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

[bradthomashines]

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just wondering i have my stock keys cranked to the max and was thinking about getting the Ford keys for a little more lift are my angles too extreme to lift anymore ? or am i too close to the bump stop?

[04BlackGMC]

i would leave as is really man. you have just enough gap between the stop and arms.

[00chev]

Hey, i just got the Ford keys for my 00 Z71. I see that some companies that sell the t-bar key kits include shock extensions. Wouldnt shocks for a 2-3" lift work as well or better?

[hvyhaul]

great info, I have a 2000 1 ton crew classic 4x4 how much can ford keys get me up with new shocks as well

[stoltz23]

you want heavier keys than the ford ones if you have a 1 ton. You want green or purple ones i think depending on what came stock in your truck. they are available at the chevy dealership. Wait for someone to chime in or read some of the 40+ pages of this post and you will find what keys you need.

[Jordan_W]

I have a 2000 4x4 1500 Burban. I have decided to go ahead and crank my stock keys a tad. I have about an inch of thread on each stock key.

I understand that I will probably have to crank and examine as I go but could someone make a guess at how many turns I should go to achieve an inch of lift?

Thank you.

[stoltz23]

my guess would be 6-10 turns. i think mine were a tad over 1/8" per turn.

[00chev]

Anybody know the pros and cons of shock extensions vs. longer shocks?

[DetroitDan]

Okay, I've read about 30 pages and I'm getting a headache.

Is the 15992573 part number the key I want for a 97 K3500 Diesel? When I check GM partsdirect there is no picture, and only shows a description of "arm". What does that mean? Can I go to the stealership and order that part number, and will it be the same price? I'm in no hurry so I don't mind ordering online, but I'm afraid of ordering an "arm".

How does changing the key affect weight carrying? I have the heavy diesel engine up front, plus I carry a 950 lb Blizzard Powerplow in the winter. I have currently cranked the bars five times for the weight, it leveled it nicely and seems to carry the weight well. But I want a little lift so I can go up to 255/85/16 tires. Just don't want to add keys and crank a couple inches, then snap something first time I lift the plow. Any reason to think it wouldn't be a good idea? How about Timbrens? I want to add them for the plow, will they work with keys?

I am putting 5000lb airbags in the rear, was thinking I'd wait on rear blocks because the bags may allow me to lift the rear up a bit.

So let me get this straight: Green keys cranked 5 times should give me additional height over what my stock keys cranked 5 times did, right? I got 1.5 inches out of the 5 turns on the stock bars.

[04GreenZ]

would ya'll say Rancho RSX17000 are a good shock for a key and spacer job? on a 2004 Z71 Tahoe

[Maverick2003]

I recently purchased a 2003 silverado 1500. I have been checking it over and like most chevy's the front is lower than the back. SO i was going to crank up my torsion bars and they are cranked to the max but the front still sits 1.5" lower than the back. The truck also leans really bad in corners comnpared to my other 1500. Can this be caused by the torsion bars wearing out? If so what bars/keys would you recomend for my truck to have it sit level with the back and help prevent the excessive suspesion squat in the corners. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[kevin_saun]

I have a 94 1500 z71, got it from a friend who has owned it since it was new, it has 180000 miles on it and the bars have never been cranked Im thinking about cranking the bars some when i put my new rear springs in this weekend, when i looked at my keys one has only about 6 0r 7 threads left, and the pass side one seems to have twice as much but the truck seems to sit level side to side what im looking for is some stock no crank measurments so i can set it to stock height then get my 1.5 or 2 inches Ill have to use ford keys because im thinking the 13yr old torsion bars are pretty sagged. was also thinking of adding a 1 or 2 in block in the rear to gain a little as well but dont want to over crank , my truck is a mall crawler/daily driver and wont be in 4wheel except the odd time in the winter but still worried about cv angles and alignment. thxs in advance for any replies

[bmx_hb_boi]

well with the stock torsion keys how much lift can u get out of them if u tightin them????

[z71offrd]

hey i jst wanted 2 give lil word of advise when u do a torsion key leveling kit..dont forget your pinion angle or else ur driveline will really suffer. the angle should b measured and b no more than 3 degree's or else u can if ur lucky jst ruin the ujoints.. but worse can b you'll ruin your pinion bearings and have a blast doing that. jst little word of advise cuz when i did mine i had a really weird rattle like sound when i deccelerate and it was my entire drivline

[chvythndr]

Originally Posted by bmx_hb_boi

well with the stock torsion keys how much lift can u get out of them if u tightin them????

With stock bars & keys, the average is about 1/4" per turn.

[kevin_saun]

my top of the wheel well measurments are 35 1/4 with 265/75/16s on factory wheels and my cv's look pretty flat, any idea what the stock non sagged top of the wheel well measurements should be or maybe a measurment with a 2in crank so I have some comparisons?

[Ridge Runner]

I am getting ready for new tires and want to crank up my keys a bit. Where do you take the measurements from to get it leveled out.Thanks

[chvythndr]

Originally Posted by Ridge Runner

I am getting ready for new tires and want to crank up my keys a bit. Where do you take the measurements from to get it leveled out.Thanks

ground to top of fender/wheel well

[Ridge Runner]

Thanks...

[Blue 04 Z71]

Question for you guys. When i bought my truck i cranked the TB's and i went to have it aligned and they said that they could not do it. so i ended up having to go back to the dealer to have them reset my ride height. I really want to crank the bars or put in the ford keys but im hesitant to do it bc nobody can do it. Is it true that some to some trucks it just cant be done or are they full of SH**
thanks
jusitn