Ford Keys & Torsion Bar Cranking/Replacing **TECH**

[Luke2kZ71]

Originally posted by bryanhilton
Well, I finished with the keys today. I ended up using the 5 ton (didn't read the post where it said not to!) But the good Lord was watching over me. I love the way it looks and rides! Feels so much more like a truck! Had to use ALOT of WD-40 to get the old keys off, and a mallot!

im glad to hear your okay, but 1 member had a 5-ton break on him, and smash next to his head, another few inches, and it could have been a serious injury.

[88Power]

i have 3/4 toin leaf springs in the back, so its higher, can i use this method to level off my truck? with out harming anything, or causing anything to wear in the future

[Luke2kZ71]

Originally posted by 88Power
i have 3/4 toin leaf springs in the back, so its higher, can i use this method to level off my truck? with out harming anything, or causing anything to wear in the future

just level it

[Taras]

Luke...from what you are saying it seems I might have overdone mine. I put 2.5" Rancho blocks under my rear suspension in my 2500HD and raised my front up 2.25" using green keys.

Have I overdone it and should I lower it?

[Luke2kZ71]

Originally posted by Taras
Luke...from what you are saying it seems I might have overdone mine. I put 2.5" Rancho blocks under my rear suspension in my 2500HD and raised my front up 2.25" using green keys.

Have I overdone it and should I lower it?

if u have a digital camera take a picture of your angles underneath the truck, the 2500HD has much stronger parts. so it can probally take it better.

[silveradoreb]

My bars are maxed with the stock keys right now. If i get ford keys can I go about another inch without messing ne thing up or having really bad cv angles? thanks

[Luke2kZ71]

Originally posted by silveradoreb
My bars are maxed with the stock keys right now. If i get ford keys can I go about another inch without messing ne thing up or having really bad cv angles? thanks

probally guys, most these anwsers are in this thread, ready the entire thing before posting a question

[methcat]

wow luke, amazing link! you've got some amazing patience too...

so i have a question, i'm a mechanical engineer and i don't quite get this.... i've read people on here saying that for the same lift, they feel their ride is softer going with the green or ford keys rather than just cranking the bars. doesn't this in effect do the exact same thing (assuming the same inches of lift at he bumper)? i get that they will allow you to get a higher total height, but i don't see how the other end of the torsion bar knows the difference. now, i'm not saying it doesn't, and i've learned alot from this string, i just want to see if i missed something here...

also, would this be the proper string to ask to poll people with 2000-2004 stock z71's that just did a leveling with stock torsion bars to see what they thought of their ride quality change?

[Luke2kZ71]

Originally posted by methcat
wow luke, amazing link! you've got some amazing patience too...

so i have a question, i'm a mechanical engineer and i don't quite get this.... i've read people on here saying that for the same lift, they feel their ride is softer going with the green or ford keys rather than just cranking the bars. doesn't this in effect do the exact same thing (assuming the same inches of lift at he bumper)? i get that they will allow you to get a higher total height, but i don't see how the other end of the torsion bar knows the difference. now, i'm not saying it doesn't, and i've learned alot from this string, i just want to see if i missed something here...

also, would this be the proper string to ask to poll people with 2000-2004 stock z71's that just did a leveling with stock torsion bars to see what they thought of their ride quality change?

well, no matter how you go about doing it, the ride should be farily the smae i dont know why some claim to get a better ride, only thing i can think of is maybe with less torque on the bolt, it rides better? as for ride quality with the nbs trucks.... you can deffinatly tell you did it, but it isnt unbearable....

[surfib]

I have a 97 tahoe 4x4. im still new at this i just bought it about a month ago. Can i use the ford keys on my truck and if so, if i bought new shocks do i get shocks as if it was lifted or stock size shocks. IF i can't use the ford keys what shock do iget then when i crank them. Mike

[Luke2kZ71]

Originally posted by surfib
I have a 97 tahoe 4x4. im still new at this i just bought it about a month ago. Can i use the ford keys on my truck and if so, if i bought new shocks do i get shocks as if it was lifted or stock size shocks. IF i can't use the ford keys what shock do iget then when i crank them. Mike

READ THE THREAD!!!! THIS QUESTION HAS BEEN ANSWERED SEVERAL TIMES!

[methcat]

Originally posted by methcat
you've got some amazing patience too...

[Luke2kZ71]

Originally posted by methcat

some days my patience is thinner than others

[Big Casino]

Hey dude, Luke, you da man!!!

I have a 98 Z-71 ext.cab, with 285's on newer-stock chrome rims. With only about 4-1/2" to 4-3/4" clearance to the top fender lip, the trim has gotten dinged up quite a bit. I got 2" more clearance with the Ford keys today! I do have some new RS9000X shocks for 0-2" lift, so these should work O.K. I'll get some "after" pics up in a day or two to go with the "before" in my gallery. Thanks for the tech article!!!

[f0cker]

Nice thread Luke!!! I just read the whole thing, and I'm still a little bit confused. I have a '01 Z-71, and I want to level the front end out. I've re-read the write-up twice, and I'm still a little bit confused. Correct me if I'm wrong, but is this the process?

After jacking it up and puttin it on stands, I go to the crossmember and tighten the adjusting bolts with the 18mm socket wrench. After three or so turns, I should take it off the stands and drive it around the block, then bring it back and change it if need be. I continue this until I'm happy with the look. Then, if the change isn't dramatic, wait 3 or 4 days to get it re-aligned.

That sounds right to me, but all I've messed with is my old trail rig, a '48 Willys, which is much more simple.

Also, would I be correct in saying that I don't need new front shocks? The travel will be the same overall, just less down travel, correct? If I were to go with the Ford keys though, I would have to have new shocks...

That's what I've understood to be correct so far, but if I'm wrong let me know. Thanks, and congrats again on the awesome write up!

[Luke2kZ71]

Originally posted by f0cker
Nice thread Luke!!! I just read the whole thing, and I'm still a little bit confused. I have a '01 Z-71, and I want to level the front end out. I've re-read the write-up twice, and I'm still a little bit confused. Correct me if I'm wrong, but is this the process?

After jacking it up and puttin it on stands, I go to the crossmember and tighten the adjusting bolts with the 18mm socket wrench. After three or so turns, I should take it off the stands and drive it around the block, then bring it back and change it if need be. I continue this until I'm happy with the look. Then, if the change isn't dramatic, wait 3 or 4 days to get it re-aligned.

That sounds right to me, but all I've messed with is my old trail rig, a '48 Willys, which is much more simple.

Also, would I be correct in saying that I don't need new front shocks? The travel will be the same overall, just less down travel, correct? If I were to go with the Ford keys though, I would have to have new shocks...

That's what I've understood to be correct so far, but if I'm wrong let me know. Thanks, and congrats again on the awesome write up!

ceee-rect!

Originally posted by Big Casino
Hey dude, Luke, you da man!!!

I have a 98 Z-71 ext.cab, with 285's on newer-stock chrome rims. With only about 4-1/2" to 4-3/4" clearance to the top fender lip, the trim has gotten dinged up quite a bit. I got 2" more clearance with the Ford keys today! I do have some new RS9000X shocks for 0-2" lift, so these should work O.K. I'll get some "after" pics up in a day or two to go with the "before" in my gallery. Thanks for the tech article!!!

[JimWilson]

Originally posted by methcat i've read people on here saying that for the same lift, they feel their ride is softer going with the green or ford keys rather than just cranking the bars. doesn't this in effect do the exact same thing

You'd think so, but it doesn't seem to work that way. I got about 1.5" cranking my stock keys almost all the way up, but it was a pretty sh#tty ride. I installed the green keys and with them cranked almost all the way DOWN I have about 2" of lift. And, for some reason, it rides better then before. Go figure...

Hey, as long as I don't blow out a CV or ball joint I don't really care either way, just so long as it works I'm happy!

[pimpredsocks]

well i thought i posted my experence but i guess not, I went and found some gk bars off of a(get this) 3500 dually burb fire and rescue truck that had been wrecked. put the bars on without a hitch rode around on them for about 3 days to alow them to settle before i got my truck alligned, i had measured everything out just right and the truck rode very good, then i took them to the alignment shop and they aligned the truck, well apparently the guy at the shop thought that my screews were in the wrong place so he un-tightend them for me. so about 20 min after i pick my truck up i hit a speed bump and one of the bars moves forward in the a-arm and my truck is layin frame(well not actually, the 38's were holdin up the wheel well) so i have to go back to napa and borrow the gear puller again and get my dads burb(luckly he has a dc/ac converter and on board air) and go back and fix it in the street, so by the time i got back it was dark so i ran 2 shop lights off my dads truck and had my truck all jacked up in the street(it was kinda funny cuz it looked like i was running a shop in the middle of the street) so i rolled my creeper up under it and re-loaded the bar and was on my way. needless to say i called the shop up and the re-aligned it for me for free(luckly i had measured not only the fender but also how much bolt was still showing so i knew it had been messed with) anyways my truck has been fixed since thanksgiving and is doing great, everything runs and drives like it should, big ups to this thread for givin me the know-how to make it happen. thanks

[Luke2kZ71]

[norcalbrdr51]

Originally posted by speedjunkie
I was thinking of getting the Rancho bars but after reading 10 pages on this I think that the keys would work just as good. Is this true or should I get the Rancho bars? Any sugestions are fine.

Hey speedjunkie or Luke, where can you buy these at? My truck's lifted and i just wanna beef up the front end a bit, make it sit level.

*the Rancho bars, and how much should they cost? Is this the same as buying 2500 TBs? thanks