Need a little torsion bar help. I had to replace both lower control arms during which i had to remove the torsion bars. I've attempted to install them a couple times now and I'm thoroughly stuck. When I uninstalled them i counted 27 turns till the bolt dropped from the swivel. Now I got the vehicle jacked up by the frame. Slid the bars into the control arm, put the keys on, and tightened the bolt 27 turns. However when I dropped the truck the front end sits about 4 inches off the ground. I've got to be doing something wrong. The manual lists about 4 simple steps. Watched a YouTube vid of some guys servicing the front end of a Dakota. Took them all but 2 minutes to install the torsion bars. Unfortunately it doesn't show very well what/how he is doing it. Its got to be something i'm doing as it seems simple everywhere else.

When I go to load the bar (vehicle jacked up on frame) I can turn the bolt the 27 times almost by hand. There is very little resistance. I would have thought it would be much harder. Am I supposed to loose install and then load the bar later when there is weight on it?

If anyone can help i would sure appreciate it. We're starting to see 100's in Denver and it sucks to walk everywhere.

On the ends of the bar it is stamped with 178R and 179L, assuming L is for left and R is for right. Left being driver side.

 

I've never done Tbar work, but I'd suspect you got the hex one face off.

 

This makes sense. My question would be, if the hex is off how would you compensate for that? The key can't be moved because moving 1 hex position left or right, you wouldn't be able to put the bolt through the swivel. So the only other options would be to raise the control the arm or disconnect the upper and drop the lower arm.

I know you said you've never done it but i'm hoping others may see this.

 

I've never messed with it either, but I'd think you can just tighten the bars up until the ride height is what it was before.

 

Okay.. When I did mine about six months ago, I never messed with the bolt or adjustment. I'm pretty positive you're just one off on the hex as already mentioned. To take the lower control arms (LCA's) off, disconnect everything else needed with the LCA sitting on a floor jack. Then just let the floor jack down until there's no tension. Then remove your LCA bolts from the frame and pry/hammer your LCA out. So since you're already 27 turns in, I don't know whether you'll have enough threads left to get it back normal again. I would suggest pulling your whole front end again (I know, PITA) and adjust each side 1/6 turn on your torsion hex and put it all back together. I don't know if there's another way to fix that problem that's less intrusive. But yeh... I will never mess with the adjustment bolt unless it is ABSOLUTELY necessary.

 

Thanks Pspklutch. It ended up being a hex off. And you're right...it was a PITA to undo everything. I spent an hour trying to not to undo everything in the end it was the only way to go though.

 

Yeh it really sucks... I dreaded dealing with the bolt so as soon as I figured out I didn't have to take it out, it eased my mind a lot lol.

Anyway, glad to know it's all back together again. The torsion bars can be a little unnerving to mess with