RE: Leveling kit VS. Torsion bar adjustment

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RE: Leveling kit VS. Torsion bar adjustment

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RE: Leveling kit VS. Torsion bar adjustment - 12/11/2006 6:37:15 PM

fisherman119

Posts: 98
Joined: 8/20/2006
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Remember its a truck. When you tow or haul something the rear comes down. Now you have a level ride.

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RE: Leveling kit VS. Torsion bar adjustment - 12/11/2006 8:02:20 PM

Smokin Joe

Posts: 9
Joined: 10/25/2006
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I don't tow or haul anything with my H2. I have a 1 ton dually for that! That's why I want it to sit level all the time.

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RE: Leveling kit VS. Torsion bar adjustment - 12/11/2006 8:35:28 PM

07HummerH3

Posts: 331
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quote:

ORIGINAL: H3_Hummer

I have a question on turning the torsion bars? Why don't they come from the factory turned up?

I know that a torsion bar adjustment is meant to be adjusted when the front end starts to sag after a few years of use and that is why there is adjustment. To adjust more than normal Factory specs to me is asking for problems later. Just my .02.

I'm in your camp regarding this. There is too much "torsion" that is being applied to the bars when they are all cranked up. For me, the Truxxx (or similar) was the only option. Ride, handling, etc all remain exactly like factory set up....but now I'm level.

< Message edited by 07HummerH3 -- 12/11/2006 8:36:34 PM >

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07 H3: Slate Blue Metallic(a) w/ Tan interior, Lux & Adv Pkgs, 35" MTZ's, Gibson SS Split Rear Exhaust, TrueFlow CAI, Truxxx Lift, Nav System, Monsoon Stereo/CD, SIRIUS, Sunroof, Chrome Brush Guard, Chrome Mini-Grille, Tow Pkg, Silverstars, Roof Rails

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RE: Leveling kit VS. Torsion bar adjustment - 12/11/2006 10:28:26 PM

importkiller

Posts: 7254
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quote:

ORIGINAL: H3_Hummer

I have a question on turning the torsion bars? Why don't they come from the factory turned up?

I know that a torsion bar adjustment is meant to be adjusted when the front end starts to sag after a few years of use and that is why there is adjustment. To adjust more than normal Factory specs to me is asking for problems later. Just my .02.

There are alot of options as to why you would normally need to adj the tortion, which is why gm sets them low to allow for room as individual situations dictate. For one, if you have a push bar and a big azz winch up front, more than likely your front end is going to dip lower than a stock base model with no hardware hanging off the front end, so you will have to adj. up in order to compansate. Actually the re-adjusted keys change the stock geometry by lowering the position of the bar, wher as cranking them retain the stock location. Basically turning the t-bar is like putting a bigger rubber spacer in a solid axle spring to achieve lift. Remember guys, the t-bar is nothing more than a spring tube (lack of a better term) if you stay under 6 cranks or so you will not make the ride any harsher at all and if you go 6 cranks plus then you'll need to replace the bumpstops with a ultra thin model to allow more flex. You could also change the stock t-bars for ones that are stiffer and achieve lift that way as well....just cause your changing GM's stock setting means nothing in regards to running into trouble later...if adjusting them was a bad thing dealerships wouldn't do it and GM would of designed it with no adj in them.

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RE: Leveling kit VS. Torsion bar adjustment - 12/12/2006 6:04:58 AM

H3_Hummer

Posts: 145
Joined: 9/15/2006
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quote:

ORIGINAL: importkiller

There are alot of options as to why you would normally need to adj the tortion, which is why gm sets them low to allow for room as individual situations dictate. For one, if you have a push bar and a big azz winch up front, more than likely your front end is going to dip lower than a stock base model with no hardware hanging off the front end, so you will have to adj. up in order to compansate. Actually the re-adjusted keys change the stock geometry by lowering the position of the bar, wher as cranking them retain the stock location. Basically turning the t-bar is like putting a bigger rubber spacer in a solid axle spring to achieve lift. Remember guys, the t-bar is nothing more than a spring tube (lack of a better term) if you stay under 6 cranks or so you will not make the ride any harsher at all and if you go 6 cranks plus then you'll need to replace the bumpstops with a ultra thin model to allow more flex. You could also change the stock t-bars for ones that are stiffer and achieve lift that way as well....just cause your changing GM's stock setting means nothing in regards to running into trouble later...if adjusting them was a bad thing dealerships wouldn't do it and GM would of designed it with no adj in them.

Again, they are made to adjust (and the reason GM makes them to adjust) is when they sag. I have a pushbar on mine and it sits as high as one without. The front end, if adjusting the torsion bars, needs a longer set of shocks (due to the longer travel it will have), but if only adjusted when the front end needs it, doesn't need longer shocks because you are only adjusting to stock again. I wouldn't do it even if the dealer adjusts them. I would much rather buy the Truxx kit and gain the level as the kit was designed. Not trying to sway anyone here, just stating what I would do. If you have done it, hope it works out for you without any problems down the road. meaning premature wear of the front end.

< Message edited by H3_Hummer -- 12/12/2006 6:19:02 AM >

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RE: Leveling kit VS. Torsion bar adjustment - 12/12/2006 12:38:23 PM

Linus Gump

Posts: 960
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There won't be any premature wear of the front end components because all you are doing is changing the normal ride position within the range of suspension travel. None of the parts are being manipulated to operate outside of thier design parameters. Reguardless of the lift method, lifting keys or turning the adjusters, they all just relocate the ride hieght. About the only way to gain lift without changining any of the factory settings to your suspension is to cut it off the vehicle and physically put space between it and the vehicle. This is expensive, and typically causes steering problems. It also negates the purpose of a lift because you still have huge parts hanging way down low to get hung up, or bashed into stuff.

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Post #: 21

RE: Leveling kit VS. Torsion bar adjustment - 12/12/2006 2:58:47 PM

importkiller

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Honestly guys, do whatever you feel comfortable with...knowing and having worked on trucks for half my life I know that turning the t-bars will not cause any premature wear (as long as it's kept within reason) Shocks will not bottom out because they too are made with more limit than needed stock, I (and alot of others) have hit some hard trails since doing the t-bar lift and have never had our shocks bottom out. I'll throw on a set of rancho's next spring anyway but just because I don't like the feel of the stockers, not for any other reason.

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RE: Leveling kit VS. Torsion bar adjustment - 12/12/2006 3:22:08 PM

Barry Weeks

Posts: 13
Joined: 7/31/2006
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I cranked mine 2 1/2 turns and when the alignment was checked, it was out quite a bit
For what it's worth

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Post #: 23

RE: Leveling kit VS. Torsion bar adjustment - 12/12/2006 3:26:05 PM

importkiller

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alignment could go out after cranking it ...absolutely! Alignment should be done after anything in the suspension is changed.

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RE: Leveling kit VS. Torsion bar adjustment - 12/12/2006 6:53:41 PM

Smokin Joe

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Joined: 10/25/2006
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Well, I cranked on my H2's torsion bars and boy was I disappointed. I only got 4 full turns on the passenger side before the bolt bottomed out (not even 1"). 1 turn equals .2" on the H2. I had already turned the drivers side 6 turns. It looked pretty good. I was so pissed I put it back to stock.

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Post #: 25

RE: Leveling kit VS. Torsion bar adjustment - 12/12/2006 9:31:26 PM

importkiller

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Thats strange.....is it an older h2 with higher mileage? If so your t-bars could be worn out, not likely but it is possible.

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RE: Leveling kit VS. Torsion bar adjustment - 12/12/2006 9:47:53 PM

Smokin Joe

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Joined: 10/25/2006
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It's brand new with 500 miles on it. The passenger side turned 4 times then bottomed out and the drivers side turned 6 times with more turns left.

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2006 H2, Black, LUX Series
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Toy pics below:
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Post #: 27

RE: Leveling kit VS. Torsion bar adjustment - 12/12/2006 11:21:32 PM

importkiller

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I never worked on an h2 before so it's kind of hard to speculate, are you sure you ran out of threads or did it just get so hard to turn that you thought it was at the end? Did you jack the front up before doing it? Maybe an h2 owner can pipe in here to help ya, if you didn't do it already post the problem on the h2 board...there are a few h2 guys there that aren't cool enough to post here....j/k. but there are guys there that won't see this here.

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RE: Leveling kit VS. Torsion bar adjustment - 12/13/2006 12:11:40 AM

Fireman

Posts: 514
Joined: 7/16/2006
From: Home of the Alamo
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quote:

ORIGINAL: importkiller

Thats strange.....is it an older h2 with higher mileage? If so your t-bars could be worn out, not likely but it is possible.

It's very possible that the t-bar could have settled. It al depends on many factors. How it was driven etc.. or it could just be a weak t-bar. I have heard of that on older IFS trucks.

Right now my t-bars are cranked only about 2 1/2 turns. I'm still not sure if I'll leave it like that or re-index them. But I think if we keep the H3 long term (it may end up being my 9 yo's first ride if she wants it when she turns 16) then I'll probably do a solid axle swap after it's out of warranty.

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RE: Leveling kit VS. Torsion bar adjustment - 12/13/2006 12:28:55 AM

importkiller

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thats what I was thinking too, but he said it is brand new with only 500 miles,unless he got a weak one from the factory.

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Post #: 30