Too much torsion bar lift?
#1
Too much torsion bar lift?
I lifted the front of my 2000 Expy 4wd using the torsion bar cranking procedure. A buddy of mine was asking about this procedure so I was digging around looking for the link and I found a bunch of other stuff about overtensioning and CV joint longevity problems. I never did take a starting measurement and I used a rachet with a cheater bar to move the bolt so I don't know how many turns I cranked the bolts down. I just kept making small changes and remeasuring until I got level front to rear and left to right.
How do I know if I went too far. Am I causing premature wear on the CV joints and other componants?
How do I know if I went too far. Am I causing premature wear on the CV joints and other componants?
#2
It depends how much you adjusted them. The CVs operate in a certain degree range and if you go outside that range the joint gets over worked and it will wear out faster. If you didn't adjust it a whole lot then you're probably ok. The thing you don't wanna do is tighten them down all the way. You said you were using a cheater bar, did you have the front of the truck jacked up or was it sitting on the ground? You're ahead to put it on a jack when you do this as opposed to adjusting them on the ground.
#3
Hey Powerstroke,
Thanks for the info !
I went back underneath the Expedition today and backed off the torsion bars a bit. I jacked up the front with my floor jack as you recommended and things went a whole lot smoother.
I am darn close to level still and the adjustment bolts on the torsion bars still have a good amount of upward adjustment left in them. The left side has about 5 threads showing on the bolt or appx 1/2 in and the right is showing a good solid 3/4 of an inch protruding downward.
My guess would be with that much adjustment remaining I should be ok.
Do you agree?
Thanks Again.....
Thanks for the info !
I went back underneath the Expedition today and backed off the torsion bars a bit. I jacked up the front with my floor jack as you recommended and things went a whole lot smoother.
I am darn close to level still and the adjustment bolts on the torsion bars still have a good amount of upward adjustment left in them. The left side has about 5 threads showing on the bolt or appx 1/2 in and the right is showing a good solid 3/4 of an inch protruding downward.
My guess would be with that much adjustment remaining I should be ok.
Do you agree?
Thanks Again.....
#5
You will be fine but yes get an alignment.
I leveled out my 99 F150 a month after I bought it by cranking the bars to get a 7/8" lift on the front so that the ride height was equal. I now have 70k miles on the truck and have had no problems to date, knock on wood.
Yes it is a good idea to raise the truck off the ground when you crank the bars.
And that is about the same remaining adjustment I have left on mine.
Good luck,
kev
I leveled out my 99 F150 a month after I bought it by cranking the bars to get a 7/8" lift on the front so that the ride height was equal. I now have 70k miles on the truck and have had no problems to date, knock on wood.
Yes it is a good idea to raise the truck off the ground when you crank the bars.
And that is about the same remaining adjustment I have left on mine.
Good luck,
kev