TORSION BAR ADJUSTMENT

Adjusted my torsion bars about 2 weeks ago, 2.5 turns.
Looks much better and seems to ride the same! AWESOME!


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how much did it raise the front

Is this something you did on your own or at the dealer?

torsion bar adjustment is easy to do, not worth having the dealer do it. might not want them to know you've done it either, they seem to look for reasons to not honor warranty. just follow the bar back to the middle of your chassis. each one has a bolt coming down from the adjuster key. jack up the front a bit to take pressure off it, then make your adjustment. not sure each turn does on an H3, but on the H2 each turn = .2 inch. measure a point on the body before you do it, and then again after (wheel to fender/bumper to driveway/etc.). you'll want to drive it a bit, make sure it feels right, then get an alignment.

hmm I dont think I would attempt this on my own, I don't even know what bar you are talking about..... never really tried anything of this extent and I dont think I wanne try my first on this vehicle..... maybe if someone to show me was there :) then I am sure I could do it safely without having to have worry I turn the wrong button and the whole car collapses :D

quote:

ORIGINAL: shortbus

torsion bar adjustment is easy to do, not worth having the dealer do it. might not want them to know you've done it either, they seem to look for reasons to not honor warranty. just follow the bar back to the middle of your chassis. each one has a bolt coming down from the adjuster key. jack up the front a bit to take pressure off it, then make your adjustment. not sure each turn does on an H3, but on the H2 each turn = .2 inch. measure a point on the body before you do it, and then again after (wheel to fender/bumper to driveway/etc.). you'll want to drive it a bit, make sure it feels right, then get an alignment.

Pardon my ignorance..But does this adjustment of the torsion bars in affect, raise the the body from the wheels a little, i.e., more wheelwell heigth for larger diameter tires etc?

Well on a leveling kit it just replace those keys it raised mine up two inches you can put 35 in tires on after but not sure how much factory one raise the front if they do go two inche i got screwed. But like shortbus said you need to do a front alignment and adjust your headlights.

it's pretty simple, and even though its a GM product, i doubt you'll find anything that will make it fall apart. the torsion bar runs from the bottom A-arm on your front suspension, back to around the center of the chassis. if you take a look underneath, you'll see a long bar, about 1 1/2 inches diameter. both ends are hex shaped, one slides in the a-arm up front, the other has a key on it with a tab sticking out. the adjuster bolt pushes the tab, applying more twist to the bar and causing it to push down on the a-arm, basically pushing the wheel down away from the body. there's a cross member running side to side in the middle of the chassis that the keys/adjustments sit in. there's only one bolt in line with each torsion bar, so you won't get confused. it's standard thread, not reverse for one side or anything, so a good ratchet will work. just take the weight off the front of the vehicle. or, if you're lazy like me, use a breaker bar and just put some muscle in it. just keep track of the number of turns so you do each side the same. don't worry if the amount of bolt sticking out isn't the same, it should have been adjusted from the factory to be level.

i had never done it before either, but it's really easy, i'm sure you can do it.

HeHe I think I will have to look at it, cuz u making it sound so easy and yet I really don't know what you talking about :D

i hope you're a nice guy, 'cuz i laid in the driveway to get this for you. the round bar in the pic is the torsion bar, this one on the passenger side. the pic is taken from the rear wheel area. the end of the bar closest to you is where the adjuster is, you can just see the head of the bolt to the left of the bar, inside the cross member. the other end of the bar goes into the lower a-arm. it's easy, really.


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quote:

ORIGINAL: shortbus

it's pretty simple, and even though its a GM product, i doubt you'll find anything that will make it fall apart. the torsion bar runs from the bottom A-arm on your front suspension, back to around the center of the chassis. if you take a look underneath, you'll see a long bar, about 1 1/2 inches diameter. both ends are hex shaped, one slides in the a-arm up front, the other has a key on it with a tab sticking out. the adjuster bolt pushes the tab, applying more twist to the bar and causing it to push down on the a-arm, basically pushing the wheel down away from the body. there's a cross member running side to side in the middle of the chassis that the keys/adjustments sit in. there's only one bolt in line with each torsion bar, so you won't get confused. it's standard thread, not reverse for one side or anything, so a good ratchet will work. just take the weight off the front of the vehicle. or, if you're lazy like me, use a breaker bar and just put some muscle in it. just keep track of the number of turns so you do each side the same. don't worry if the amount of bolt sticking out isn't the same, it should have been adjusted from the factory to be level.

i had never done it before either, but it's really easy, i'm sure you can do it.

Aah..I see why the alignment is best to do after the torsion tweeking..I suspect it's the Castor/Camber that would be out of wack...Heck with it, if you did that, and then the dealer needs to re-align it again................. it sounds like a catch 22

say what ?

i don't know that i'd go to the dealer for an alignment, but it would be necessary after an adjustment. no need to tell the dealer why you want/need an alignment, just say it pulls one way or another.

Hi all, I adjusted my T-bar 2-1/2 turns (clockwise). Very easy , Floor jack under front end crossmember, Get front tires off the ground. Mark the adjustment bolt located under driver and passen. seat area (under truck) I used a Sharpie and marked bolt and surrounding metal with a line. 2-1/2 turns is a inch and a quarter lift. Its not quite level but the stinkbug look is gone now. Put it on my buddies rack and checked front end. Didnt even bother adjusting anything. Very slight diff. My ProComps 315/75R/16's (35's) fit with a slight rub on sway bar on full right wheel lock. Heres some pics of how it looks now. Dark night shot is a buddies rig with stock 31's. Sorry about the shot , but you can see the difference kinda. Hope this helps.... See ya


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so you have 35 on there how does the truck run in power

I have to say I dont like how they look with the 35s, way too big for my taste :) ...... I wouldn't mind putting on some chromes and low profile tires on mine :D

quote:

ORIGINAL: StarsnBars

Hi all, I adjusted my T-bar 2-1/2 turns (clockwise). Very easy , Floor jack under front end crossmember, Get front tires off the ground. Mark the adjustment bolt located under driver and passen. seat area (under truck) I used a Sharpie and marked bolt and surrounding metal with a line. 2-1/2 turns is a inch and a quarter lift. Its not quite level but the stinkbug look is gone now. Put it on my buddies rack and checked front end. Didnt even bother adjusting anything. Very slight diff. My ProComps 315/75R/16's (35's) fit with a slight rub on sway bar on full right wheel lock. Heres some pics of how it looks now. Dark night shot is a buddies rig with stock 31's. Sorry about the shot , but you can see the difference kinda. Hope this helps.... See ya

Nice looking rig..Those skins are monsters though, I'd see why you had to jack it a bit..Like Dilio, does it affect the ride and power pull much?...What else have you done to it in the way of power ehancement?

Didnt really notice a difference in take off but I dont mash it much. I put a Magnaflow exhaust on it but no air intake upgrade yet. Heres a couple more pics. Factory 33's next to the new 35's

The tires are much wider they fit the factory rims ok
looks like those mud flap will do you no good now

Yea, the rims were no problem, and yes the mud flaps pretty much dont do much. They deflect alittle. Im looking for some fender flares. I called Bushwacker a couple times and they said they dont have anything in the works for the H3. Ill tell ya those Extreme's really do a job in the snow and off road. Did a trout fishing trip a week ago and got into some pretty extreme wheelin. The H3 is truly amazing. Kinda forgot why I went fishing. It was mostly workin the trails and seeing how dirty I could get my rig.

i think my next project will be the 35 i glad the fit the factoy rims

Can you still mount the spare tire on the back? Does anyone make a 34" tire and how would that work on a stock suspension H3? I think BFG makes a 295-75-65 and that should be a 34" right?

I really want to turn my torsion bar like you did.But all the 4 wheel drive shops aroundhere in dallas ftworth say DONT DO IT.They all say it will be a rough ride and ride very bad.they are not tring to sell me a lift or leveling kit instead of this. they all say it will wear tires bad and quick and i will regret it later.what do you think is it a rougher ride then before you did it ? matbe just a little? bit or lot ?do you still have the turning radius that you had ? you know these h 3 really turn around sharp on a 180 turn.any one else tried it yet ? what to do to do or not to do ?i really dont want to spend the 499 on a leveling kit or the 3000 on a 4 inch lift help from any one else who has tried this thanks.

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ORIGINAL: nascar 17

I really want to turn my torsion bar like you did.But all the 4 wheel drive shops aroundhere in dallas ftworth say DONT DO IT.They all say it will be a rough ride and ride very bad.they are not tring to sell me a lift or leveling kit instead of this. they all say it will wear tires bad and quick and i will regret it later.what do you think is it a rougher ride then before you did it ? matbe just a little? bit or lot ?do you still have the turning radius that you had ? you know these h 3 really turn around sharp on a 180 turn.any one else tried it yet ? what to do to do or not to do ?i really dont want to spend the 499 on a leveling kit or the 3000 on a 4 inch lift help from any one else who has tried this thanks.

I think I also agree..Like a I posted in another thread....if GM intended for the Butt to be raised like a cat in heat..well so be it..Besides that means you'd have to realign the headlights and stuff..

quote:

ORIGINAL: nascar 17

I really want to turn my torsion bar like you did.But all the 4 wheel drive shops aroundhere in dallas ftworth say DONT DO IT.They all say it will be a rough ride and ride very bad.they are not tring to sell me a lift or leveling kit instead of this. they all say it will wear tires bad and quick and i will regret it later.what do you think is it a rougher ride then before you did it ? matbe just a little? bit or lot ?do you still have the turning radius that you had ? you know these h 3 really turn around sharp on a 180 turn.any one else tried it yet ? what to do to do or not to do ?i really dont want to spend the 499 on a leveling kit or the 3000 on a 4 inch lift help from any one else who has tried this thanks.

LEVELING KIT IS $160 and if you have some one do it with the alignment and they do the headlight $120. I think it worth it, it rides a little harder but not much i had it for 6 month now tires are fine but it depend on what you like i knew just like a lift kit it will ride a little harder you get use to it. They do sell a leveling kit with a add a leaf to give it that slant look to put bigger tires on but it not level but a lot of people like that look.