Solved Torsion Bar 101, Everything you Need to look for!

[Bauer_Boi]

actually if u flip the torsion adjuster over u can drop it about 5 inches and tighten the bolt to lift it up to wutever height u want. i havent tried it, but i will be soon i hope. from what i have heard it will do no damage and should be just fine other than possibly throwin camber off a bit when hittin bumps and wut not.
dannY

ps- an alignment would DEFINATELY be needed afterwards as well..

 

[Robert]

How do you plan on keeping the torsion bar adjuster bolt centered on the adjuster if you turn it upside down? In its proper orientation, there is a dimple in the adjuster so that the bolt stays on the adjuster. The backside of the adjuster is flat. I would think you would run the risk of the bolt moving around and eventually breaking off.

 

[Black Magic]

Most people just make a new dimple there with a dremmel, drill, or something like that.

 

[OneBadExpSport]

How hard is it to remove the torsion bolts? The drivers side bolt cannot tighten any further while the passenger side bolt has a lot more to go. I also read that I can add longer bolts, since I have 2WD to make it go up even higher.

I already have a long add-a-leaf, could I also add warrior shackles or another leaf?

Thanks

Brian

 

[hydroxy]

Is it simple to drop it about 1/2-1" or so in front just by adjusting the torrsion bar? I wont be dropping it in the back, but right now the front seems to ride higher then the back.

Does having the Air Ride System affect this at all? Should I not do it w/ air shocks?

if not, anyway to adjust the shocks so they dont auto-level the car off after the drop?


thanks,
patrick

 

[Vozar]

hey quick I am going to tighten my tortion bars and I am wondering can I still do it If I have dirt jammed up all in there next to the tightning bolts. What should I do to get all that crap out of there

Thanks

 

[CBoug76]

You SHOULD clean the dirt out....

Use a screw driver..... or something to dig the dirt out, and if you have a Compressor, Blow the dirt out...

OR drive to your local self service car wash and use the High Pressure sprayer and blow the dirt away!!

 

[Vozar]

thanks,

matt

 

[expobronc]

2 questions i didnt see answered...

1 does it still wear out the cv shafts when 4x4 is not engaged?

2 where is a good place to get the warrior shackles and $$


TIA

oh one more question are my cv shafts beefier since they came with a v-8 and all wheel drive??

 

[Soundguy01tx]

as for where to get the shackles... you can actually get Autozone versions cheaper if your not going to plan on offroading. But look at www.desertrat.com they have em I think. Also I believe www.4wheelparts.com has em, but you have to call to order the specific part.
--bryan

 

[UK Explorer]

Help !

This is a most interesting thread

But I have a problem

Being in the UK things are harder to source, for instance who can I get to ship shackles and/or Add a leaf shipped to me as I have not found anyone so far ?...and what do I need to ask for to get a 2" lift ?

Will I need a ADD a leaf to go 2" or not ?...I have tried to find the sticker which tells me what torsion bars I have but cannot find it, where exactly is it suposed to be ?...I have looked on all the doors as I believe it is meant to be there ?...Mine could be in a differerent place as mine is a UK right hand drive model - but at least if I know where/what exactly I am looking for I might find it.

Thanks - it is frustrating being so far from the real Explorer action but I do try to fly the flag - just got my KKM induction kit on its way to me

 

[UK Explorer]

can no-one help here ?

 

[Howard]

Hey Bruce

As another UK RHD explorer owner I can tell you that we have the highest rated torsion bars they make. Also we have the self leveling rear suspension. So raising the rear is not quite as straight forward as those that don't. I too have had great difficulty sourcing parts. I have found a UK source for all the normal bits and they are cheap too. Haven't tried to lift mine yet but getting shackles should not be too dificult try the on-line stores and see if they will export to UK. Remember that you will have to pay import duty as well as the shipping cost. For the rear you will have to disconect the sensor for the leveling. Then fit the new shackles and then lower the sensor bar to allow the system to work correctly. Otherwise it will try and lower it to normal all the time. Someone did suggest that you could just move the sensor to raise the vehicle. Not sure if that is a good idea as the pressure in the rear shocks will be much higher than normal and could lead to early failure. All the best.

 

[hydroxy]

higher pressure in rear shocks also makes for a horribly bumpy ride...

 

[UK Explorer]

Hi Howard,

There are a few of us then

Goofd to hear about the torsion bars, should be able to get a 2" lift out of them if there the highest rating. I am trying to find out at moment which is the best way of raising the back, shackles, shackles and add-a-leaf or double add a leaf on it's own - there are so many options

I'm glad you reminded me about the self levelling suspension, do you have any experience of moving the sensor bar, does it look easy to do ?

Who is the UK source for the 'normal' bits, and what do they do ?

Very nice looking X you have - I hope to have some of that as well but what I am really interested in is making it much more capable off-road. I have got a KKM induction kit on its way from the US as I nearly kit mine with hydro-lock a couple of weeks ago in deep water

 

[Howard]

Thanks Bruce
My UK source for parts is USAutomotive on 01234273155.
I've come across about half a dozen of us UK owners on this site and we all seem to have the same spec x's. As far as I've looked (I don't want to raise mine just yet as the tyres have all got lots of tread on them at the momment) the leveling sensor is on a kind of mecanno metal bracket and it doesn't look too dificult to lower it with another piece bolted in. All the best.

 

[LowdPypes]

So, do you think that whine from my front end it my CV and not my transfer case?

 

[dgracer]

Lowering softens spring rate

I've backed out 4 turns on each torsion bar in an attempt to level my 98 sohc. While the ride height came down 1/2", the spring rate seems overly soft, which does make sense since less pre-tension is being applied to the torsion bar. I've read all these threads and nobody else has mentioned this reduction in spring rate. How is that overcome? I cannot imagine going down much further without feeling like I'm riding without shocks.

 

[Jon Burns]

Howard,

I thought the air ride system worked on front and rear shocks not just on the rears.

Oh and Happy New Year! Cheers

 

[taxx]

Re: Lowering softens spring rate

Originally posted by dgracer
I've backed out 4 turns on each torsion bar in an attempt to level my 98 sohc. While the ride height came down 1/2", the spring rate seems overly soft, which does make sense since less pre-tension is being applied to the torsion bar. I've read all these threads and nobody else has mentioned this reduction in spring rate. How is that overcome? I cannot imagine going down much further without feeling like I'm riding without shocks.

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