Torsion bar adjustment/replacement?

[arlon]

My drivers bar adjusting bolt is all the way in while the passanger bolt is about 3/4" of travel.. Any thoughts on that? Can the bar be reindexed to get some more travel or has the bar lost power and needs to be replaced. I'd like to get an inch or 2 out of the front bars but the drivers bar won't go there as it sits. Maybe there was a really big driver in here for awhile. It does sit leve as can be right now..

If I have to replace the bar should I add new higher lift indexing keys?

How much can you crank on the bars before the front end needs to be aligned?

I'm also concerned about the breaking the bar if it has indeed been weakened for some reason. Are there better aftermarket bars to use for a replacement if I need to replace them. Van is an 04 and onl has abou 50k miles on it.

[Stroverlander]

Hi Arlon,

Have you added any lift via torsion adjusters previously or just running the 2" lift blocks? Lift keys re-index and provide additional lift though it sounds like your stock bars are close to or at max already so may be worthwhile to replace.

Dorman 697601 & 697600 stock style replacement torsion bars (with stock style keys included) are the only aftermarket bars I know of for our vans as they are unique among GM truck applications - 35" length for Astro vs 54" for trucks.

Any significant amount of adjustment and you will want to align as it doesn't take much adjustment to affect camber.

Informative article: http://www.gmfullsize.com/tech/torsion401.html

[doyoulikeithere]

You could just put in re-index keys and be done.
If/when a t-bar actually breaks, replace them both.
It can be difficult to install 're'-index keys with 'brand new' T-Bars.