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Torsion Bar questions


cdemarais

New Member
Joined
May 24, 2008
Messages
2
Age
39
Vehicle Year
2004
Transmission
Automatic
I recently stripped just the head on my torsion bar adjuster bolts. I didn't want to leave a bolt on my truck with a stripped hex head. My uncle is a Ford Master mechanic and has sent me some new torsion bar adjuster bolts. I was wondering how hard it is to just back out the bolt and put the new one in. Everything I find online is to replace the whole torsion bar.

Any help is appreciated by this newbie. Thank You!
 
Before you take anything apart, take a ride height measurement from the ground to a convenient place like the wheel arch, for instance. Also count the number of exposed threads on the current bolt to give you a starting point with the new one.

The shop manual says that you can make ride height adjustments with the truck's weight on the bar. For replacement of the bolt, I think it would be better to jack it up and support on jackstands. Remove the damaged bolt, install the new one and screw it in almost as far as the old one was (judged by the thread count). Then put the truck back on the ground for the final adjustment.

Roll the truck a few feet and park it exactly where it was for the initial height measurement. Bounce the suspension to normalize it, then take another measurement. Because the new bolt is not screwed in quite as far, the truck will probably be sitting a bit lower on the side where the bolt was replaced. Now you can do the final adjustment by tightening a quarter turn until it is just right. Remember to bounce the suspension in between adjustments to normalize it.

Ford recommends that the adjuster bolt only be tightened because it loses the factory applied threadlocker when it is backed out. If it is backed out, new thread locker should be added.
 
It's easy; as long as you can get the old adjuster bolt out without stripping the threads, then it's fine. Put the new one in and you're good to go.

Just take it nice and slow to take the tension off little by little on the bar.
 
the only thing i was worried about is the tension on the bar. i see online you need a certain tool to replace them i wasn't sure how it would be with just switching the bolt..and yes the new bolts have threadlocker on them
 
It's best to use the tool for safety reasons; however, if you go nice and slow you should be fine. When the bolt finally comes out the lower control arm may snap down a little bit, so just be careful and make sure your hands are clear of the area.
 
Just two points I want to throw in real quick here. Just replaced one of my bolts last week (with a longer one to crank em up)......

-You don't need the tool to remove TB bolt. Just the right size wrench to tighten the new and whatever locking pliers you need to remove the old one.

-Do jack up the vehicle to let the weight off the torsion bars.

-Bouncing the suspension doesn't "normalize" your suspension after adjusting ride height, you have to drive it a bit to roll the wheels. Adjusting your ride height via the torsion bars tweaks the camber which can only be settld by rolling the wheels and bouncing the suspension.
 
just to throw something in!

when you get all the tension off of the torsion bar, you can remove the entire bolt and the threaded bar since the head is broken off. that will make it easier to remove the bolt from the bar.
 
Adjusting your ride height via the torsion bars tweaks the camber which can only be settld by rolling the wheels and bouncing the suspension.
Exactly. That's why I suggested that he roll the truck a few feet and bounce the suspension after the initial rough adjustment. For the final small tweak, he can just bounce it because the camber change is so slight that it is inconsequential.
 

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