This was brought to my attention today when I went to pick up a set of
"cough cough" FORD keys for my buddys 1500. We were in his dads 04 dmax that has had a 8'2" boss V on it every winter since 03 from start of winter till end. The front end has taken its toll and sags quite a bit. We put green keys on it two years ago and now its back down again. We added Timber' last year and it sags still, sits right on the Timbers and doesnt move even when the plow gets put on now. The guy at the dealer said to basically switch the Tbars from driver to passanger and pass to driver. Explained it that each is being twisted in opposite ways so if you switch they will be like new. I understand the concept that they are being twisted in opposite direction but im not sure if just switching them is gonna do much other than get through this winter and be the same way next. I would like to hear some opinions and even if some have tried it let me know if it works. My buddy is dead set on doing it but he has no mechanical knowledge what so ever. So ill end up being the one to do it, and im not gonna waste my time if it isnt worth it.

Thanks in advance
Clay

Personally, I would replace them. A piece can twist back and fourth only so long before it breaks. I have never had a torsion bar break, but I don't have much more than stock weight on anything I own. IMO switching sides would probably bring the truck back up, but I'd be afraid of them breaking sometime after. Think of a piece of metal that you're bending back and fourth back and fourth, eventually it cracks. whereas if you only bend it one way, and relese the tension it won't break as quickly. Does that make sense at all?

I agree with Mikes. You will go thru the work and may be right back where you started in no time. Plus like he said all that twisting force for so long then going the other way I no is hard on rear axel shafts. If your rear axel shafts are the same length then you should allways make sure you get them back in the same side or they tend to break easy. Same with some drive shafts that can be assembled backwards after u-joint changes. Not sure about the metalurgy reason but the do break easy when reversed.

I am with Mike_S. Take the time and do it right before you could possibly break something worth a lot more then it could have been.

I think that it would be a bad idea. OEM T-bars have a rotation arrow on them for a reason. I would replace your factory bars with a new OEM 06-up or Sway-A-Way bar.


Nor-Cal Nick

I was thinkin the same thing I just wanted to check. I was also sitting at my desk at work with a paper clip in my hand twisting it back and forth and then just like im sure would happen it broke. Yea it may take alot longer but who knows. I just didnt know if someone on here had actually done this or what. The guy from the dealer was dead set on thats what we should do. Not my truck to say no though. But like I said im the only one that turns wrench when it come times to do somethin. I did price new bars and they are about 250 each. Might even try to talk them into the new ride-rite shocks with air chamber.
Thanks for the imput though.

Once the bars have picked up a memory, don't switch there loaded rotation direction. My midget runs torsion bars in the rear, and switching them is major no no. I think I've still got a busted on in my scrap bin from doing that a couple seasons ago.

Does anyone make airbags for the front of our trucks?
Wouldn't this be a way of helping the T-bars when the plow is on?
I'm assuming that the Timbrens only help when the front drops down to them, where the bags would help all the time.

Just thinking out load....

Firestone ride rites on bilstein heavy duty shocks. Cost about $500ish but for him I think it would be good.

If you're interested, I have my stock torsion bars for sale. They only have 40,000 miles on them. The truck never had a lift on it, but the bars were cranked a little to level it out some.

I just put a set of sway aways on it and they are definately more solid than the stockers. It helped with the body roll when going down the road, but the ride hasn't really changed much. No hoping when i go over bumps, just a compresion and then it goes right back to the regular stance. They are real nice and I am happy with them. Also, you can adjust the ride height of your truck with more precision using the splined ends and keys they provide.

With that said, it seems to me that any bar you put on there is going to wear out. Maybe buy some used stockers and add some helper airbags or something to keep the bars from being over taxed. My stock bars/keys will likely be for sale soon too.