Torsion keys
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Cargo Master
Joined: Aug 2009
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From: Olathe
Torsion keys
I moving up to a 285/75/R16 tire and was looking at Torsion keys and had a few questions.
How much should I expect to pay?
Who are the respectable makers?
Is this something I could get on ebay?
Do I even need this to lift the front 2 inches?
How much should I expect to pay?
Who are the respectable makers?
Is this something I could get on ebay?
Do I even need this to lift the front 2 inches?
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 433
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From: dayton texas
how else is he gona get the two inches of lift? crank the torsion bars and wear the crap out of the ball joints. you can get two inches out of a key and they usually run about 100-250 depending on the brand. i dont recomend installing them your self unless you have the proper tools and knowledge. the torsion bar are under alot of pressure and can hurt real bad.
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Cargo Master
Joined: Aug 2009
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From: Olathe
how else is he gona get the two inches of lift? crank the torsion bars and wear the crap out of the ball joints. you can get two inches out of a key and they usually run about 100-250 depending on the brand. i dont recomend installing them your self unless you have the proper tools and knowledge. the torsion bar are under alot of pressure and can hurt real bad.
I was poking around ebay motors last night and came across these TRUXXX 1997-2003 Ford F150 Lift Kit Torsion Keys: eBay Motors (item 150501759186 end time Oct-10-10 01:27:54 PDT)
They're made by TRUXXX and are $43.00 which is easily $100-$125 cheaper then the keys I have seen elsewhere on the net so I'm questioning whether or not they are legit.
Junior User
Joined: Apr 2009
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From: Oklahoma
How does using keys affect how the balljoints wear? How is it any different than stock keys for just 2 inches? Cranking the stock keys to two inches or cranking aftermarket keys to get two inches do the same thing. They put the same amount of preload on the bars and effect the front end just the same. Keys just allow you to put more preload on the bars and lift way too far. So i think if you're just going 2 inches its a waste of money. And i really don't think you should go any higher than 2ish inches by cranking the bars.
Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2005
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stock keys will get close to 2 inches, maybe not quite that much. Alex is right, i would not go more than that or your asking for additional wear. Crank the stock keys to the limit and be happy. --- and its not the preload or "excess loading" your putting on the ball joints, it is the miss allignment by lifting the truck and leaving the tires on the ground. may effect the axle CV joints also.
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Cargo Master
Joined: Aug 2009
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From: Olathe
stock keys will get close to 2 inches, maybe not quite that much. Alex is right, i would not go more than that or your asking for additional wear. Crank the stock keys to the limit and be happy. --- and its not the preload or "excess loading" your putting on the ball joints, it is the miss allignment by lifting the truck and leaving the tires on the ground. may effect the axle CV joints also.
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Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2005
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the CV joints, and ball joints were designed to work at a given angle of degree offset. as you raise the truck with the wheels still on the ground, the axle shaft angle will increase and the tires will lean out at the top changing the caster- camber angles. THis may not NECESSARILY put you out of spec or make the parts wear faster, but is surely will not make things better. Im just saying if the parts start to wear faster or you get some binding or clunking in the CV joints, you will know why. I jacked mine up 1.5 inches to get the front end level with the back which was higher from the factory. I checked alilgnment AT HOME and no alignment was necessary for that lift.
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From: dayton texas
The keys are indexed differently so that the torsion bar gets twisted more which gives you the lift. There are 2 reasons for using the aftermarket keys instead of cranking up the stock keys - 1: you can get more lift using the re-indexed aftermarket keys and 2:With the aftermarket keys, your adjuster bolt wont't be bottomed out which will allow more wheel travel resulting in a better ride.
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Cargo Master
Joined: Aug 2009
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From: Olathe
The keys are indexed differently so that the torsion bar gets twisted more which gives you the lift. There are 2 reasons for using the aftermarket keys instead of cranking up the stock keys - 1: you can get more lift using the re-indexed aftermarket keys and 2:With the aftermarket keys, your adjuster bolt wont't be bottomed out which will allow more wheel travel resulting in a better ride.
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