Leveling kit question

rangergirl21 · #1 08-03-2010, 12:45 PM

So after doing a bit of research, I have decided to "invest" in a leveling kit. Bring the front end up a couple inches. Now, I was looking at the Daystar leveling kits. Anyone have any comments or suggestions?
this is what I have found so far...
http://www.4wheelparts.com/Lift-Kits...9333&t_pl=7140

05RangerEdge · #2 08-03-2010, 12:50 PM

Have you cranked the torsion bars yet?

Edit: the link you posted you dont need.

Just do this: How To: Adjust Torsion Bars

Its free!

rangergirl21 · #3 08-03-2010, 04:26 PM

yeah I thought about that. but i'm looking for something that isnt as stiff riding. the roads in Tucson are not nice. plus I was curious if anyone has tried this kit out or not

STL · #4 08-03-2010, 04:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rangergirl21

yeah I thought about that. but i'm looking for something that isnt as stiff riding. the roads in Tucson are not nice. plus I was curious if anyone has tried this kit out or not

My t-bars are maxed out and it is not that bad at all. Your just gonna be wasting 129 dollars on something that is essentially the same as cranking your torsion bars. How ever cranking your t-bars is free.

XLT08 · #5 08-03-2010, 04:35 PM

Heres some very good info for you to consider...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fx4wannabe01

That's the thing though....torsion keys do the EXACT same thing but to a much greater extent. They reindex where the bar mounts in the key...move that and it's doing the same as cranking the bars.

Downsides to cranking bars in general: increased wear on the bars, increased wear on lower balljoints, less down travel, harsher/stiffer ride. On stock keys, all these are minimal....but with torsion keys, all the downsides are multiplied a good amount.

You can still crank the bars/keys a huge deal which will result in way out of spec balljoint angles which cause severe wear on them. CV shaft bindage. Almost no downtravel whatsoever. And alot of wear on the bars. The bad part is that they allow you to crank too much which causes this severe wear. There's a guy over at TRS or RPS that reported he needed new bj's after only a year of running the keys. Other guys who ran the torsion keys converted to RCD or DBR long travel kits before they could see the wear effects on the parts. You have plenty of adjustment already with stock torsion keys without getting in trouble with severly wearing out parts.....being the truck in question is a '99, I'm leaning torwards worn out/dead torsion bars. Replace those with upgraded #1 bars from a low mile Ranger or Sport Trac and it'll keep the 'lift' you gained by cranking some.

Torsion keys work great on other rides(silverados, f150s) but not on Rangers. I vote Superlift or Bodylift. Steer the hell clear of 'leveling kits'(torsion lift keys) on a Ranger. Yeah, they're cheap, do their job, but at what cost? $500 a year in maintainence? No keys please.

rangergirl21 · #6 08-03-2010, 05:01 PM

@STL; yeah, the free part is a very good thing. Guess what i'm trying tonight if I can get to the garage. My boyfriends Taco is apart in the garage.

@XLT08; Thanks a bunch. That was great info. Guess it cant hurt to do it for just a bit and see how it turns out. Worse case scenario, I turn them back down

XLT08 · #7 08-03-2010, 05:04 PM

Your welcome, but the credit really belongs to Fx4wannabe (Shane).

STL · #8 08-03-2010, 05:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rangergirl21

@STL; yeah, the free part is a very good thing. Guess what i'm trying tonight if I can get to the garage. My boyfriends Taco is apart in the garage.

@XLT08; Thanks a bunch. That was great info. Guess it cant hurt to do it for just a bit and see how it turns out. Worse case scenario, I turn them back down

Be sure to mark the bolt before cranking. So if you dont like you can get it exactly back where it was.

05RangerEdge · #9 08-03-2010, 05:07 PM

and don't forget the alignment!

rangergirl21 · #10 08-03-2010, 05:08 PM

Thanks again everyone. I will post pics as soon as I finish doing it

RollinHigh2020 · #11 08-25-2010, 03:55 PM

Alright this is a stupid question,My torsion bars are cranked and I was wondering if changeing the oil is going to be different since the truck sits up higher?

TurdFX4 · #12 08-25-2010, 04:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RollinHigh2020

Alright this is a stupid question,My torsion bars are cranked and I was wondering if changeing the oil is going to be different since the truck sits up higher?

Just the fact that it sits a little higher, thats it