Need a torsion bar crash course PLEASE

[Slim]

Gonna be looking at an '03 Edge this week which I might buy. I have been searching and reading up and learning about the torsion bar system, but there's more info I still need.

The current owner of the truck says the previous owner installed a lift kit (he was told this by the dealership he bought it from). Problem is I don't know wtf that means. He may have had new keys installed or someone may have just cranked the bars.

I have not seen this truck yet. Question is - is there any way I can tell, without taking ANYTHING apart, which method was used?


ALSO, while i'm checking out the truck I plan on crawling around underneath to check a few things out. Are there any thing(s) in particular I should look for with regards to the torsion bar system? (anything that might tell me there's a problem)

Please let me know. I'm looking at this truck this Wednesday and could use this info.

Thanks!

 

[Tommy]

Well, there are really only three aftermarket lifts available for that kind of Ranger.

1) Spindle lift
2) Body lift
3) Torsion keys

So I would examine for a body lift (easy), then checkout the spindles. I'm not exactly sure how you would know if the torsion keys are aftermarket but if they were installed fairly recently they would look a lot newer than the torsion bars.

 

[Slim]

Well, there are really only three aftermarket lifts available for that kind of Ranger.

1) Spindle lift
2) Body lift
3) Torsion keys

So I would examine for a body lift (easy), then checkout the spindles. I'm not exactly sure how you would know if the torsion keys are aftermarket but if they were installed fairly recently they would look a lot newer than the torsion bars.

The current owner has owned the vehicle since 04 (it's an 03), so .....

Thanks for the reminder about the possibility of a spindle lift.


One more Q - i'm reading contradicting reports of how thick a block is used in the rear. I'm reading some people saying 1.5", some say 2" and some even say 2.5". Which one is it? Or did Ford do something crazy like make different blocks for different years?!?!??!

Thanks!

 

[dancron]

easiest thing would be to get up underneath and measure it yourself, you never know the kind of stuff people change

 

[Slim]

Well, better yet, in the next few days i'll be able to post pics ..... I left a deposit on it!

I'm waiting for the owner to get a safety and e-test done. I'll post up some pics when I can. I didn't notice anything in particular with what little I could see of the keys themselves, but i'm still new to torsions stuff, so we'll see what happens when I can have a good look.

Thanks guys!

 

[Slim]

Okay, so i'm back. I have pics now. From what I can see so far this truck doesn't have a 2" lift. It looks all completely stock to me. The keys look like stock pieces, they look like they're at a stock adjustment and even the rear blocks are stock (I was able to find out they are stock 2" units, as they should be, just like on the 4x4 trucks).

I have stock size tires on the truck, which are 235/75/15, and the tops of the tires are at the trim line of the truck (the "feature line" that goes from front to rear, the tops of the bumpers), and from what I can tell that is stock ride height for a 2wd Edge.

So, for those that have a torsion bar truck and care to stick their head under the truck, please tell me if it looks like these are at stock adjustment to you (and thanks for helping!) .....

 

[RangerRocker]

Looks pretty stock to me. Thats a lot of bolt showing for me to even consider that it has been cranked. If you want to crank I say go for it. You will be fine if you do.

 

[Slim]

Looks pretty stock to me. Thats a lot of bolt showing for me to even consider that it has been cranked. If you want to crank I say go for it. You will be fine if you do.

That's what i'm thinking also. I'll have to wait until I have time to get it on concrete, get the weight out of the back and measure it up, before I do anything.

Thanks guys!