I decided last week to crank up my torsion bars. So in the process I broke the bolts. I figured that would happen. So after ordering new hardware etc I used a bit of anti seize on the bolts and a littel bit of white lithium grease. But in addition to that I sprayed the entired bolt top and bottom after assy with chain lube. It forms a sticky coating on it, that should prevent corrosion. Golden Spectro Chain wax would be another good one to use. Just an idea I had. Dont know if others have tried similar.

 

you actually broke the bolts? Were the two nuts seized up or what? lol

Thats sketch, them there are some serious bolts and undeniably something that would be catastrophic if one failed on the highway... well i can only imagine what would happen if one side of your suspension gave up.. hmm wonder if it'd be like a flat tire or worse.

Anyway, antiseize usually is enough but I've also never had to deal with corroded bolts. Your in the salt belt tho

 

Yeah its amazing what you can do with a 4 foot cheater bar on then end of a breaker bar.

 

Did you have it jacked up to get some pressure of frontend?

 

Shouldnt matter

you should be able to turn the bolt by hand with a 1/2" ratchet with minimal effort with the truck sitting on the ground.

 

I jacked it up initially but once the new hardware was in it was fairly easy to do on the ground.

 

Going to be replacing and adjusting my torsion bar bolts tomorrow. I live up in salt country (Canada) so they're obviously rusted and most likely siezed. I was just going to cut them off. Is they're any safety precautions I need to take. I was just going to jack up the front end, cut off the old bolts and replace 'em.

I'm picturing the front end falling apart on my face for some reason, is this the 'safe' way to do it?


Thanks guys. Man I love this place.

 

Okay question...do you have to loosen those two nuts to crank it?

I just got under my truck and turned the nut like 20 times on each side and my truck didn't get any higher. lol

 

some don't have two nuts (not sure if that reflects on the owner....)

 

Mine has two nuts...I just turned the whole thing and nothing happened. Assuming its been cranked to hell already

 

And I've got two...just to let you know

 

You'll have to hold your nuts and turn your bolt.
Bigblock

 

It is fairly common for those bolts to break.

Word to the wise- before adjusting or when installing new torsion bars. buy new bolts.

 

Can I just hold one?

 

91 you tighten those nuts down on the bolt to make your truck higher.

 

I was gonna replace the upper and lower control arms on my 4runner this weekend. I had the same problem. I couldn't get the torsion bolts to budge. The bolt head and the moonshape looking washer was completely fused together and the nut on the upper side didn't even look like a nut anymore. It looks like a cone...How do you cut them?

 

I keep mine greased up too, makes for easy adjustment and my bolts and nuts are original.