Just cranked mine this weekend. One ended up all the way and the other has about 3 threads showing to level the truck. It gave me just under two inches of lift. When I got my alignment it was still good, the toe needed to be adjusted a little. I was able to fit 305/70 R16's on it, it looks great!

 

My bars were not at the same adjustment before I started. The Driver side had three more threads showing than the passenger .I cranked both of them all the way up, though. I have measured and everything appears level side-to-side. Should I crank the driver side back down until three threads are showing, or is it OK the way it is?

If my measurements were off, and one side is indeed 1/4" taller than the other, will this hurt anything? You sure can't tell if it is fractionally off, so I'm not worried about that aspect.

I want to make sure I don't need to crank the driver side down a little before I get it aligned.

About the alignment... All that will need adjusting is camber, correct? Even un-aligned, the truck still tracks straight, but the steering wheel needs to be ****ed slightly to the left in order to go straight. This was probably the case before I ever touched anything, but I never payed attention.

 

I think the toe-in needs to be adjusted. Even though it drives straight you can get some improper tire wear.

If the truck is sitting level, measures out even, and it looks even to you, then dont worry about cranking down either side.

 

Just depends on where it's at. There is no set rule for what needs to be adjusted. Some people need to have the toe, caster, or camber re-set, some need nothing re-set.

I'd love to see someone set the alignment at the factory specs, then crank the torsion bars and re-check it to see what's changed.

-Joe

 

You did that to mine and I took it down and had it checked and nothing had changed.

 

Why do you want it totally level?? A truck, by definition, has a bed that is supposed to haul stuff... The reason it has a 'rake' to it is so that when you do actually put some payload in the bed, your headlights don't' point to the moon....

I know I'm being a smart ***, but this whole 'leveling' thing has always bugged me...

I cranked the front T bars one full turn and it did raise it about 1/4"... Not a large amount but the truck still has a 'rake' to it.... I like that, but I'm an old fart, so I guess it's just a matter of taste...

If you are cranked all the way on both sides, then that's all you are going to get.. They do have aftermarket keys that will allow for more tension on the bars, but I've not had any experience with them... IMO, any height adjustment to the stock IFS suspension WILL increase the CV angle and that's gotta increase the wear some...

I have over 152,000 miles on my rig and it's been fine. I get 40,000 miles out of a set of tires and they still have lots of tread left... I just like new tires!

Anyway, I guess I'm just being picky and what you do with your own rig is up to you.

Good luck!

Mitch

 

It's just prefeerence. Some people like the look of a level truck better. I know people that have had the rear springs re-arched to accomplish the same net effect, just with a lower stance. Some people liked their LTD to have mega-meats on the rears too... to each his own.

-Joe

 

Just another thought: They adjust the headlights at the factory with the truck EMPTY. Any time you load the bed and the rear squats, the headlights get re-directed. They don't artificially aim them down at the factory so that they're good when the bed is loaded. If you level the truck then aim the lights to the factory setting, they will, indeed, still aim for the sky when you load the bed.

Also, the reason for the rake isn't so that it sits level when loaded. It's the result of springs designed to carry a certain amount of weight but NOT carrying that weight. Look how much higher a semi sits unloaded... it's not designed to sit that way when unloaded, it just does.... it's the result of not operating at its max payload. It's just the nature of the design of a leaf spring.

 

I also have an f150 03 screw that is Fx4. My family has a ranch doen in uvalde texas and it is all moutains. I hunt a lot and am always in 4 low crawling over rocks and up mountains and bumping around severely. I would like to have some peoples opinions on if I should truley crank the torsion bars or with my situation the ball joints would ware super fast? If people could just post some comments that would be great. thanks

 

The guy I bought my bought my truck from said he cranked the torsions up to level it, and also had an alignment done. My question is this: If he didn't crank up both sides equally, will it cause the truck to pull to one side? I noticed it pulling to the right, had the alignment checked, and the shop said everything was good. If that's the case, and all 4 tires have equal pressure, shouldn't the truck track straight?

 

you should have no problems with your ball joints or any front end parts with the torsion bars cranked, as long as everything is in good shape now you should have no problems, good luck