How to lower your GMT-800 torsion bar sprung truck cheaply.

[Bigredmariner]

Two things:

First, I assume the process is the same for raising the front...just tighten the T-Bars rather than loosen?

Second, why 8 turns of the T-Bar screw? Is that just a number you pulled out of the air, or does is there some significance to 8 turns?

Just a number I pulled out of my ass. It did however give me the desired 2" of drop. Go figure right?

 

[Z71_Silvy]

Two things:

First, I assume the process is the same for raising the front...just tighten the T-Bars rather than loosen?

Second, why 8 turns of the T-Bar screw? Is that just a number you pulled out of the air, or does is there some significance to 8 turns?

Just a number I pulled out of my ass. It did however give me the desired 2" of drop. Go figure right?

Really??

Wow...I'm impressed. I plan on getting new tires before next winter (not that I really drive my truck in the winter...). I want to crank the T-bars at that time.

When you say 8 cranks, is that a 1/4 turn, 1/2 turn, or 1 full turn?

 

[drperry]

Two things:

First, I assume the process is the same for raising the front...just tighten the T-Bars rather than loosen?

Second, why 8 turns of the T-Bar screw? Is that just a number you pulled out of the air, or does is there some significance to 8 turns?

That's correct... Tighten them to rasie loosen to lower.

I wonder if different tortion keys would work for lowering as well as raising?

 

[Bigredmariner]

Two things:

First, I assume the process is the same for raising the front...just tighten the T-Bars rather than loosen?

Second, why 8 turns of the T-Bar screw? Is that just a number you pulled out of the air, or does is there some significance to 8 turns?

Just a number I pulled out of my ass. It did however give me the desired 2" of drop. Go figure right?

Really??

Wow...I'm impressed. I plan on getting new tires before next winter (not that I really drive my truck in the winter...). I want to crank the T-bars at that time.

When you say 8 cranks, is that a 1/4 turn, 1/2 turn, or 1 full turn?

8 cranks, I do mean 8 full turns.

 

[Z71_Silvy]

8 cranks, I do mean 8 full turns.

I figured.....but wanted to make absolute sure...

 

[Bigredmariner]

I wonder if different tortion keys would work for lowering as well as raising?

Yes different keys would achieve the same thing. I did it this way to see if I liked it and new keys are around $150. So I was being a tight ass on this deal and still leaving myself an out if I didn't like the outcome.

 

[Z71_Silvy]

I wonder if different tortion keys would work for lowering as well as raising?

Yes different keys would achieve the same thing. I did it this way to see if I liked it and new keys are around $150. So I was being a tight ass on this deal and still leaving myself an out if I didn't like the outcome.

Not to mention...everything I've read says that new keys are un-necessary...or really offer no benefit over cranking the stock ones...

 

[Bigredmariner]

I wonder if different tortion keys would work for lowering as well as raising?

Yes different keys would achieve the same thing. I did it this way to see if I liked it and new keys are around $150. So I was being a tight ass on this deal and still leaving myself an out if I didn't like the outcome.

Not to mention...everything I've read says that new keys are un-necessary...or really offer no benefit over cranking the stock ones...

There is that element of it also. Like I said I just took a chance and had read of others who did it this way. I was unsure on how many turns it would take so I marked the bolt heads and guessed. You can read almost too many things about a certain procedure. All with pros and cons and all valid to some degree or another. This was just my way of doing it and is in no means supported or endorsed by GM.

 

[drperry]

I wonder if different tortion keys would work for lowering as well as raising?

Yes different keys would achieve the same thing. I did it this way to see if I liked it and new keys are around $150. So I was being a tight ass on this deal and still leaving myself an out if I didn't like the outcome.

Not to mention...everything I've read says that new keys are un-necessary...or really offer no benefit over cranking the stock ones...

I know lifters use different keys to get more crank out of them... Was wondering if maybe there was something to keep the stock stiffness with the lowered stance...

Got any handling updates JRod?

 

[Bigredmariner]

I know lifters use different keys to get more crank out of them... Was wondering if maybe there was something to keep the stock stiffness with the lowered stance...

Got any handling updates JRod?

Haven't really gone too far with it. Only about 400 miles since dropping the front. I really can't tell that much difference at this point.