my truck sat for 1 month while i was using my other (better gas milage) vehicle. i pulled out of my driveway (very smooth ride) and i felt a bang. the truck leaned to one side and when i checked, the torsion bar snapped (twisted) in two pieces right at the front mount. I have about 40,000 miles with an extended warranty (hope it's covered)
anyhow i was wondering if this has happened to anybody else and if it's some sort of defect. i don't abuse the truck and it's usally on smooth road. the break is very clean so i think it just happened not something that was cracked and waiting to happen. i did have the bars brought up on the last alignment for fender height but it's been fine for at least six months. i did put a taller tire on but i don't think that had anything to do with it. the truck (described below) is factory stock. any input would be appreciated. thanks.



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1998 150 s/c,s/b,4.6,xlt,lariet,4x4,3.55 limited slip,6000# gvwr,trailer tow pkg.,255/70r 16 tires, 4 wheel anti-locks

 

 

I snapped my torson bar driverside at 65,000 miles. Cost 191.00 to replace.

 

Mine snapped just sitting there. Went to work about 4:00am in the morning. Got back to the shop at 3:00pm. Standing their, talking to some other drivers, then out of the blue. SNAP, freaking loud, sound like somebody threw something big at the truck or one of the cars. Then one of the drivers pointed to my truck. Damn passengers side was leaning all the down sitting on the stops. Took it to Ford. They looked at me like sooo. Now, what if I was driving home, doing 60 mph. Could have been ugly. Ask for them to do both sides, they told me ford would only pay for the broken side. Of coarse. Why did I even bother to ask. Don't know about you guys. I forget about that bar sometimes, but remember it when I crawl under it to look at something or change the oil. Then I get the jack stands out. Know what I mean?
Maybe it was just a freak. One freak per truck please.
Now warranty, which warranty do you have? If it doesn't cover springs then your SOL. That's what ford told me. Since the front doesn't have springs, the torsion bar takes it's place. So hopefully it does, and your up and running. Good Luck.

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1997 F-150 XLT 4X4 Off-Road
4.6L Auto.
3.55 Gears
All Power Interior
Tilt Wheel
Cruise Control
Sliding Rear Window
17" Rims W/ Goodyear RT/S P265-70R-17's
Cervini's Ram Air Hood
K&N Gen.
SUPERCHIP
True Dual Flowmasters
3" Chrome Tips
GTS Carbon Fiber Headlight Covers
Ford Motorsport Chrome Rear Cover
Ford Racing Duraliner
Lund Backdraft
35% Tinted Windows
Ultra Bright Headlights & Fog Lights
Pioneer DEH-9300 Head Unit
Pioneer EQ-6520 10-Channel Equalizer
4-Pioneer TS-P682 6x8 2-Way Components Speakers
2-Pioneer TS-A6995 6x9 4-Way Speakers
Pioneer TS-WX65A Amplified 6 1/2" Sub
Pioneer GM-X924 65 Watt 4-Channel Amp
Bel 980 Radar Detector
Viper Alarm
Rancho RSX Shocks Front and Rear
Lumi Logo Front Ford Emblem
Billet 4X4 Third Brake Light Cover
Ford F-Series Floor Mats
Ford Valve Stem Caps
Class III Hitch
Ford Hitch Receiver Cover
Westin Chrome Nerf Bars
---------------------------------

 

Say Im under the truck changing the oil and the a bar breaks, will i get crushed?

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1998 XLT SuperCab w/ORP 4.6/auto/355LS/tow pck
LineX
Bug DeflectorII
Husky Liners
Rockford Fosgate 8320

94 Mustang- stock
98 Honda VTR1000- "tweakt"

 

It depends on how tall yer tires are...

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1997 F150 4x4

4.2L V6
Open Filter Housing
K&N Filter
Factory 5-Speed
3.08 Gears
3" PA Body Lift
305/70/16 Goodyear AT/S
16x8 American Racing Baja

2000 BOMBARDIER DS650

Completely Stock

 

Not very common, but most common in the 98 model year. About every one I have heard of is a 98 truck.

Had to be a "bad" batch of them in 98. I think that is 12/14 now that have posted on this board are 98 model year trucks. Also cranking them up does not matter. Most I have heard of are at stock height.

 

I would have been crushed if i was under it changing oil. I will from here on out use jack stands when i have to crawl under truck even if i don't have to jack it up. I have made a report with the NHTSA.

 

that is some scary stuff, I just cringe thinking about a torsion bar snapping while I'm hanging a turn and oncoming traffic is right there.. that thing snaps doing 35-40, you would loose control of the truck right?

damn

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97 F150 XLT: Two-Tone Green and Tan, V6 4.2L Auto Trans 4X4, 3.55 gears, 265/75/16 Dueler AT's, Edelbrock Performer IAS Shocks
MODS:Airaid FIPK, Superchip, Ravin Z55 Exhaust SI/SO
GOODIES:Kameleon Head Unit w/12 disk cd changer, JVC 4ch 560watt poweramp, Bazooka Tube, Boston Acoustic 5x9's, Tinted Back, Westin Nerf Bars..

 

Not if you quickly steer into it and stomp on the gas.

Just joking, your torsion bar won't break.
That story sounds strang. Seems alot of stories about now.




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2001 Expedition 5.4L XLT
4WD + Towing Package
Edelbrock IAS
Superchip
Gibson SS Side Swept
Air Force One
Mobil 1

 

Torsion bar won't snap.... I can tell you this....... I take care of my truck and at 5 mph the drivers side torsion bar just snapped. I have never taken truck 4 wheeling either or abused it. I say again when i get under truck now jack stands go in when i'm underneath towards the front. I have no doubt in my mind that if i was under truck changing my oil like i always do i would have been crushed.

 

Yes it sucks when they snap, but it is very rare! 98 seems to be the most issues of them snapping and that less than 1% of them for that year. So it is a small number of trucks it happens to.

Chevy has had this problem also. I really think that they got a bad batch of them in cause they usually break in a driveway and are not cranked up. Now if you have a 98 truck, examine them carefully every so often. I would bet you see a porous pit in them or crack before they break. Most people do not look at them until they break, but there has to be a stress sign there before it happens.

 

hitball1 -

This may be a stupid question, but how would one be crushed if one of the two torsion bars snapped?

My understanding of the torsion bar front suspension system is that the control arms support the weight of the vehicle. The lower control arm is attached to the free end of the torsion bar (i.e. the arm pivots on a stub shaft and the torison bar fits into the end). The torsion bar does not support the lower control arm, but only produces spring resistance to up-down movement.