback duals, Alpine CDw/Alpine 6-disc changer, Air Raid FIPK, 3" Body Lift, 33" Super Swamper SSRs on Centerline HTII Rims: www.mwr.is/~outplayn/ford.html "The never ending project truck"

 

This is an old problem. There are at least 15 cases documented by the NHTSA, yet they concluded there was no current safety defect trend(NHTSA Action PE98-009). http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/proble...ly/199806.html
I would be interesting to know what an independent lab would find on examining one of these bars for the failure mode: stress concentration, crack propagation, embritlement, impurity ? I would not not give up easy on getting this covered, clearly the parts are bad or somehow stressed, Ford is lucky no one has been killed ....yet.

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'99 EB Expy 4x4, 5.4L, Ox White, Air Suspended


[This message has been edited by Dave XP (edited 01-01-2000).]

 

Torsion bars must be replaced in pairs. and the vehicle must be realigned. Right front broke on my 98 navigator at 35,000 miles. Was covered by warranty with no problem at the dealership. Just repaired on Friday this week.

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2000f150 Lariat Supercab Flareside 4X4 Black 5.4 engine Leather Captains 3.55 Limited-slip and all the goodies, just ordered,traded my 99 f250 superduty Lariat V-10. Wife drives a 98 Navigator 4X4. Had a 97 Lariat 4x4 supercab Just ordered a lightning front and rear bumper,power tube,K&N filter,makin a 4X4 Harley ......... Toy: 91 Heritage Softtail Classic/lowered and chromed..................[img]//www.f150online.com/fordnews/harley1.jpg[/img]

 

Ask nearly any mechanic from the 1960's and he'll tell you he had a giant pry-bar which was once a Chrysler torsion bar. They made great pry bars because when they broke, they exhibited the classic spiral break that left a nice point.

Springs are hard -- and are fragile -- especially if they're not shot-peened to reduce stress (and I don't see any evidence of that shot-peening on mine).

At least they're easy to replace (or were on the old Plymouths that I used to work on).

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"00" XLT SC 5.4 7700 4x4 SB repeat buyer

 

To all concerned, I took the truck into the dealer today, who said my torsion bar will be replaced under warranty. The biggest wait is going to be getting the parts in. Usually takes a while getting parts here in Iceland. Also showed him the infamous door crack, which may or may not get fixed. Looks like I'll be hoofin it for the next few weeks.

 

Does the truck sit lower or is it lower on one side when it breaks? Is it still drivable?

-Tim

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1998 F-150 4X4 ORP 4.6L
Dark Toreador Red

 

Tim C,,,It definitely sits lower on the side that broke. Sort of looks and rides like one of those low rider trucks. The drivability question I am not qualified to answer, but I drove mine the 45 miles to a dealer with no problems. If I get the pics back today they will be on my page tonight.

[This message has been edited by outplaying (edited 01-05-2000).]

 

My truck also looks like it has been lowered on the rt front. I can barely squeeze under the rt side but can roll over on the left. Having a real problem here in Germany trying to find a place to order the part. Outplaying--Does your dealer have the part number? (The only thing I could find on the bar was a sticker with RGU on it) I heard from a guy here that Ford may help out even though my waranty is over (38K on it) I am trying to check into that now and will post if it is true.

 

GI, sorry, but I don't have the part # offhand, however I can contact some people to see if they have it. It is snowing like a bear and drifting, so it may be a while before I can get to the dealer. Hopefully they can get the truck fixed in the meantime. If I get some info, I'll surely post.

 

GI,
Hi, I am also in Germany and i found a very knowledgable Ford service department down in K-town. I dont recall the name but they are great. Several dealers blew me off in the states on a noise I had and the Meister looked at it and quickly and accurately diagnosed and repaired the problem. Ford Europe told me there are only two dealers qualified to do warranty work on F150 in Germany. The other on is up in Bonn. Send me an email if you can't find the number through information. Email:
koppj@rcc.wbn.usacce.army.mil
john

 

So, i am sitting in my living room watching the tube when i hear this large bang outside.
Sure enough went outside, and my front right is sitting low. Right torsion bar snapped near the A arm. The truck had been sitting in the driveway for two hours when this happened. I wander if this has something to do with the bitterly cold weather we have had the last three days. Oh well, i have 30,000 miles on it so hopefully the warranty covers it. Irritating as heck.

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98 F150 XLT 5.4 Off Road package

 

Another case of BANG! Most cases reported here are 25,000 to 35,000 miles. Guess they should just be replaced every 20,000 since Ford doesn't appear to understand how to make torsion bars. Lets see what kind of springs did the Model A have ?
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'99 EB Expy 4x4, 5.4L, Ox White, Air Suspended

 

I called the dealership to explain my problem. The service guy kind of chuckled and said he had never heard of one just breaking while the truck was sitting in the driveway. I could have lied and told him it broke while driving down the road. I figured I would be honest. Should I remind him to replace both torsion bars or do you think this would insult him. Wouldnt you know this would happen on a Friday night. Stranded for the weekend. My concern is that this could have happened while driving down the road with my family.