i have read everything i can find about torsion bar changing and leveling truck by cranking t-bars. i also have read where after a time of cranking bars taht sagging will occur. i do not off rd, just hiway driving. does sagging occur becaus of off roading or will bars just sage after awhile. i have B rated bars on truck at this time. i would like to do this but will not do if this would cause sagging. confused or maybe just chicken


being old just means=THE BODY IS WEAK BUT THE EDGE IS STRONG=

 

All bars sag over time regardless of service. Further "pre-loading" the bars means they will be twisting more before the bump stop restricts movement and this is why they will fatigue more quickly.

In street service, you may not see them sag as fast -- depending on your roads and driving style.

The sagging is slow and occurs over time. If you are really concerned about this, it might be best if you don't do it, lol. But I think most people with mild torsion lifts and driving on-road are not seeing too much sag. I can't comment because I thrash the living crap out of mine and I've already replaced the weak "F" class bars with stiffer "B" class ones. I have no idea what "street only" service will mean or how long it might take before you get noticeable sag.

How far you thinking of adjusting them?

 

thanks john for your answer. i have had this truck since it was new with 10 miles on it. bars have shown no signs of sagging yet. now have 90,000 miles on it. checked out bar rating to be B rated from mfg. if i just turn them 4 to 5 turns i guess fatigue on them may come quicker . i quess i just have to make up my own mind on this one.some things in life or like that.

 

What are you trying to do, Lee, just level it? A mild to level the truck won't make much difference, in my opinion.

If you trying to 2 to 3 inches of lift out of it, that might be a different story.

 

just would like to level it john

 

Well, I'd go ahead and do it then. I doubt if they'll sag enough to every trouble you. Someone can chip in if they've had other experience, but that's my opinion.

 

well john , from all i have read about your experiences with your truck. would say, that if you dont know about lifting then no one does!!!!! your word is as good as gold. thanks for you help. think i will go ahead with lift to level.

 

I have my bars cranked the entire way, it lifted the truck a little under 3" at the beginning. They definately have sagged, this is over about 2 years now, and I would say it's about 2" or less higher than what I started with. I drive it hardcore on and off road. I can tell that my bars are very soft now, probably because of the crank. My friend has a pretty new 03 and riding in his is like a brick (much stiffer) compared to mine when speaking about front suspension travel.
In your case of wanting to level it out an inch or so, go ahead and it won't cause you any problems with light road driving.
People say it changes your alignment geometry...I cranked my bars twice, had two sets of tires on, and took it to get aligned twice and it was perfect and didn't need to be aligned at all, and it's been running with the stock alignment ever since and I get even tire wear.

 

I have an eccentric kit on mine because of cranking the t-bars and I only went up enough to level it (about 1 inch for me). My alignment was completely shot. Both Ford and Big-O tires can't get the geometry back to OEM specifications. To make matters worse I also appear to be back at an OEM ride stance. I can look at my truck and it has the raked look back. This is small beans though, I'm just saving paycheck after paycheck to get the few things I still need before popping the RCD kit on. And FWIW I definitely don't baby my truck as much as I should. It's a truck, it has a 4x4 suspension. I don't drive it like a mad man, but I do utilize this aspect of the truck.

 

i've also heard that 4x4 wear faster on the cranks because of the heavier front end (motor and axle). don't know how true this is but i guess it could be logical

 

Also the front axles will probably wear out sooner because they'll be running at an angle instead of straight as OEM spec...if yours is the model with live axles since they are moving all of the time even in 2wd.