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

[1988ChevyBoy]

There is a special tool for changing those keys... a little more heavy duty than a 2 jaw puller. It's basically a C clamp with proper nipples on it so it doesn't slip. About $150 Cnd. Done around 15 leveling kits w/ it... or torsion Keys. Works great for everything i've run into. I use to use a ball joint press clamp hahahah... sketchy business... but it worked.

[albertachevy91]

what are the proper keys then, green keys for a OBS 1/2 ton?

[matturro]

I have a 03 GMC 1500, I just got 285/75R16 tires but the tires rub on the bumper. To level the front with the back i have to come up 3". can i crank the torsion bars to come up that high?

[enine]

Originally Posted by MikeyTruck

WOW! Strike 3...I'm Out. HA HA HA me and 2 buddys gave it a go again for the 3rd time to no avail....We unbolted everything again, Used two torches, one on each side of the driverside lower A-arm, a come-a-long on the crossmember, and a 3 pound sledge with an extension bar to the front of the torsion bar bar.....and Nuthin....Then we did the same thing with an A.T.V winch....Then we did the same thing with a chain to my buddys ball hitch on his ZR2 and Tugged on it till it almost fell off the jackstands......AND THE NEW YORK RUST STILL WON!!! that torsion bar prettymuch welded itself to the lower a arm and the keys. AND I hit all contact points with PB Blaster and WD-40 alternating days for a week before the last go-around......Ill never buy a truck from the coast EVER again....I finally Gave up and Got a quote from GCR tire for the labor....I hate giving up but I tried everything I could and even tried unsafe methods which is dumb......."Hosed Tommy....We got Hosed."

The very first post in this tread with the picture of the lifted truck the cross member with the keys is relocated so since that cross member is removable why not unbolt it and pull it rearward off the back ends of the torsion bars rather than push them forward.

I wonder are the gm keys cast or machined? If they are machined it would be easy to pull them and weld a thin plate where the bolt hits to re-index them. You just might be able to weld it through the hole in the crossmember if you still can't get them removed.

[nagodwin728]

No you cant crank that high. If you crank them all the way your front end will still be about an inch lower. The RC kit is a good cheap solution

[enine]

RC kit?

[nagodwin728]

Rough Country Leveling kit 189 with free shipping from tennessee customs easy to install too

[chriskg]

Originally Posted by matturro

I have a 03 GMC 1500, I just got 285/75R16 tires but the tires rub on the bumper. To level the front with the back i have to come up 3". can i crank the torsion bars to come up that high?

You wont be able to get 3" out of just cranking the keys, you'll only get about 1" of lift, just put in the ford keys

[Silver_Sierra]

I have a 1995 2500HD with the "GG" TB's. I got some 3" blocks from a buddy for free, so I've been looking for a way to equally lift the front. I need the "green keys" correct? I have about 3/4 of the bolt showing, so I can still crank it up a good big to level it out after the new keys. Do I need new TB's as well? Also, what shocks would you suggest after the lift. The Rancho 5000's are cheap, which is nice, but should I just bite the bullet and buy the Fox shocks? Thanks!

[04chevy71]

the keys that i have the part number don't match can you tell me what there are for xl34-5b328-ca dcm3

[K1500 Cheyenne]

I've searched the first few pages for an answer, but I'm not going to go through the whole thread. Do you have to use Ford keys when cranking the torsion bar, and if not, what's the benefit of doing so? Will the ride be the same with the Ford keys as with the stock keys when adjusted to the same height (i.e., I guess that'd mean the torsion bar wouldn't be cranked as much with the Ford keys to get the same height as with the stock keys)? Thanks!

[LPG PWRD]

Originally Posted by Luke2kZ71

at this point, if u compare the 2 keys like so:

You will see that at the same position, the ford key's bolt dimple is lower, thus twisting the bar more with less cranking

That is on the first page and should explain it...
You can crank w/o the ford keys, but they will give you more if you did use them

[bowtieboy42]

I just want to make sure, I need one key, or two? Call me an idiot. Go ahead...

[LPG PWRD]

2

[bowtieboy42]

Thanks, thats what I thought

[bowtieboss]

I have a '05 ECSB Z-71 and I recently purchased the ford keys with the part number on the first page of this thread. Total waste of money! As I was loading the keys with the puller the cross-member starting bending and looked very dangerous. It was like the keys were "too steep" or something, just no where for the torsion bars to go. I got a leveling kit and fixed the prob. but at a much higher price!

[Atomic]

And did you install said leveling kit or have a shop do it?

[bowtieboss]

I did it. why does that matter?

[bowtieboy42]

ANyone know where I can rent a puller from?

I just ordered my keys and shocks tonight, going to pick up the blocks tomorrow. My OBS is sitting without any crank. Is it reasonable to try to get like 4" of lift out of keys and some cranking? Or is it more like 3?

[Atomic]

What did your leveling kit consist of?