Torsion Key Leveling Kits - Are They a Scam?

[CJ Rodarme]

So a while back I got a leveling kit for my truck and I never put it on. Still got the keys and I'll probably throw them on whenever I put my lift kit on if I have clearance issues. However, I was thinking about how torsion keys work. They clock the angle of the hole where the t-bar goes to adjust it higher. Leveling kits claim to lift the truck while maintaining stock adjustment of the bolt. So with that being the case isn't the only benefit to torsion keys the ability to crank past what stock could? And if you only wanted 1 or 2 inches (which many are because of the effects of cranking it more on CV shafts etc.) wouldn't it just be better to max your stock keys?

 

[Scottydoggs]

you can likely get a inch out of the stock keys if you crank the bolts. but sooner or later the bolt stopps going in and its maxed out, the new keys are re indexed so the bolt does not meed to be driven in so far.

i always jacked up the truck to take the weight off the t bars when cranking in the bolt, count your turns then do the other side the same amount of turns. might want to spray them bolts down too if they are crusty looking.

 

[CJ Rodarme]

I got a solid 2" out of mine but before that I had a lot of rake so they were most likely turned down. I'm currently sitting a little bit above level. But either way the benefit of the bolt being at the same place at stock doesn't really have an effect on how it rides or anything so I don't get why emphasis is sometimes put on that

 

[Matt_]

But either way the benefit of the bolt being at the same place at stock doesn't really have an effect on how it rides or anything so I don't get why emphasis is sometimes put on that

Lol that's the "scam" part. People believe keys are some magical potion that let you level the truck without "cranking"... but like the OP realizes, they just let you crank further than stock by adding preload via the indexing

 

[Erickk120]

You've red pilled me. I'm now interested on seeing if I have enough to level the front, without needed keys. I guess keys would be needed if you plan to go over 1-2 inches, and or if the torsion bars are that bad. Good to know though.

 

[Scottydoggs]

cranking on the stock keys and bolts makes the front end stiffer too, keys also make it stiffer. i put a pair in my 03 2500 hd and they killed the ride, but thats a much thicker t bar. the 1500 might twist enough and not kill the ride.

 

[CJ Rodarme]

I’ve had people try to tell me keys make the ride smoother because the bolt isn’t cranked as far. But regardless your ride will be a little be rougher

 

[Scottydoggs]

I’ve had people try to tell me keys make the ride smoother because the bolt isn’t cranked as far. But regardless your ride will be a little be rougher

truth be told. i had the bolt at its min use with the new keys on my HD made the lower control arms forced all the way down, they had no spring left to them, if you hit a deep pot hole the truck fell in the hole, but with the plow on it it rode really smooth. they also broke two shocks, snapped the shaft like a twig.

why i got a bad taste in my mouth from them. but like i said, the 1500 bars might be a lot softer and make it drive closer to normal. only used em on the HD truck. so thats all i know firmly about.

they lifted the front so much i was able to run 2 inch blocks in the rear and it sat level.

 

[CJ Rodarme]

I couldn’t even notice a difference on mine. Which I still find weird but I’m not complaining. Sweet truck btw

 

[Scottydoggs]

I couldn’t even notice a difference on mine. Which I still find weird but I’m not complaining. Sweet truck btw

of all the cars/trucks ive owned, i miss that 03 the most. it was a factory freak. came sitting higher then most every other truck of that year i came across. all my friends with trucks were like why is your truck so high? (before the keys and blocks) and it could rip a house down for sure. plowed snow like a boss too. id find a stuck ford or dodge every storm that need to be pulled out of what looked like not much to me. only time i needed to be pulled out was when i hit a large pile of snow, the plow lifted up and i ended up driving up on the pile and got myself high sided real bad. all 4 wheels were off the ground. grab a bumper and you could rock it up and down lol