As I was changing my oil last week I was looking at the torsion bars and where they are adjusted on the truck. There are 2 bolts that look like they can be turned either in or out. More or less tension? I noticed that they are not both equally out. One is about 1-1.5 inches out further than the other. I don't want to turn them without knowing what effects it will have on the truck. How does the factory know where to set these if they are not both equally supposed to be set? Most people I talk to say leave them alone, they should never need to be touched once they leave the factory. Is this true?




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Hey Chuck!

Looks like your message has been up for a while now with no replies. I was going to post a similar Q.

I turned my torsions about 4 equal turns. It lifted the front end about 3/4"-1". Then I took some measurements to make sure that it was equal on both sides. It wasn't! The passenger side sits about a 1/2"-3/4" lower than the drivers side. At first I thought oh s%$t! Then I went to my buddys truck who has the exact same as me. His is completely stock, and his was the same.
We figured out(assumed)that Ford has the torsions set this way to accomodate the extra weight from the driver.


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1997 F150 XLT 4.6L Auto 4x4 ORP SC 3.55LS Oxford white, Med. Graphite Int. White Faced Gauges,Bed Cap,Superchip,AirRaid,Bug Deflector. Rancho RSX Shocks, 3" Flowmaster 40 series,Bassani Nascar Tip. 285/75/16 BFG AT's, 16x8 Centerline 45 series




[This message has been edited by 97F150 (edited 06-07-2000).]

 

I've been thinking of cranking mine just to accomodate my tires in the front. Now, I know these trucks have a history of the torsion bars breaking. I take my truck offroad. Alot. In really screwed up places. Will tightening these just be asking for it? Or do you think they could handle the bumps, holes, and occassional moments when my truck leaves the gravitational pull of the earth? BTW, anyone have a pic of where the bolts are located? My underside is completely covered in mud and soil most of the time and hard to find things underneath.

Scot



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97 F150 ORP
Towing/trailer package, 3.55LS
34" Mickey Thompson Baja Belteds, Requisite K&N Airfilter
JVC Kamelon CD Player, CB, bug shield, window shields, and other goodies




[This message has been edited by MrScot (edited 06-09-2000).]

 

By cranking the torsion bars you are just setting the ride height. Like with coilsprings putting a longer one in or spacer will increase the ride height. What you will loose is the drop. The suspension will not drop as much down since you have limited 1" of downward travel by cranking the bars up. But you will increase upward travel of the arms by 1".

I know in the explorers there is different rated bars that go in them. Like A-C. C being the HD unit for the V8s. I assume there is something similar with the Fseries. Maybe getting the bars from a 250 and installing them would work???? or if you have a standard cab, get ones for a supercab? I would think that they are rated different for the different configurations of the F150s.

For where they are, there looks like a skidplate about in the middle of the doors under the truck. That is where they are.

 

WELL, JUST TODAY I CRANKED MINE ALL THE WAY UP WITH AN IMPACT THEN MEASURED...ALMOST EQUAL. I INSTALLED ROUGH COUNTRY ADD-A-LEAVES IN THE REAR TO COMPENSATE FOR THE FRONT. IT NEEDS TO BE ALIGNED REALLY BAD THOUGH. THE TOW IS WORST OF ALL...LOOKS LIKE IT DIDNOT EFFECT THE CAMBER OR CASTING. IT LOOKS REALLY TOUGH NOW. I RUN 35X12.50 SUPER SWAMPER SSR'S ON 16X10 BAJA WHEELS AND THEY DO NOT RUB!!!!!!! PERFECT...I HAVE A BODY LIFT THAT I WILL PROBABLY PUT ON SOMETIME THOUGH. IT STILL HAS AN OK RIDE...TIRES ARE A BIG CHANGE THOUGH...I'M GOING TO AN ALL TERRAIN NEXT...2-3 WEEKS. PRO-COMP OR COOPER 315/75R16. GOOD LUCK....

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TIM WEIGEL

 

Hi there, TIMSBIGRED!

Welcome to the board!

How about doing the rest of us a favor and let us know how long it takes to break one or both torsion bars. No offense, but "cranked mine all the way up with an impact"? Glad it your's and not mine! It'll be an interesting experiment though.

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98 F-150 XLT 4X4 ORP Super Cab Short Bed, 4.6, Auto. Superchip, Gibson sing. cat-back, Airaid, 80/100w German head lamps. Warn HS9500i winch with semi hidden mount. Wrangler dual battery kit with red & yellow top Optima batteries. Torsion bars cranked up 2 turns. Needs one more door and a lot more power. I think I need to talk to Mr. Whipple.

 

Ha !

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1999 F150 4x4, wedgewood blue, 5.4l auto, Manick brush guard, Duraliner, KC Hilites, surf rod holders, tinted windows, K&N air filter without airbox, Velocity air intake tube, Midas Performance muffler with dual pipes, toolbox, Uniden CB with whip, and a Superchip.

 

And All Y'all were making fun of those of us from Texas. Sounds a little risky Timmy, not to mention eventually they will wear out faster and sag. Better to replace the torsion bars or a lift kit. ( geez c'mon if you can afford the SSR's)

oh and btw I cranked my a turn or two to compensate for my brushguard but not much.
http://home.earthlink.net/~cdtackett/index.html

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Y2K F150 4x4 XL Med Torredor Red
4.2 5 speed,AIRAID, SuperCHIP,
3.55 LS, Leer camper shell, bedrug,
Ranchhand Rover Brushguard 2X Off road lights
Tint/alarm/ aftermarket keyless entry/locks
VHF, HF, CB, 3 Scanners
regulator@f150driver.com
www.goarmy.com

 

Chuck Wheet,

I cranked my 97 bars up enough to level the truck. I took that truck off road in the Dunes quite often. Even bent the frame TWICE and no ill effects on the bars. My 00 has the bars crakned up the same way and so far no problems. A realignment may be needed.

Regards

Jean Marc Chartier

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00 F-150 XLT SC Flairside 4x4 4.6 w/5spd 3.55LSD
Warn XD9000i, skid plates, Draw tite class III,
Rancho RSX Reflex shocks,
Borla Cat Back
Modified Air Cleaner Outlet Tube
and air box, K&N air filter,
Superchips

 

Do you have to lift the front end of the truck off the ground to adjust the torsion bars? Or, can you do it with the truck sitting on the ground?

 

Jayson:

If you're going to do this, do it with the wheels off the ground/suspended. No need to fight the weight of the truck. Be sure to use jack stands.