Hey Guys, new to the forum and this is my first post...hoping you guys can help me out. I recently bought a 98 F-150 4x4 4.6L extended cab. The other day I went outside and the Passenger side front of my truck was basically bottomed out, it was completely sagging like it was a low rider. I dont know jack about these trucks and have no idea what it could be? The shock is obviously all the way compressed, or so it seems. Could this be a bad shock, or something else maybe with the torsion bar?

Just a not, I got a flat tire on the same side a couple days before this happened...I dont know it it could be related but the front passenger side was jacked up in the air for a couple of hours while I took the tire to have it changed . (Spare was junk so I went and had a new tire put on instead).

Any help would be appreciated, this is one of my work trucks and I have a big job next week.

Thanks, Bill

 

Post some pictures of it including an up close one of the sagging sides suspension.

 

Here are a couple pics, I looked under the truck and the torsion bar doesent seem to be broke anywhere. Is it possible that it needs to be cranked back up? Or could a bad shock be the issue?

 

Here are a couple pics, I looked under the truck and the torsion bar doesent seem to be broke anywhere. Is it possible that it needs to be cranked back up? Or could a bad shock be the issue?

 

It seems like your Tbar slipped down. try cranking it up. if it cranks back up bounce on it see if it slips down again

 

Ok, Ill give that a try and update this with the results. Thanks! By the way, maybe a goofy question but do I jack it up before cranking on the torsion bar or do it while its on the ground?

 

I'd jack it up, it can be done while on the ground but it'll be a lot harder because all the weight will be on it. Easiest way is to jack it up, and support it by the frame so it's hanging free on that side. Don't forget you'll most likely need an alignment after too.

 

Cool, Thanks!

 

So I climbed under my truck today in hopes that all I needed to do was crank the torsion bar back up, and sure enough it was basically cracked in half right in front of the cross member where the key is. And from what I have read it is a B***H to get these out. Found this site http://www.aboutautomobile.com/Complaint/1998/Ford/F-150/Torsion+Bar looks like this was a common problem for this year f150, really feel sorry for some of these guys...their trucks were like brand new when some of them broke!.

My drivers side looks a little newer so I am thinking that one may have broke already and been replaced.

Any good HOW TOs on replacing the torsion bars?

 

Start soaking both ends of the torsion bars in penetrating oil right now. A lot of guys installing lift kits found that the ends of the bars will rust/seize to the lower a-arms and the adjustment keys. It's not unusual to have to apply heat and a BFH to get them loose.

 

Pb-blaster, some heat they come right out, I would cut the bad one out take a hammer and a punch and knock it back out of the lowwer a arm, do the same thing for the one at the cross member. you can try to clean up the lower a arm and slide that end in first further than it needs to be then slide it back to the cross member, into the key. If that dont work you need to drop the cross member. If it was me i would probley replace both bars becouse the old one may have less tension than the new one. also before you do anything make sure all the pressure is off the T bar. jack the front up, and back the screw that turns the Tbar bown untill the key is loose. if not you could get hurt bad, or the crap scarded out of you when that thing pops loose.

 

wierd it broke seting in a parking spot though.