i must say this is one of the easier mods.


i turned them 5 turns and it made my truck sit almost level but slightly lower in the front. i think it looks great. it was very simple.


took requiered


1 3/4 socket


1/2 drive


magic marker


lock tight


a jack


and a light


all you do is first jack up the truck so both tires are off the ground then make a mark on the metal peice that holds the screw and a line on the screw so you know where 1 full turn is. i then applied lock tight. but only on the back side. i begun to turn the wrench slowly at a steady pace. i stoped at the line each time so i would not lose count. at 3 turns i added more lock tight and continued my last 2 turns.


my results are i gained about 1 1/2 - 2 inchs of lift it rides the same feels taller getting in and just from driving it it feels differnt. personally i like it allot. but i will need a front end alignment. i will have that done wensday probly.

WhY locktite? Why lift the front end off the ground? I did mine with all 4 tires on the ground.


Ben

To unload the bars, as not to strip or wear on the bolt. It has happen to some on here where where threads have strip and bolt comes out with a bang(ouch). Actually per GM service manual suppose to take pressure off adjuster bolt completely. Edited by: 8100hammer

i used locktights because it will hold the bolt better. better safe than sorry. ya lifting them(the tires) off the ground is very important. just think i had a hard time pumping the truck off the ground with my 1 1/2 ton jack. now inmagine what its like to lift that same weight with just screw threads. doesnt sound to good to me.


the reason i lifted it is because i will soon have 33's and was just geting ready.

Makes sense to me.


Ben

I agree with jacking up the truck. It's important. I did it without but have heard stories of stripped threads and hard turning. Why not unload it?

I did mine this weekend....went 4 turns.


Truck actually tracks the road better. Sits up higher and feels taller.....didn't seem to effect ride quality much.


I also jacked up truck. Easy mod and the truck feels and looks more like a truck now.

I have cranked mine to make sure I cleared my 285s and I did 5 turns on each side. The truck sits level, the tires clear with no rubbing and the ride was improved a little.

BUT, this certainly showcased how BAD the stock shocks are. A little more bounce with the heavier tires. Time for Bilsteins!

What happens to the alignment when the torsion bars are raised? I am wondering why an alignment is needed.

the reason for the alignment is this get 2 blocks like the ones the kids play with and tape a short peice of string to in the side if the 2 blocks in the middle. so more or less the blocks are your tires and the string is the front end components(sp). now lift up on the string(the string should already me tight) and watch the inner sides of the blocks raise up. now just pucture that on your truck and thats why you need the alignment.


now maybe i went over board with this its just because i already typed that all out for anouther kid to read and thought it would be usefull to some one here.


now i dont know exacly what and alignment is i am asuming they adjust the chamber angle and such. and make sure the tires go straight.


can

can some one explain what they do exacly when they do front end alignments?

Camber.... that is the "lean" of the tire.. ie in or out as looked at from front, caster... king pin(ball joint) inclination, ie , forward or backward "lean" of knuckle, toe in ... straightness of tires in comparison to rear tires or track of truck. By cranking of T- bars you induce negative camber, that is the top of tire leans in (put a level on tire, top of level goes towards truck). Caster is used for directional stability. ( think of being younger and putting long forks on your bicycle, sure turned easier didn't it?) Toe in is as it says, too much or too little eats tires, scalloped edges. Now crank T bars , you,ve now induced neg canber and increased toe in, meaning scalloped edges, more wear on inside of tires and steering wheel will not be centered, which induces added stress on steering box as spool valve is out of position.... that was an easy explanation huh? Not being mean but after cranking T bars get front end aligned

ok thanks. a little schooling their

Is there a thread that shows pictures of what exactly your torquing to do this, and what needs to be loosened to take the load off?

Try this article. It helped me understand a lot about what is going on.


Dennis


http://www.fullsizechevy.com/fscu/fordkeys.shtml

Here's another good article...


http://homepage.mac.com/darketernal/TBT.html

about the alignment thing, all you have to do is jack the truck up and look at the front tires and you'll relize you need to get it to the alignment shop asap if you go more than 1in, mine looked like a baja truck. i could be wrong but i always thought cranking the bars will cause the top of the tire to lean out \ / like that. as opposed to / \ ? causing wear on the outside of the tire. either way its gonna be all outa wack so get it aligned.