Sagging Front Suspension, Recrank Torsion Bars?

[Nd4SpdSe]

I've kind of noticed last year that it seemed that the front end seemed lower last year, but thought I was crazy, and maybe it was the uneven parking. Looking at the truck, I think the front end looks lower again, and if and when my new 33's decide to come in, I don't know if it'll clear. I actually can't tell that I have a body lift. It may be as simple as cranking the torsion bars? Those parts are about 3 years old, so his is normal that over time they need to get recranked? After only 3 years? Is that normal? TIs there also the possibility that If it skipped a tooth on any of the anchors? How could/would I tell? I saw what happens at AW 2 years ago at BobC, so I take it it would be all or nothing, rather then just skipping a few teeth?

[Snafu]

I never noticed on the Fronty but I would expect some sag over years but not in 3 years. I did have one bar snap out of the blue just sitting in the driveway. I never heard a thing I just noticed the one corner really far down. It had to be trailered to the shop for the repair (the fronty had relatively new torsion bars if you still have them and can swap them out). The truck was about 10 years old and 300k when it happened.

I cannot see it skipping a tooth without stripping and then you would have little suspension. Check the adjuster and see if it looks okay. Maybe it rusted a few threads and slipped down(?).

[Morpheus]

Ya, it's a splined shaft, it it skipped a tooth, it would have to strip most of the teeth out for it to move, and wouldn't just skip 1 tooth.

I've had to adjust mine a couple times over the last few years, and I don't drive it as a daily driver.

I think it depends on what kind of driving, lots of off road bumps will probably make them sag quicker, than if it's mainly road driving.

As long as you don't have to re-index them, it's a simple process, then do an alignment afterwards.

[Nd4SpdSe]

Good to know that regular adjustments aren't abnormal. She is a DD and I do drive her pretty hard, and Quebec roads aren't the smoothest...

Torsion bars are no longer original. We swapped them out with we did my lift. They're red, ordered them from 4x4parts, I want to say they're there Sway-A-Way?

[Jayman]

Yup, Red one from AC are Sway-away...

[Snafu]

I did not think they would skip without stripping the teeth. If it has stripped then is it likely to go all together (i.e., provide no suspension)?

For reference Michel, when my bar snapped I don't think I could get my hand (held flat) between the tire and fender. So it looks like you have some suspension left. I had a pic linked from FB but it appears the bastards deleted it on me (screw you FB!)

[the x kid]

I had sway aways and one side slipped threw and there was virtually no teeth left. Had to get new holder for the T-bar. Then I changed the other side because I was paranoid about that one. Morphy told me to replace all those little parts before I did this part of my lift. Did I listen, nooooo. Had to limp off the trail. Sucked.

[Nd4SpdSe]

I think Peter Lush had a tbar go on his Xterra?

[Scotto]

Just tighten it up Mike. No big deal. It just settled in a bit more. I do mine a little every year. Sometimes up. Sometimes down.


Sent from my iThingy.

[Nd4SpdSe]

Sometimes down?

[Scotto]

Yup. A couple years back the front actually went up. Had to lower it.


Sent from my iThingy.

[Nd4SpdSe]

Well brought the truck in and they're saying that the torsion bars have skipped a tooth or two....so I'll need new anchors...

[Simon]

Michel, I really don't think this is possible. When the torsion bar slips in the anchor, ALL teeth are ruined simultaneously, and the truck then rests on the bump stops. This isn't like a flywheel or something where only a small portion of the teeth are engaged. Is yours suspension dropped all the way down? If it's not riding in the bump stops, I'd suggest they're full of crap.

[Nd4SpdSe]

I'm not riding on bump stops, and the only harm I'm doing is maybe wearing out the inside of the tires prematurely because of the misalignment, but it's not that bad, and those tires are just to get me out of a jam anyway

Of course this has been in my mind for over a month and a half now, and honestly, I don't think you're wrong, I think, but I feel stuck that I don't know what to think....but I know plenty of guys here that ran/run the Pathy and the X, have plenty of experience with the torsion bars...

But with that, I've been testing it, and if it indeed was possible, I should of collapsed the front end completely. I've gotten and jumped around on the brush guard, I jump curbs and hit speed bumps hard, and if they were right, IF the anchors were worn or wearing that they skipped a tooth or two, I should of gotten it to happen and get the front end to drop completely by now. My only theory against that it's the tension of the torsion bars being cranked up higher that would cause it to skip, and since they've sagged, there's less tension on the bars and the anchors, but doesn't make sense. Shaking up the front end should be way more force than the torsion bars being cranked up.

Maybe I'll wait it out, I'll keep the parts on hand and being them to AW anyway. I don't plan on running the hard trails because of the tires, but IF it collapses while up there, which would be my luck if that is the case, then we could technically fix it up there. I'd hate to impose if it happens, especially if it's "preventative", but in you guys experience, there's more of a chance that they're pulling me leg then you guys being wrong...I'll have you guys expertise when you see the truck at AW, and I'll be heading down to Niagara after anyway after, where I can leave her with my trusty mechanic to make sure everything is okey day.

[Snafu]

Like Simon, I am not sure how it can skip a tooth (see post 2). Perhaps the torsion is 'weakening' and tightening them up like Scott suggested is all you need.

Just a thought (from the other voice...so not sure if it helps or hinders), do both bars sound similar when tapped with a hammer? If under the same tension they should sound similar. That's the thinking anyways.

[Nd4SpdSe]

It should sound the different, the drivers side has sagged more then the passenger, but in the end, the whole front needs to go up.

[Morpheus]

I have a pair of torsion bars stashed in the RV if it turns out you need a set at AW