A few questions about a torsion bar lift

GrandDragon · January 4, 2004

Ok I have a few questions about using the torsion bars on my truck to lift the front end.

1. Can I get 3 inches out of the factory bars or do I need the Ford Keys?

2. Will Ford keys fit a 97 Z71?

3. What would be the best way to lift the back end, lift block or add-a-leaf?

4. If I went up a full 3 inches would I need new shocks?

tdub88 · January 5, 2004

Do a search on ford keys and pretty much all your questions will be answered. There are about a million posts here about the ford keys.

The block vs. AAL's question is also answered about 2 posts down(mine, this page)

The question on new shocks is a good one though. I am looking forward to the answer too. Can you get 2"-3" with stock.

Chris97K1500 · January 6, 2004

To answer a few of your questions, I don't believe you can get 3" of lift from just a Torsion bar lift on the OBS trucks, pre-99's. I raised mine up to 2.25" and was riding on the bumpstops, made the truck drive like a log with 4 wheels. I ended up lowering it back down to around 1.75". Been like that for about 25K miles, no problems so far. Like tdubb said, a topic about AAL's vs. Blocks is a couple posts below, as I said in that post, I've got both, the AAL's would be the way to go if you only wanted about 2-3" of lift. I ended up getting new rear shocks that would work for a 4" lifted truck in the rear and a 2" lift up front. The rear stock ones over extended and broke, so I decided to just get all 4. The fronts were still working, but I only had about an inch or so of extension left. As for the F*rd keys, I don't know if they work on the OBS trucks? Chris

chvythndr · January 6, 2004

I'd have to agree w/ the previous statement that you probably won't be able to pull of 3" of lift w/ a TB crank. And... even if you could, a lot of components are REALLY going to suffer w/ CV angles that steep (ball joints, CV shafts, etc.).

GrandDragon · January 9, 2004

Thanks for the advice guys, I put 3 inch blocks in the rear then had my local alignment shop mess with the torison bars, he cranked them up to either 2.5 or 2.75, I forget which, but I really like the way it rides now, my 35s don't rub when I turn, heck the shop even washed it for me, but any way I'm gonna try and get some pics of it posted. BTW, I asked him about the wear on the components and he replaced my ball joints and idler arms and told me that I won't have any problems out of the front end.