Author Topic: Torsion Key Help (Read 3166 times)

Freebie · « **on:** February 25, 2008, 04:22:12 PM »

I have been looking into lifting the front end of the Av up to match the rear, and I know this can be accomplished by messing with the torsion keys. I know I have read that you can put f@rd keys on and lift it 3 or so inches, and that there are also other aftermarket keys out there. Does anyone have just the front end lifted? Is there any advantage/disadvantage to any method or product?

KY_BOB · « **Reply #1 on:** February 25, 2008, 04:27:31 PM »

The F@rd keys are just cheaper than the aftermarket keys. They will do the same thing.

Have you looked at the amount of adjustment in your stock keys? Some have quite a bit of room to turn them up. Others have very little adjustment. My stock keys are turned up about 1.25".

bluedevil · « **Reply #2 on:** February 25, 2008, 04:31:58 PM »

Just know that the higher you raise the front (with just keys) the less suspension travel you will have and possibly the worse the ride becomes.

I dont know how many turns will it take. .......................You better off uysing Ford keys.

http://fordpartsonline.com/

PN# XL3Z-5B328-CA (you'll want to verify that).

Freebie · « **Reply #3 on:** February 25, 2008, 04:36:47 PM »

I haven't looked at mine to see how much they have been turned... wouldn't even know where to look, honestly

I was thinking about going with the ford keys and then getting an alignment

bluedevil · « **Reply #4 on:** February 25, 2008, 04:40:09 PM »

Quote from: Freebie on February 25, 2008, 04:36:47 PM

I haven't looked at mine to see how much they have been turned... wouldn't even know where to look, honestly I was thinking about going with the ford keys and then getting an alignment

Sunburst05 has them.

Freebie · « **Reply #5 on:** February 25, 2008, 04:42:12 PM »

Oh ok... he has a sharp Av!

KY_BOB · « **Reply #6 on:** February 25, 2008, 04:43:59 PM »

Quote from: Freebie on February 25, 2008, 04:36:47 PM

I haven't looked at mine to see how much they have been turned... wouldn't even know where to look, honestly I was thinking about going with the ford keys and then getting an alignment

The adjusters are about midway of the front doors just inside of the frame. I'm thinking they are 15mm bolts but it's been years since mine.

bluedevil · « **Reply #7 on:** February 25, 2008, 04:47:59 PM »

TORSION BARS EXPLAINED:

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/271895/6

Freebie · « **Reply #8 on:** February 25, 2008, 04:51:15 PM »

Very nice, will have to sit down and read all about it... thanks guys!

Freebie · « **Reply #9 on:** April 08, 2008, 05:22:07 PM »

When I was at the dealership today signing some paperwork on the Grand Am I was talking to my favorite Mr. Goodwrench (my stepdad

) about how I wanted to get some f@rd keys since I needed an alignment anyways when the guy that works next to him (who just happens to do all the alignments) wanders over and offers to crank up the stock keys and align it to see if I like the ride! We checked out the bar and there is a lot of room in the bolt to be turned, and if I don't like it I can get some different keys down the road. Hopefully he gets a minute next week so we can get it in there and crank it up! I will let y'all know if the ride gets much worse, and whether or not I go with the other keys...

Z66 Butch · « **Reply #10 on:** April 08, 2008, 09:43:35 PM »

Quote from: Freebie on April 08, 2008, 05:22:07 PM

When I was at the dealership today signing some paperwork on the Grand Am I was talking to my favorite Mr. Goodwrench (my stepdad ) about how I wanted to get some f@rd keys since I needed an alignment anyways when the guy that works next to him (who just happens to do all the alignments) wanders over and offers to crank up the stock keys and align it to see if I like the ride! We checked out the bar and there is a lot of room in the bolt to be turned, and if I don't like it I can get some different keys down the road. Hopefully he gets a minute next week so we can get it in there and crank it up! I will let y'all know if the ride gets much worse, and whether or not I go with the other keys...

The ride will not change much between cranking your stock keys and installing Ford keys. The Ford keys are just indexed differently and cranking the stock keys rotates that hex to closely match the indexing of The Ford

keys. It will ride firmer in the front and may be harder on any 4 wheel drive conponents........The BEST article that I have read is here:

http://www.offroad-tech.com/tech/tb401/

Yes, I had Ford keys at one time.......

Butch

Z66 Butch · « **Reply #11 on:** April 08, 2008, 09:51:10 PM »

Personally I think you would be happier if you would drop the rear end to match the front. You can buy 2" to 3" drop springs and install them yourself with very little work. Unless you have the self leveling shocks you do not even need to change shocks!

Butch

oHIobellboy · « **Reply #12 on:** April 09, 2008, 06:01:45 AM »

Quote from: Z66 Butch on April 08, 2008, 09:51:10 PM

Personally I think you would be happier if you would drop the rear end to match the front. You can buy 2" to 3" drop springs and install them yourself with very little work. Unless you have the self leveling shocks you do not even need to change shocks!

Butch

I looked into this as well. springs where less than $200 at Summit.

Flint 4X4 · « **Reply #13 on:** April 09, 2008, 07:25:36 AM »

Personally I like the rake and will only level mine if/when I lift it.

Sounds like a plan to turn the stock keys some since they have some play and you need an alignment.
The stock settings must depend on what shocks and springs, some people's keys come turned most the way out ?

Fowlhunter · « **Reply #14 on:** April 09, 2008, 08:50:12 AM »

Quote from: Freebie on February 25, 2008, 04:22:12 PM

I have been looking into lifting the front end of the Av up to match the rear, and I know this can be accomplished by messing with the torsion keys. I know I have read that you can put f@rd keys on and lift it 3 or so inches, and that there are also other aftermarket keys out there. Does anyone have just the front end lifted? Is there any advantage/disadvantage to any method or product?

I would reccommend the F@rd torsion bar adjusters (keys). I wouldn't try to get 3" out of them, you will loose some travel. I added the F@rd keys to mine, It's not that bad of a job. I also just put a set in my buddies Silvy. Keep in mind you should replace the shocks as well with longer ones, If you still have the original Bilsteins and you crank on the keys you may over extend the stock shocks and have problems. I gained about 2-1/4" in the front (with the F@rd keys) and added 1-1/2" coil spring spacers in the rear with new (longer) shocks at all corners. I also went with a 285 BFG, the ride is much better (more like a truck) than the factory ride!! The way my Av sits I have about a 1/2" from the bottom of the upper control arm to the stop. If you haul anything at all or tow anything I wouldn't lower the rear of your Av.

Good luck, if you need anything else please let me know. I can get you P/N's for the shocks (KYB)I used if need be.

FH

Freebie · « **Reply #15 on:** April 09, 2008, 01:14:03 PM »

Thanks for the info all... and I am with Flint, the truck is only going higher

I am just looking to reduce the rake a bit for now, eventually I would like to lift it. I also am going to get a little bigger tires once these ones wear out, but they put brand new ones on before I bought it, only about 7,000 miles ago. So I am thinking basically I should look at new front shocks no matter what, and then possibly at getting the f@rd keys?

Fowlhunter · « **Reply #16 on:** April 10, 2008, 07:31:46 AM »

Quote from: Freebie on April 09, 2008, 01:14:03 PM

Thanks for the info all... and I am with Flint, the truck is only going higher I am just looking to reduce the rake a bit for now, eventually I would like to lift it. I also am going to get a little bigger tires once these ones wear out, but they put brand new ones on before I bought it, only about 7,000 miles ago. So I am thinking basically I should look at new front shocks no matter what, and then possibly at getting the f@rd keys?

Good luck Freebie!

Flint 4X4 · « **Reply #17 on:** April 10, 2008, 08:12:24 AM »

Freebie, we're sort of in the same boat. My BFGs have 16,000 miles on them, I'd like to go up 3-4" suspension lift. That way I could always do a 3" body lift and get even bigger tires.

I'm cheap, I have a perfectly good rubber & shocks right now. The ole lady might need a ladder

Fowlhunter · « **Reply #18 on:** April 10, 2008, 12:40:25 PM »

Quote from: Flint 4X4 on April 10, 2008, 08:12:24 AM

Freebie, we're sort of in the same boat. My BFGs have 16,000 miles on them, I'd like to go up 3-4" suspension lift. That way I could always do a 3" body lift and get even bigger tires. I'm cheap, I have a perfectly good rubber & shocks right now. The ole lady might need a ladder

What does a 4" suspension lift cost, $1500.00?? I would love to go that route but that is expensive. Don't forget to add the aftermarket wheels with the correct back spacing and 33-35" new rubber. Ouch!

Flint 4X4 · « **Reply #19 on:** April 10, 2008, 01:35:11 PM »

Quote from: Fowlhunter on April 10, 2008, 12:40:25 PM

Don't forget to add the aftermarket wheels with the correct back spacing and 33-35" new rubber. Ouch!

I have 16x8 AR Mojave teflon wheels, not sure what size rubber I can squeeze on them. I'm sure I can find bigger wheels I can paint black cheap, if I go much bigger than stock wheels I'm going to spend more money on brake upgrades first.

Fowlhunter · « **Reply #20 on:** April 10, 2008, 04:03:20 PM »

Quote from: Flint 4X4 on April 10, 2008, 01:35:11 PM

If I go much bigger than stock wheels I'm going to spend more money on brake upgrades first.

Very true on the brakes, what about gears to get the bigger tires rolling??

Flint 4X4 · « **Reply #21 on:** April 10, 2008, 05:39:12 PM »

Quote from: Fowlhunter on April 10, 2008, 04:03:20 PM

Very true on the brakes, what about gears to get the bigger tires rolling??

I never said I was on a budget, I said I was cheap

Just because Freebie and I would like to make our trucks monsters,...

I guess you can rule us out as far as trailer queens

Fowlhunter · « **Reply #22 on:** April 11, 2008, 07:39:23 AM »

Quote from: Flint 4X4 on April 10, 2008, 05:39:12 PM

I never said I was on a budget, I said I was cheap

Just because Freebie and I would like to make our trucks monsters,...

I guess you can rule us out as far as trailer queens

Me too, I'm definitely not a trailer queen or pavement princess.

Flint 4X4 · « **Reply #23 on:** April 11, 2008, 08:40:57 AM »

~~pavement princess~~

Memorial Day weekend June 2001 two days after I took delivery of my first Avalanche I was up north on a two track in the Huron National Forest, swimming in the Au Sable River and sitting on my new leather seats in wet cut-off blue jeans. Why would I buy a cladded street truck ?

On topic; if you need tires, shocks or an alignment it's a good time to mess with your torsion keys first.
If you plan/hope to lift it later do it cheap as possible now, don't spend alot on stuff you want to replace.

Fowlhunter · « **Reply #24 on:** April 11, 2008, 12:31:57 PM »

Quote from: Flint 4X4 on April 11, 2008, 08:40:57 AM

~~pavement princess~~

Memorial Day weekend June 2001 two days after I took delivery of my first Avalanche I was up north on a two track in the Huron National Forest, swimming in the Au Sable River and sitting on my new leather seats in wet cut-off blue jeans. Why would I buy a cladded street truck ?

On topic; if you need tires, shocks or an alignment it's a good time to mess with your torsion keys first.
If you plan/hope to lift it later do it cheap as possible now, don't spend alot on stuff you want to replace.

I was in my boat on the Mississippi river once when the rain came, needless to say I was soaked when I got on my leather seats. I kind of puckered at first and thought, what the hell.

I don't need tires, I just put new BFG 285's on after I did the Furd keys, rear coil spring spacers and new shocks all around. I would love to go with a 4" kit someday.