Key install without special tools?
- Thread starter Max Power
- Start date
not sure how he did it but i had a guy tell me he did it with a hammer and a punch, lol. i wish i coulda seen that
I can't quite picture what you are talking about but I have never had anything to do with torsion bars either.
How much force is on the torsion bar with the bolt backed off all the way? I guess I don't really know what to expect since I have never done it before.
I don't know how much pressure is on the unloading tool? All I know is, it takes every bit of what the 1/2" impact has to spin the bolt up high enough to get the stop out. The way I am describing is red neck at best, and could inflict serious injury if it let go. I was just telling you how it has been done before, and not my recommended way of doing things. IMO, the buck fifty is well worth the $$$ spent to keep my ass out of the hospital. I wouldn't want to do it with a c clamp again...
it depends, there is enough that ready lift keys backed all the way off and truck jacked in air bent my 12" c-clamp and i didnt even budge the key. unloading tool is safest (i knocked my self unconscious last week trying to get ready lift keys out of a friends truck, 1 1/4" wrench i was using for leverage on c-clamp slipped and almost lost my left eye) LOL, I live and learn, usually the hard way. regular keys are probably much easier to get in/out
2 jaw puller will work but I've bent the channel on the xmember before doing it that way. Chitload of pressure.
ok this is easy. I just did it myself. go to the auto parts store got mine at advance auto. get a 2 armed puller medium size costs abot $25 if they have a real cheap one for like $6 don't waste your money. I broke one of those. put the arms up over the torsion bar cross member, you will have to hold them there with one hand then start tightning with the point of the puller in the torsion key dimple once you get it good and tight it will hold... then just start cranking on it... make sure you have the front of the truck jacked up. sounds tough but not too bad. my torsion bars had to be heated a little to get the out of the keys along with a 2lb hammer and a solid bar for a punch.. I could send you a pic of my puller if you want. the puller will work alot better than a c clamp. the one I have you put a socket on so you can use a 1/2 drive ratchet
hmm never thought of using a puller, thought it would just slip off, thanks for the idea Corrod and Matt,
Don't use a C clamp. I have done it a few times but I wouldn't recomend it. It's a hospital trip waiting to happen. I got a big C clamp too.
Can you rent one of the unloader tools from a auto parts store? Never thought of that untill now:rofl:
Can you rent one of the unloader tools from a auto parts store? Never thought of that untill now:rofl:
I prefaced my post like that too. He just asked for a cheap way, not safe...:angel:
Yep, it's cheap but could cost a lot more in the long run:rofl:
I would buy the tool or take it to a place that has one and let them do it.
Tool is the only way to do it right...Maybe I should buy 5 of them and do a tool rental program.
I dont like using C-clamps almost took my self out a few times have at least 3 or 4 destroed C-clamps around from it, from bending the threaded part or bending the forged C- section. I'm to cheap to buy the tool also but another thing that works that I've used occasionally it a 2 ton bottle jack and some cribbing to get the jack up high enough. Its another way of getting it done I guess, but I in no way accept liability for any injuries occured.:cruch: