Torsion Bar Adjustment

Adjust the front torsion bar suspension height to restore proper ride height and correct vehicle stance on the 1972 Ford F-100.

Warnings

Tools required

Preparation

1. Park vehicle on level, solid ground and set parking brake firmly
2. Place wheel chocks behind rear wheels
3. Measure and record current ride height from ground to bottom of front frame rail on both sides for reference
4. Spray torsion bar adjusting bolts with penetrating oil and allow to soak for 10-15 minutes if corroded

Procedure

1. 1

   Raise and support the front of the vehicle
   Position floor jack under the front crossmember and raise the front end until the front wheels are approximately 2-3 inches off the ground. This unloads the torsion bars and makes adjustment easier. Place jack stands under the frame rails behind the lower control arms for safety. Do not place stands under the suspension components.
2. 2

   Locate the torsion bar adjusting bolts
   This vehicle is not equipped with torsion bars or adjusting bolts. Instead, inspect the front coil springs, spring seats, and radius arm/I-beam mounting points for wear or sag. Ride height correction on this platform requires spring replacement or shimming, not bolt adjustment.
3. 3

   Clean the adjusting bolt threads
   Use a wire brush to clean corrosion and debris from the exposed threads of the adjusting bolt on both sides. This ensures accurate adjustment and prevents thread damage. Note the current position of the bolt by counting how many threads are visible beyond the adjusting nut.
4. 4

   Determine required adjustment direction
   Ride height on this coil-spring suspension cannot be adjusted with a bolt. If the front sags, the coil springs are likely fatigued and must be replaced with correct-rate springs, or spacers/shims added, to restore ride height.
5. 5

   Adjust the driver side torsion bar
   There is no torsion bar adjusting bolt to turn on this vehicle. To change front ride height, the coil springs must be removed and replaced or shimmed following a spring-compression procedure.
6. 6

   Adjust the passenger side torsion bar
   Repeat the same adjustment on the passenger side, turning the adjusting bolt the same amount as the driver side to maintain equal ride height side-to-side. Make the same number of half-turns in the same direction to ensure balanced suspension geometry.
7. 7

   Lower vehicle and check ride height
   Remove the jack stands and carefully lower the vehicle to the ground. Bounce the front end several times by pushing down on the front bumper and releasing to settle the suspension. Measure the ride height from ground to the bottom of the frame rail on both sides. Compare to your initial measurements and verify both sides are equal.
8. 8

   Fine-tune adjustment if necessary
   If ride height is not at the desired specification or if the vehicle is not level side-to-side, raise the vehicle again and make additional adjustments in quarter-turn increments. Consult the Ford factory service manual for the correct front ride height reference measurement and measurement points for the 1972 F-100; do not rely on an assumed value, as ride height varies with model, spring option, and tire size.

Reassembly

1. No disassembly is required for this procedure

Verification

• Measure ride height on both sides at the frame rail and verify measurements are within 1/4 inch of each other
• Drive the vehicle forward and backward approximately 10 feet to settle the suspension, then re-measure to confirm ride height is stable
• Visually inspect that the vehicle sits level from front to rear and side to side when viewed from several feet away
• Test drive the vehicle and verify normal handling characteristics with no pulling to either side
• Schedule a front-end alignment within the next few days, as torsion bar adjustment affects camber and caster settings

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