If you need to gain a couple of inches of lift on your four-wheel drive truck or SUV, cranking the torsion bars is a great way to do it. Most four wheel drive trucks with independent front suspensions use a torsion bar, instead of coil or leaf springs, to suspend the truck. The torsion bar fits into the lower A-arm and pushes down on it to maintain pressure. The pressure comes from the twisting action of the arm, as the other end is anchored to cross bar on the frame. The torsion bar is adjusted from the factory to apply a comfortable level of spring rate that gives a comfortable ride. The height of the vehicle can therefore be raised by readjusting the torsion bars so that they twist more, applying more downward pressure.

In most cases, truck enthusiasts can add one to two more inches of ride height this way. This is done to clear larger diameter tires, or to gain an inch or two on a suspension lift. Cranking the torsion bars is a simple task, but it should be done in a specific manner. Most suspension lift kit manufacturers recommend taking careful measurements from the ground to the underside of the wheel well lip, to determine the amount of lift. The tire should be raised off the ground, allowing one side of the suspension to droop. The torsion arms have a key that adds tension to the bar with an adjustment bolt. Tightening the bolt will add more tension to the bar and one should remember the amount of turns to do an equal amount on the other side.

Remeasure the ride height and document the amount of lift. In most cases, one to two inches is the maximum amount of lift that should be done with the factory torsion bars. Some manufacturers offer a new torsion bar kit, that allows more lift to occur before the adjustment bolts reach their limit of travel. Keep in mind that the more pressure added to the torsion bar, the rougher the ride will become. When you go over a pothole the suspension will want to push the wheel down into it, causing a slightly rougher ride. If you can live with it, the torsion bar adjustment will gain you the added inches you need to clear larger tires or gain that extra amount of ground clearance.

 

This is the same as the old Mopar cars as well.