Opinions on keys please

[kamps989]

Alright I have been hearing all sorts of BS supporting torsion keys and an equal amount of BS saying they are bad for the truck. So I want some honest opinions on the matter if you wouldn't mind. And I know I should do a body/suspension lift but that aint in the cards. Thanks

 

[Will]

All the opinions you called BS were honest opinions. Now you want more BS.

The way I see it, metal has an elastic range. If you are cranking more tension into the metal you are pushing it closer to its elastic limit. Some people crank more tension into their bars and have no trouble. Some people have had them break. That means yours will either have no trouble, or they will break.

I wouldn't crank mine tighter, but that's just my honest BS opinion. I would install a body lift.

 

[AllanD]

Will,

a Torsion key doesn't increase the tension.

It simply changes the relationship of the arm to the torsion bar.

"Clocking" the arm differently.

"Cranking" doesn't increase tension either. it simply MOVES the anchor point
to a different relationship.

IF the torsionbar breaks it's gonna break anyway.

BTW, I kinda "grew up" on torsionbars, first on Dodges and Plymouths
Then On Toyota pickups.

Way back when The 2wd Toyota's had the torsion bar on the lower
control arm and the 4x4's put it on the upper control arm.

I haven't a clue what they do now, but frankly I don't give a damn.

AD

 

[kamps989]

Thanks allan thats the type of helpful feedback I was looking for. But what of the rest of the front end, does anyone know if cranking the front up puts an execissive amount of stress on the rest the front components? and if it does is it enough to be damaging?

 

[Dishtowel]

Ya, tires, lol. They wear improperly. If the A-arms are not equal length then the geometery will be wrong and the tires will wear on the outside at an accelerated rate.

 

[krugford]

Cranking the torsion bars will put more wear and tear on the ball joints, tie rod ends, and cv shafts. Generally, you shouldn't go anymore than 2 inches.

I cranked mine 1 inch to get the look I wanted and I haven't had any wear issues, though I do only have 78,000 on mine.

The tires will wear the inside because as the suspension cycles downward, the tie rods pull the tires in. An alignment after the torsion crank will take care of that.