Torsion Bars

Storm Grey · April 16, 2002

I hear alot about people cranking up there torsion bars to lift the front of there pickups to sit level and I am wondering how to do this. Is this something you can just do, or do you have to purchase something? Is it safe? What are the Pro's and Con's to doing it? I will be installing a Performace Accessories 3 inch body lift and want to make my truck sit level by raising the front a little extra. Any info would help.

Thanks.

gandolphxx · April 16, 2002

Adjusting the torsion bars is no big deal - just how to do it.

Here are some references:

Chane's Primer on Torsion Bars

Torsion bar thread

Read Benkarels comments

Hope this helps

chevy4x4trucks · April 16, 2002

It's fairly simple and the only downside to it is a slightly siffer ride. But, if you want to level the truck out a bit it's a great mod.

Just follow the guidelines on the how to pages and don't crank more than an inch or inch and a half.

Welcome to the forum

Storm Grey · April 16, 2002

Thanks for the info guys. I will wait till I get my new tires, then I can get the front end aligned and everything all at once.

chevy4x4trucks · April 16, 2002

What kind of meats are you getting for the truck after the lift?

I'm gonna crank my bars a bit next week and get a front end alignment, I figure since it's at 20,000 miles it's about due anyways.

Storm Grey · April 17, 2002

It will be lifted for a little while without meats. I already have some chromed aluminum "Advantage" rims with some wild country APT 265/75/16's. The tires and rims were on the truck when I bought it. I am not sure the size of my rims other than that they are 16's but I need to know the width. I am hoping to be able to fit 315/75/16's. I am looking at the BFG all terrains, the Pathfinder ATR, and possibly the X-terrains. Do you know what the X-terrains cost in a 315/75/16, and where can you get them? I Kind of want to keep a more all terrain tire so I do not get the road noise from the tires. How loud is the road noise with your X-terrains?

chevy4x4trucks · April 17, 2002

I ordered my x-terrains from 4wheelparts.com and they had a but 3 get 1 free deal along w/ free shipping so they were pretty cheap. Mine are 305's but from the looks of it you could clear some 315's on the stock cast aluminum rims or some 16x8's. As far as road noise goes they was a slight hum for the first hundred miles, but I drove on the freeway a few times w/ the windows down and I could hardly hear them. The traction is great with them. I've never had a tire that gripped on pavement and offroad so well. Plus, they look gnarly, I get tons of comments on them from coworkers. One guy asked me when I got a new truck after I did the bodylift, it looked that different. It took me about a week and a half to get them after I placed the order.

I got those pics of the linkage and that stuff, I'll email you some links tonight when I upload them.

Storm Grey · April 17, 2002

It looks like the X-terrains are about $212 a peace for the 315's, might convince me to go with the 305's. Do they run the special buy three get one free with free shipping very often? How much did it cost you to have them mounted and balanced?

My lift came today, so I am definatly doing it this weekend. Can wait to see more pictures of the linkage so I know exactly what I am doing.

Thanks again.

chevy4x4trucks · April 17, 2002

I'll get those pics uploaded a little later tonight and email you the links to them.

But, 4wheelparts runs the buy 3 get 1 free deal fairly often and I happened to luck out and get free shipping as well (which is about 80 bucks). Looks like right now they've just got a free freight deal.

The mounting and balancing was about 50-60 bucks and I had that done at the local firestone since the other tire center (sears) won't touch the stuff unless you buy from them.

The 305's and 315's look great, but I would get the 305's just to be on the safe side since you have wider than stock rims and you aren't sure of the backspacing.

Storm Grey · April 17, 2002

Yeah, I will definatly check with a tire store and make sure my rims can handle the 315's before I get them.

Dihappy · April 18, 2002

I ordered my x-terrains from 4wheelparts.com and they had a but 3 get 1 free deal along w/ free shipping so they were pretty cheap. Mine are 305's but from the looks of it you could clear some 315's on the stock cast aluminum rims or some 16x8's. As far as road noise goes they was a slight hum for the first hundred miles, but I drove on the freeway a few times w/ the windows down and I could hardly hear them. The traction is great with them. I've never had a tire that gripped on pavement and offroad so well. Plus, they look gnarly, I get tons of comments on them from coworkers. One guy asked me when I got a new truck after I did the bodylift, it looked that different. It took me about a week and a half to get them after I placed the order.

I got those pics of the linkage and that stuff, I'll email you some links tonight when I upload them.

Great news bro!!

I love my 315's!!

chevy4x4trucks · April 18, 2002

Henry do you have 16x8 or 16x10 rims? Do you think he'd be able to clear the 315's w/ a 3" bodylift and a t-bar crank? My 305's have enough room, and I could probably clear some 315's on the stock rims just so long as I don't do a lot of hard off-roading. My only concern w/ his truck is that he'll have wider rims.

Dihappy · April 19, 2002

Henry do you have 16x8 or 16x10 rims? Do you think he'd be able to clear the 315's w/ a 3" bodylift and a t-bar crank? My 305's have enough room, and I could probably clear some 315's on the stock rims just so long as I don't do a lot of hard off-roading. My only concern w/ his truck is that he'll have wider rims.

I got 16x8's

I have heard of a couple people clearing 315's on just a BL and tbar crank, so he may be able to pull it off.

No offroading tho

Im not sure about doing it on 10 inch wheels tho, and on factory wheels it seems like they would look kinda strange.