In continuation of my on going battle with my drivers side torsion bar... (see below threads)

https://www.ranger-forums.com/forum2...ad.php?t=85679

https://www.ranger-forums.com/forum2...ad.php?t=84222

My co worker first suggested to me to rotate the stock torsion key 1/6 of a turn. I then went to the dealership and had a brainstorm with the parts associate and one of the mechanics.

Our thoughts:

Its unlikely on a 2004 that only the driver side bar would sag and passenger side be fine.

They both had severe doubts about a new bar making any change.

I told them about possibly rotating the key 1 notch, they said that its possible, either in assembly or sometime before i got it that the key was placed on one notch off.


So i got adventurous earlier and dropped the bar, and attempted to rotate the key. Getting the bar out went smoothly, but with the suspension at full drop, i was unable to get the bar with rotated key back in. I was unable to apply enough force to turn the bar enough. (And right now i'm kicking myself for not getting pictures.) I couldn't get the key closer than between 30-45 degrees from the frame. I ended up just putting it back in where it was.

What are you guys using to load the bar enough to put the key back in?

With the bar unloaded, at about what angle does the key sit?

It seems like rotating the key 60 degrees would be too much?

I can put my bar back into its "stock" location by hand, no jacking, or pulling on the bar. Do you guys have more tension than that stock?

Thanks for any and all input guys, I'm at wits end.

 

iirc there was little a preload required when i installed my new #1 bars. When i removed my sagging f bars there was about a 1/4"~1/2" of play between the key and the threaded block that the adjustment bolt goes through.

*** CAUTION TRY AT YOUR OWN RISK ***

I have NOT tried this BUT IT SHOULD WORK IN THEORY

Another way you maybe able to reindex the tbars is to

1.disconnect the lower control arm (lca) from the spindle/kuncle @ the ball joint and the shock to allow a little more droop of the LCA. if this works move to step #2

2.place a jack under the LCA set the height of the LCA then install your tbar, key, and thread your adjustment bolt to where it barely touches the key.

3.using the jack under the LCA start jacking/preloading the tbar /w the trucks weight so you can reconnect the spindle and the shock.

4. if step 3 worked lower truck take measurement and crank the tbar adjustment bolt as needed.

***I would also recommend that you only do this on a FLAT & LEVEL surface as step #3 could cause the truck to shift and fall off the jack stands. Leave the opposite side tire mounted to add a little more weight when jacking on LCA,. The placement of the jack stands placing 1 under the xmember & the other under the main frame rail so if the truck does shift while doing step 3 you are covered in more than one direction if the truck does fall.***

 

lol no dont...

 

What you are wanting to do....is EXACTLY what those aftermarket lift keys do....clocked the bar a few degrees in the key to allow for more preload on the bars, thus creating more lift.

Keys work only one way in relation to the LCA....so you can't just move it a 1/6 turn....

It is unlikely that for 04, the driver side to sag more than the passenger????? Ever heard of the ranger lean?? ALL of them have it. Some more than others.

 

I at first suspected lean, but that would mean my truck has 2.25 inches of lean.

By can't you mean shouldn't, or mean its impossible. The reason my co-worker suggested it is because he has done to a Sport Trac before.

Thats ^^ what i'm most curious about.