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Who has installed torsion bar keys THEMSELVES?

dunes_av

dunes_av

SM 2003
Full Member
Joined
May 31, 2003
Messages
4,185
Location
Arizona
I plan on installing torsion bar keys on my AV this weekend, I plan on doing this myself.... however I keep hearin about a "special tool" in order to remove the bars.... Can anyone tell me what this "special tool is" or if you have done the work yourself, any advise for someone wanting to do this.

I did a search, but all I could find is that you need the "special tool" but no one said what that tool is...

Grey
 
2- jaw gear puller. Get the big one...More than 4inches. Mabye an 8 inch? Advanced has some or you can get a nice one at sears. They will run you 30-50 bucks. ;D
 
hmmm $50 for a tool I will probably never use again or $60 to have someone else do it....

If I jack up the AV and lower the bolt all the way down is there still tension on the bars?


Grey
 
GreyAvalanche said:
hmmm $50 for a tool I will probably never use again or $60 to have someone else do it....

If I jack up the AV and lower the bolt all the way down is there still tension on the bars?


Grey
Click to expand...
GRey...some auto parts stores will rent ya the tool...

Ya pay all the money for the tool...they give you the loaner tool...keep receipt...and when done return it and they give you refund....

Auto zone here does that....I rented the steering wheel puller for the 2002 radio steering wheel control mod....
 
YGMN, thanks for the tip, I will look into it...

still wondering i I should be worried about breaking my arm or anything while doing this mod.... :2:

also... never used a gear puller.... guessing you use it on the "key" side of the bar....

anything special needed to reinstall the bars?


Sorry for all the questions... I just like to do most of my own stuff, and I know this mod is not that hard, just want to cover all my bases before I tear into the suspension of my AV this weekend.

Grey
 
Take it to a shop and have it done properly...
Even if you did it your self, you WILL end up at a shop to have then adjusted properly and allinment anyway. So save your self time and effort (and possible injury) and take in.

My 0.02

G. :cool:
 
1DragonSlayer said:
Take it to a shop and have it done properly...
Even if you did it your self, you WILL end up at a shop to have then adjusted properly and allinment anyway. So save your self time and effort (and possible injury) and take in.

My 0.02

G. :cool:
Click to expand...


The place that I considered taking it to for install does not do alignments, ( a 4x4 shop). And the tire shop I am going to have do the alignment will not install them :2:


After seeing how it is done, and the fact that the puller could break/slip umm..... yeah I am having second thoughts of doing it myself..... install will cost me $60..... as I already have the parts....

Grey
 
I took mine to a small privately owned alignment shop that has a good reputation and work on a lot of hot rods around here. They installed the keys that I took to them and did a bang up alignment, I mean he took this this out 4-5 times to test drive, and charged me $100 total. I thought that was fair considering that a good alignment might cost $69 to $89 around here!


Butch
 
I was going to do this myself too until I read the same page MySea5 posted above. For me, it was worth $80 not to get conked in the head (or worse).
 
Hey Gray,
Can I come and check it out? I'l like to see the mods you have done on your av. I'm getting really itchy about doing my exhust and now consedering magapack cat-back.....
but on the conservitive side just a FM50 replacement muff. Also getting an itch on a lift or tightenign my torsion bars up.
There doesn't seem to be much happening with any gtg's.
I'm free Sat. late morning, well, pretty much all day. Sunday too if I don't go up to Flagstaff. I'll be in the South Scottsdale area. I live in NE PHX.
Nick
 
??? hi i am kostantinos from greece !! i want the cdrom from my av 2002 service because the cargo lamp in massage center is on !! i check lamps and bouton but nothing !! someone said me only with cdrom you can checkit !! and i want this because none know this model !! i am motomechanic and i know for service but not without cdrom restore some bromblems to massage center !! thanks for your replay !!!
 
nickaz said:
Hey Gray,
Can I come and check it out? I'l like to see the mods you have done on your av. I'm getting really itchy about doing my exhust and now consedering magapack cat-back.....
but on the conservitive side just a FM50 replacement muff. Also getting an itch on a lift or tightenign my torsion bars up.
There doesn't seem to be much happening with any gtg's.
I'm free Sat. late morning, well, pretty much all day. Sunday too if I don't go up to Flagstaff. I'll be in the South Scottsdale area. I live in NE PHX.
Nick
Click to expand...

Nick,

I got the keys installed today, ended up getting Unique 4x4 in Chandler to put them in, cost me $75, still need to get it aligned...Going to Sears tonight to get the tires mounted...

If you want to meet up this weekend, I am free

Send me an e-mail to greyavalanche@chevyavalanchefanclub.com and we will coordinate via e-mail, once we figure out the when and wheres I can do a post and see if anyone else is free to join us.

Talk to you soon,

Grey

Edit: Oh, I live in South Chandler, (almost down at Riggs Rd)
 
There's no way I'd attempt anything new, particularly if it required new tools, that someone else could do for $60...that's just too cheap.

You're probably more adventurous (and mechanically inclined) than I am ;D
 
A little late to help you Grey, but did mine this morning. I know there was a link earlier on how to do it but Hey; it wasn't an Av.
So here is my pictorial ;D

1st jack up your Av and use jackstands and keep the floorjack in place as a backup SAFETY FIRST (y)

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First I removed the bolt from the key, this takes about 80% of the tension off the torsion bar.

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I then installed the puller to take the tension off the key resting on the nut, then I only had to crank on the puller a little to get the nut out.

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I then pushed the nut out with the back of my ratchet, I wouldn't stick my fingers in there if I were you, SAFETY FIRST (y)

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After remowing the nut just crank out on the puller till all the tension is off and remove the puller.

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Then it is just a matter of wiggling the torsion bar until you can move it freely towards the front of the vehicle, then the key will drop out in your hand, or hit the floor if you miss it :2:

removekey.jpg
 

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