i hear a lot of people talk about cranking torsion bars and it will give you more clearance but i dont really know what these are so i have a few questions if you guys would please answer them.
1. What are these
2. What do they do
3. Are they easy to crank
4. How much clearence can they give you
5. What are the UPs and Downs to doing this.

Thnx for the help im really new at this

 

This should help you with a couple of the questions my friend.

 

Hey,

<96 Runner> posted a great link, but though I'd add these pics so you can better understand where they are located. Green arrow points to the torsion bar.

They go from the upper A-arm (I think that's what that is called), under the cab, and to some mounting points under the front seats.






Well, hope that helps. I think you can get about an inch or so from cranking them. Maybe a harsher ride. I'm no pro at this, so others could explain their function better.

Have fun.
DH6twinotter

 

That is a very good article for the T bars.
If you crank, you should get manual hubs.

Look through some of the recent posts here on hubs, and you can find out where to score a set of them.

And links to articles on how to install (we have two such articles in the Tech section) and links to an article by Little Joe on how to take them apart and prep them with new grease before putting them on your rig are on my homepage in the mods section under the hub area.

 

Well I leveled out my truck the other day - the passenger side was about 1/2" lower. Guess what? It's lower again today! Sunday I will attempt to crank them again and if it settles again I'm hoping its merely a problem with the adjustment bolt. The top nut didn't turn as I tightened but I'm wondering if perhaps the threads are damaged on the bolt. Anyone else have this experience? Can the stock torsion bar settle again and require more adjustment?

 

A guy in my area is doing this, there was some issue with replacing the adjnustment nut and washer if they were loose. Lemme find this info and post. I wouldn't crank them again.

 

Fooddude--I forgot to mention, if you have a 3rd or 4th gen, you don't have torsion bars. Somebody correct me if I'm wrong, but 1986-1995 were the only years that had them.

Just thought I'd add that.
Have fun.
DH6twinotter

 

thnx guys for all your help i think i know what im doing

 

does this only raise the front though

 

yes, it only raises the front

 

Make sure not to crank them "too much." I did that and went wheeling 2 days in a row. I ended up destroying both upper and lower ball joints, the pitman arm and idler arm. BTW, there was a guy with a 3/4T Chevy Suburban that was changing out his ball joints as well that day. Compared to my 1/2T Toyota ones, the Chevy 3/4T ones were PUNY... but after all Toyota's Rule.