My PRO COMP steering stabilizer and mounting bracket finally arrived and so in preparation I was reading through the installation instructions.

Item 3 says
Remove passenger side original location lower rear A-Arm bolt. This is the stock location bolt and not the bolt securing the lower A-Arm. NOTE: IF REMOVAL OF THIS BOLT IS DIFFICULT IT WILL BE NECESSARY TO UNLOAD THE PASSENGER SIDE TORSION BAR TO EASE IN REMOVAL. UNLOADING OF TORSION MUST BE DONE ACCORDING TO FACTORY SPECS, USING APPROVED TOOLS

The last part is where I need help. If I have to "unload" the torsion bar, how do I do this, and what tools do I need?

Thanks for any help.


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'00 5.4L AUTO 4X4 Lariat (Black/Silver)
'95 Thunderbird SC
'02 F-350 PSD CC DRW 6SPD 4X4 Lariat (order this year)
www.hawthorn-engineering.com

 

You will need a gear puller to unload the torsion bar. Ask someone who has done a susp lift on a '97+ 4x4 and they will be able to instruct you on exactly what to do.

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Black 1997 F-150 Extended Cab
4x4 w/Off-Road Package
5.4 liter Triton V8
Luverne Stainless Steel Nerf Bars
DeeZee Silver Series Toolbox
Grizzly Oval Style Chrome Grill/Brush Guard
Wrap around bug shield
Ventshade Ventvisors
Ford Factory Bedliner
Pioneer Deh-P6000 45 Watt CD Stereo
3" Trailmaster Body Lift
Smittybilt Outland Tail Light guards.
16x10 American Racing Polished Atlas Wheels
4 315/75R16 BF Goodrich All-Terrain TA/KO Tires on all four corners.
Flowmaster 50 Muffler w/Dual Pipes & 2 18" Stainless Tips
MTX 2 Channel Amp w/Crossover
2 MTX 10" Subwoofers w/Box
Next Up: 4" Rancho Suspension Lift

 

sdiesel316,
I have a couple of pullers but I'm really hoping that the bolt just "pops" out without any need to mess with the torsion bar. Knowing my luck it won't be that easy. Thanks for the help though.



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'00 5.4L AUTO 4X4 Lariat (Black/Silver)
'95 Thunderbird SC
'02 F-350 PSD CC DRW 6SPD 4X4 Lariat (order this year)
www.hawthorn-engineering.com

 

gah

Wouldn't simply putting a jack under the frame and lifting the truck unload the torsion bar anough? Try that first, perhaps, before "mucking" around. I am getting exactly the same stabilizer and bracket next month, after I install my ProComp shocks, and would apprciate any tricks you find installing yours.

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'97 F-150 4x4 SC SB 4.6L. Riding on Sport King 265/75R16 AT's. Add-a-Leafs & Torsion lift. Side Bars. WMS Intake, TB spacer, and Superchip!

Wish list: 4.10 Gears, Hedman Hedders, 3" body lift, 33x12.5 MT's!!

 

Check my topic on rancho steering stabilizer. The only thing I had to remove was the steering idler arm, no suspension parts. The brakcet for the stabilizer just mounted over the idler arm and attached with the new longer bolts supplied. Forget the gear puller, just buy the rancho kit and shock. It was much easier.

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JimW,
I'm hoping that you're right about this. In the instructions #2 says to raise the front of the vehicle and support on jack stands. This is to unload the torsion bar on the passenger side, but will it be enough? I'll know tomorrow when I install the stabilizer.

I made a pdf file of the instructions that came with the bracket so that you can "read ahead" so to speak.

PRO COMP steering stabilizer instructions

rockycarl,
I had to wait 4 weeks for the PRO COMP stabilizer so I'm not about to wait another 4 weeks for a Rancho one ... but thanks for the suggestion.



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'00 5.4L AUTO 4X4 Lariat (Black/Silver)
'95 Thunderbird SC
'02 F-350 PSD CC DRW 6SPD 4X4 Lariat (order this year)
www.hawthorn-engineering.com

 

Gah,

I just noticed you were from Hawaii. I only live about 40 minutes from Summit Racing, so if they have it in stock, I get it the same day. I'm sorry to hear that pro-comp has such a difficult set-up for a stabilizer. My Rancho was a piece of cake!

 

gah-

I read the pdf- it almost sounds like this kit is to be used in conjunction with the whole suspension lift, with the way it talks about using the stock hole, as if it used to be there! Am I wrong about that? Why does the illustration show a drop bracket for the A-Arm? Then it sounds as if one it to use the old hole where the A-arm used to sit. I will crawl under my truck tomorrow and see if that makes sense, or if there is another hole the bracket mounts into.

 

rockycarl,
I wish that I lived 40 miles from Summit Racing. I ordered some Autometer gauges, a B&M trans pan and some other odds and ends from them recently. It took a week to get here and I had to pay shipping!

JimW,
The instructions are written from the point of view of a PRO COMP lift kit having been installed, but the good news is that the stabilizer bracket mounts to the STOCK lower A-arm location and not to the drop A-arm pivot point otherwise I'd be screwed. I'm curious as to the angle between the drag link and the stabilizer. Ideally it should be small, but it looks like it might be 25~30 degrees. Either way, I'll let you know how it goes tomorrow.

------------------
'00 5.4L AUTO 4X4 Lariat (Black/Silver)
'95 Thunderbird SC
'02 F-350 PSD CC DRW 6SPD 4X4 Lariat (order this year)
www.hawthorn-engineering.com

 

JimW,
The good news is that I didn't have to mess with the torsion bar. The FRONT lower A-arm bolt came out easily enough with the front end up in the air - I used the new bolt to drive out the OEM bolt. The instructions talk about the REAR lower A-arm bolt - that's INCORRECT. The only difficulty that I had was installing the rubber bushing and washer on the threaded end of the shock. There aren't enough threads sticking through to get the nut to "bite". I ended up cutting the outer bushing like a bagel, removing some material and reassembling. I probably reduced the bushing's thickness by 3/16" or so. I drove about 15 miles this morning and I think the steering "feels" better. There's a bumpy stretch on the freeway near me where the truck always bounces around as the wheels hit irregularities in the road surface. Not anymore though. The truck stayed straight as an arrow. There's certainly more control. I'm going off-roading this weekend so the stabilizer should help a lot.

------------------
'00 5.4L AUTO 4X4 Lariat (Black/Silver)
'95 Thunderbird SC
'02 F-350 PSD CC DRW 6SPD 4X4 Lariat (order this year)
www.hawthorn-engineering.com

 

gah-

Thanks very much for the info, I'm glad for you that it wasn't as bad as we'd first thought. I will be ordering mime probably tomorrow from my local 4x4 shop I frequent. I do appreciate your taking the time to explain things to me, and posting the .pdf file.

------------------
'97 F-150 4x4 SC SB 4.6L. Riding on Sport King 265/75R16 AT's. Add-a-Leafs & Torsion lift. Side Bars. WMS Intake, TB spacer, and Superchip!

Wish list: 4.10 Gears, Hedman Hedders, 3" body lift, 33x12.5 MT's!!