torsion bar alteration

i just read the how to that pepehn posted, and it had a how to on the torsion bars... i just wanna confirm that if u loosen the bolts turn it a couple turns, and tighten back up... thats pretty much stiffining the suspension in the front.... right?... it will allow u to have the torsion bars loosened while retaining the stock heights stiffness in other words... cause i hate how bouncy mine is sence i cranked mine down... if this is true then i think ill be doin this ova da weekend....

no the only way you can retain a close to stock ride is drop spindles and flip your balljoints and crank the torsions as little as possible




-justin

This is done by removing the torsion bars completely, then Re-installing them..2 splines or so over from where they were previously mounted, keeping some spring tension while still being low.


How To:

Loosen the bolts all the way, make a mark on the other end of the Bars where they hook into the Receiver on the Control Arms (sort of like you would on a Driveshaft & Tranny). Then you pull the bars out of the Receiver, and turn them like 2 Splines, making sure to do the other the same amount except opposite direction. I think it was clock wise on the driver side, and counter clockwise on the passanger side. you will have to take a Pipe Wrench and turn them with it to get the bolt started, then make sure you turn both bolts the same amount otherwise you'll have one side sitting higher than the other.

re-indexing torsion bars, thanks for the writeup... how hard does a guy hafta turn them (with the monkey wrench) to get the bolt started?

finger tight to get them started the use an air wrachet with a 17 mm

And it will not change your ride, if you use the right length shock and trim your bumpstops... cranking the torsions does not affect spring rate.

cranking the torsion bars doesnt change spring rate?.... if that is true why does it bounce so much sence i lowered it... the torsion bars are the springs.... when u are lowering it u are relieving tension.... decreasing spring rate right?.... maybe not i dont know... that wasnt meant to sound like a smart a$$.....

ok so i think i have the general idea of wuts goin on when u index the torsion bars, soooooo ill be doin it this weekend....

THANX GUYS U ARE WONDERFUL!!!!

Cranking the torsion bars does effect the spring rate, it's the spring! When you crank them down you're unloading the tension, lowering the springrate.

Reindexing will re-establish some or all of the spring rate from stock.

Trimming bumpstops and changing shocks will just cover it up and lessen the effects.

thanx baggdB2200.... i thought thats how it was.... WOOOOOOOT WOOOOOT

BagdB2200, The spring rate is not effected by "cranking the torsion bars". It is inherent in the thickness of the metal in the bars, which is constant regardless of the position of the adjuster. What gives a suspension its "bouncyness" after lowering is the lack of travel, either with too tall of a shock, binding of the ball joints, or not trimming the bumpstops properly. On my truck I torched out the holders for the lower bumpstop entirely, flipped the lower ball joint to the top of the arm and spaced it up. This combined with the shortest Monroe shock I could get gave me a great stock like ride. The real beauty of lowering a torsion bar equiped truck is that the spring rate is NOT effected like it is on coil sprung cars.