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

[stoltz23]

from my experience, that CV angle looks fine. I put one of those magnetic angle things on with the needle that points to the angel. i cant think of the name of it. on the top of my CV shaft and it measured 15 degrees. i cranked mine about 3" over stock with the ford keys. Have had it like that for 20-25K. shortly after doing the keys i had to replace both tie rod ends and a pitman arm. that was only at 6 months and 25K. i think that cranking on these trucks will effect tie rod ends more than it will CV shafts. so far my CV shafts are holding up fine and so are the new Tie rod ends i am at 40K now. To help extend the life of your CV shafts at every oil change spray some silicone spray grease on them and completely coat the rubber. most of the time the reason why CV shafts go is not due to the shaft failing but because of the boot ripping. Once the boot rips unless you find it asap all the grease comes out and then the joint starts to wear. Thats always been the case in every IFS truck that i have had. coating them in silicone helps extend the boot life by keeping the rubber soft and plyable.

[MONGO53]

Originally Posted by stoltz23

really i did no9t know this. so i could sell my stock keys to someone with a 2500 and it woudl be close to the equivelant of a ford key on a 1500?

If you want to sell them how much?

[stoltz23]

Originally Posted by MONGO53

If you want to sell them how much?

I have already had an offer for $30 from a local guy. sorry

[MONGO53]

Originally Posted by stoltz23

I have already had an offer for $30 from a local guy. sorry

Does anybody have a set of the green keys from a 1/2 ton the want to sell?

[89liftedk1500]

im looking for purple keys to buy shipped to 43050

[chvythndr]

I'd venture to say 1" tops in terms of cranking and not needing an alignment. I'd wait until you can afford it, then do it all at the same time.

[ncZ71dude]

I had mine aligned yesterday after the key install the other week. It did not pull AT ALL, it was just the camber was TERRIBLE> they laughed at me when i carried it up there to get it done. They just dont understand us and what were doin i guess.

[LBSigMan]

6 Month Update

So it's been about 6 months since I've cranked my torsions and slapped on some 285 BFG A/T's and here's what I've experienced. The ride I can truly say is 1000 times better! Now, the ride could be due to the fact that the tires are bigger so there's more sidewall flex going on which is giving me a false impression that my truck is riding smoother. The other thing are my shocks. Get new ones, no if's, and's, or but's. The shocks I put on my truck are the ones from Offroad Unlimited however....they are getting replaced this Christmas as soon as I get my Christmas gift from my girlfriend; they're being replaced by Fox shocks specifically made for leveled 2500HD's. The shock shaft on the Offroad Unlimited shocks began to rust about 2 weeks of having them on my truck, all this during the hot dry southern California summer so they're going bye bye. My truck does wander a little but it could be a few factors; siping in the street, the fact that my tires are technically too wide for my 16x7 factory rims and what not. It's been aligned twice, the first time was right after I cranked and the 2nd time was a few days later when I took it back due to the alignment place not getting the steering wheel perfectly aligned. It still isn't but it's not enough to bother me. I may take it to a shop that's near me that specialized in lifted trucks but I'm just to damn busy with school and the girlfriend unit at the current moment. A few months ago I had my intermediate shaft replaced as it was getting worse and worse through the steering wheel, doing so really tightened things up. Again, whether the level had any factor in it's demise is unknown. Every other oil change I take a grease gun to all my zerks to make sure everything is kept nice and lubed.

Specs:
* 8 cranks and still have enough thread for maybe 2 or 3 more.
* 285 BFG A/T's
* ORU Shocks (pseudo Bilsteins???)
* Soon I will have Fox shocks.

Oh ya, I forgot to add. When I had the tires installed, it did pull and I took it back to the alignment shop to have them look at it. Apparently they said that one of my tires had a radial pull in it, so it took it back to the tire shop where they replaced the defective tire.

[2wdchevywt]

or instead of getting longer shocks you could just buy the brackets that extend the stocks up so it keeps the stock length

[ChvyRidnHi]

Originally Posted by Blue 04 Z71

ChvyRidnHi im also looking at that kit let me know if you end up getting it and how it looks.

It came in a couple days ago haven't got it put on yet tho..ill post pics prolly this weekend

[ChvyRidnHi]

Originally Posted by 2wdchevywt

how much did you guys pay for your ford keys? i got quoted at $40 a piece from a ford dealer. does that sound right?

i found them online $21.97 apiece plus shipping at
http://www.trademotion.com/partlocat...&siteid=213787

the product number for them is XL3Z5B328CA

[SuperChevy17]

I was quoted $28 each at the Ford stealership and then went to a nearby junk yard and got them for $10 each. The guys at the junk yard said they normally just throw them away because nobody ever wants them!!!

[2wdchevywt]

Originally Posted by SuperChevy17

I was quoted $28 each at the Ford stealership and then went to a nearby junk yard and got them for $10 each. The guys at the junk yard said they normally just throw them away because nobody ever wants them!!!

so what year ford matches my 04 1500.

[stoltz23]

its in the first few reply's to this thread back on page 1. but i think its around the 2001-2003 years

[xrrider13]

Do you have to use a gear puller or GM torsion bar unloader tool? I talked to a friend who just put the truck on a lift and took the bolts completely out and put in the new keys, no pullers or unloader tools.

[Atomic]

There is no way in hell he loaded a torsion key by hand. The keys load the bars which support the truck...think about that. He would have needed to apply enough force to turn that key as to lift the truck.

And with unloading, you have to take out the stop, and you cant do that while the bar is putting load on it, unless your hercules or something.

[94Z-Buggy]

So, on a stock height OBS Z71.... if i do the Ford Key swap, how much in inches can i get max ??? I would like to get 2" in the front and 2" blocks on the rear with new shocks all the way around. Just wondering if it will work. Thanks.

[chvythndr]

Originally Posted by 94Z-Buggy

So, on a stock height OBS Z71.... if i do the Ford Key swap, how much in inches can i get max ??? I would like to get 2" in the front and 2" blocks on the rear with new shocks all the way around. Just wondering if it will work. Thanks.

Depends on how much your keys are cranked now. If they're maxed, I don't think you'd get 2" by doing a swap. If you still have some threads left, and you swap to F*rd keys, you might could get a couple inches.

[highflyin]

I bought the ford keys for my 90 k1500 only to find out it has heavy duty torsion bars in it already.I installed them but they preloaded the bars to much and maxed out the front suspension.I had to take them right back out and throw the stock keys back in.I have no use for the ford keys now so if someone needs a set of new ford keys then PM me.

[CWALK27]

Whats up guys, I have 99 NBS Chevy Z71 with 145k miles on it. Ive been scanning this thread because i just decided i wanted to make my truck look better and give it a little lift for not too much $$$. I believe the owners before my truck(at 65k miles) had leveled it already because it is level within 1/4" on all fenders, and the keys seemed to be cranked already. I want to lift it 2" with the Ford Keys in the front and put blocks in the back to raise the whole truck overall 2". I am starting a ne job in a few weeks where i will be driving my truck everyday and occasionally for long distances on the interstate. Am i wasting my time and money with this? Does it put too much stress on the front end raising it 2" with the ford keys with stock shocks? I'm trying decide between this setup and a 3" BL but dont know which way to go. What are the advantages/disadvantages of each? Any help would be GREATLY appreciated. Thanks in advance.