Hey guys,

I've got an '02 Ext. Cab Z71, and I want to level out the front of the truck just a bit, without a major lift, and without loss of ride quality. From what I've read, it seems as if the Ford "cheater" keys are the way to go. Can I get someone to point me in the right direction as to where I can buy them? Also, I'm pretty ignorant when it comes to 4x4 IFS; can somebody give me an idea of how to install them, and how difficult of a job is it? Thanks a bunch.

-Danny

 

A ford dealer would be a good place to start <img border="0" title="" alt="[Razz]" src="gr_images/icons/tongue.gif" />

Also try Ebay, and www.hill4wheeldrive.com sells them too, i think they may be the most expensive way to go though.

You need the torsion bar puller tool, people have used gear pullers instead and it seems to work. then just replace your stock key with the new one. Ive never done it personally, so i dont know how much harder it really is

 

http://fordparts.com/

Click on "I have a part number", and put in this number: XL3Z-5B328-CA

I had my mechanic put mine in... took him about 10mins total with power tools. Only charged me $10 to put both in. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="gr_grin.gif" />

 

I picked mine up from a local dealership for $38. This is a little higher than what I have seen if you search, but I did not have to mess with shipping. I just walked in with the part# that 99FireTA listed above. I have still got to get them installed.... was going to last weekend but the mechanic that is going to do it was busy. We are going to do it on the alignment machine so we can do it all at one time.

Stephen

 

Don't do the alignment right away! Drive it for a day or two first to let the suspension settle into it's new height. <img border="0" alt="[USA]" title="" src="graemlins/patriot.gif" />

 

Cool. Thanks guys, much appreciated.

-Danny

 

How much of a lift can you achieve? Will the keys fit k2500 torsion bars? What about ride quality, how firm will it get? I had a lift shop recommend for me to switch from my torsion bars to the smaller diameter bars from a k1500 truck. He said that it would soften the front end when I crank the bars up.

Any comments?

 

I can't believe how dumb some of the people these shops hire are. They know hardly anything about cars. I had a guy at the muffler shop do somewelding after I put my THorleys in. He put the bolts for my Y-pipe in with an impact gun. I go to take it out and fix his toothpaste welds that had holes in them and Broke a stud b/c his wrench put them so tight. If you put 1500 bars in won't that make your truck sit lower because it's a weaker spring? Then you won't be able to crank as much.

Either you have a good ride or you crank your bars. You can't have both. The more you crank the worse it rides. That's just the way it is.

 

99FireTA,
I finally got my Ford keys installed today.... they look awesome. I really don't know why I waited this long.

Everyone,
If you don't have these keys.......get them you will not be sorry.

Stephen