| [GMCnet] One ton installation [message #151576] |
Sun, 04 December 2011 15:32  |
glwgmc
Messages: 1014
Registered: June 2004
Karma: 10
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Senior Member |
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Hi Gary,
From what I have seen and experienced, there seems to be quite a difference in the strength left in the stock torsion bars. Mine adjusted to proper ride height without a problem after I installed the one ton front end. It took several full turns on the adjustment bolt, but both sides came out just fine without the end of the pork chop bottoming out. As you experienced, you do need to drive the coach five to ten miles to allow the suspension to fully settle any time you raise the frame or the front wheels up with a jack. Doesn't seem like it would take that long, but it sure seems to. It looks like the rear settles a bit faster, but it still takes some drive time to get it where it will be while normally driving down the road.
One other thing to consider. The rear ride height alters the front ride height more than one would expect. Be sure you have the rear ride height set properly and settled in before you try to measure or adjust the front ride height. If you still can't get the front to the correct ride height then you might want to consider swapping in a different set of torsion bars to see if they have a bit more strength left in them and/or using the adjustable pork chops that Jim K. sells.
Jerry
Jerry Work
The Dovetail Joint
Fine furniture designed and hand crafted in the 1907 former Masonic Temple building in historic Kerby, OR
Visitors always welcome!
glwork@mac.com
http://jerrywork.com
541-592-5360
www.southernoregonguild.org
www.siskiyouguild.org
-----------------------------------
Message: 16
Date: Sun, 4 Dec 2011 11:43:47 -0800
From: "Gary Worobec" <gtw5@earthlink.net>
Subject: Re: [GMCnet] 1-Ton Installation
To: <gmclist@temp.gmcnet.org>
Message-ID: <3FB762C24B164F548C69A0CF3BCAD8F7@DELL2009>
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
reply-type=original
With the one ton front end the ride height issue can't be solved with the
OEM Pork Chop. You either must source alternate OEM angles or buy the
adjustable ones.
Secondly we need a stiffer shock absorber. I spoke with the Bilstein rep at
SEMA and they can do custom revalving for about $65.00 extra for each shock.
They just need to know the stock Bilstein that is used and how much stiffer
we want the compression and rebound. The other issue is that there may be
just too much leverage on the T-bar. I bottomed the shock several times on
some dips in the highway this trip. Never happened before. So I'm also
thinking of looking into a nitrogen charged shock that will add addtional
spring to the system. These are about the same physical size as the ones we
use now. Lots of issues to look at here. I'm not sure if the 4" spacer is
needed maybe something just big enough to clear the caliper. I can live with
the narrower track up front and it may be the solution to the wallowing
problem. My coach is now not handling well on winding mountain roads.
Frankly it's a bit of a pig. The front end is just too soft. Granted, my
ride height at the front needs to come up at least an inch but I'm not sure
that even if the ride height is correct that it will make the front end
stiffer and if it does will the T-bar take the addtional load before
snapping. With that said I certainly enjoy better braking and the piece of
mind that I'll not have to worry about front end bearing maintenance again.
Lots of trade offs to consider here.
Thanks
Gary and Joanne Worobec
1973 GMC Glacier
Anza, CA
--------------------------------------------
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Jerry & Sharon Work
78 Royale
Kerby, OR
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| Re: [GMCnet] One ton installation [message #151580 is a reply to message #151576] |
Sun, 04 December 2011 16:07  |
Gary Worobec
Messages: 867
Registered: May 2005
Karma: -1
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Senior Member |
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I would suggest that perhaps you and Karen are not running the stock pork
chops but ones with different angles. They may have been changed in the past
to compensate for weak torsion bars. Karen indicated that one was weak,
Perhaps the other was weak and pork chopS with different angles were used.
I'm not up on what the stock angle is but I'm pretty sure that mine are
stock. I do believe there are three different angles. Someone may have more
info. And I agree that rear ride height is critical to the front. This will
be a process but we'll get it. It's all in the fun of owning America's
favorite RV.
Thanks
Gary and Joanne Worobec
1973 GMC Glacier
Anza, CA
----- Original Message -----
From: "Work Jerry" <glwork@mac.com>
To: <gmclist@temp.gmcnet.org>
Sent: Sunday, December 04, 2011 1:32 PM
Subject: [GMCnet] One ton installation
> Hi Gary,
>
> From what I have seen and experienced, there seems to be quite a
> difference in the strength left in the stock torsion bars. Mine adjusted
> to proper ride height without a problem after I installed the one ton
> front end. It took several full turns on the adjustment bolt, but both
> sides came out just fine without the end of the pork chop bottoming out.
> As you experienced, you do need to drive the coach five to ten miles to
> allow the suspension to fully settle any time you raise the frame or the
> front wheels up with a jack. Doesn't seem like it would take that long,
> but it sure seems to. It looks like the rear settles a bit faster, but it
> still takes some drive time to get it where it will be while normally
> driving down the road.
>
> One other thing to consider. The rear ride height alters the front ride
> height more than one would expect. Be sure you have the rear ride height
> set properly and settled in before you try to measure or adjust the front
> ride height. If you still can't get the front to the correct ride height
> then you might want to consider swapping in a different set of torsion
> bars to see if they have a bit more strength left in them and/or using the
> adjustable pork chops that Jim K. sells.
>
> Jerry
> Jerry Work
> The Dovetail Joint
> Fine furniture designed and hand crafted in the 1907 former Masonic Temple
> building in historic Kerby, OR
> Visitors always welcome!
> glwork@mac.com
> http://jerrywork.com
> 541-592-5360
>
> www.southernoregonguild.org
> www.siskiyouguild.org
>
> -----------------------------------
> Message: 16
> Date: Sun, 4 Dec 2011 11:43:47 -0800
> From: "Gary Worobec" <gtw5@earthlink.net>
> Subject: Re: [GMCnet] 1-Ton Installation
> To: <gmclist@temp.gmcnet.org>
> Message-ID: <3FB762C24B164F548C69A0CF3BCAD8F7@DELL2009>
> Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
> reply-type=original
>
> With the one ton front end the ride height issue can't be solved with the
> OEM Pork Chop. You either must source alternate OEM angles or buy the
> adjustable ones.
> Secondly we need a stiffer shock absorber. I spoke with the Bilstein rep
> at
> SEMA and they can do custom revalving for about $65.00 extra for each
> shock.
> They just need to know the stock Bilstein that is used and how much
> stiffer
> we want the compression and rebound. The other issue is that there may be
> just too much leverage on the T-bar. I bottomed the shock several times on
> some dips in the highway this trip. Never happened before. So I'm also
> thinking of looking into a nitrogen charged shock that will add addtional
> spring to the system. These are about the same physical size as the ones
> we
> use now. Lots of issues to look at here. I'm not sure if the 4" spacer is
> needed maybe something just big enough to clear the caliper. I can live
> with
> the narrower track up front and it may be the solution to the wallowing
> problem. My coach is now not handling well on winding mountain roads.
> Frankly it's a bit of a pig. The front end is just too soft. Granted, my
> ride height at the front needs to come up at least an inch but I'm not
> sure
> that even if the ride height is correct that it will make the front end
> stiffer and if it does will the T-bar take the addtional load before
> snapping. With that said I certainly enjoy better braking and the piece of
> mind that I'll not have to worry about front end bearing maintenance
> again.
> Lots of trade offs to consider here.
>
> Thanks
>
> Gary and Joanne Worobec
> 1973 GMC Glacier
> Anza, CA
> --------------------------------------------
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
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| Re: [GMCnet] One ton installation [message #151589 is a reply to message #151576] |
Sun, 04 December 2011 17:32 |
KB
Messages: 1262
Registered: September 2009
Karma: 0
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Senior Member |
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All four porkchops from our two coaches were identical -- I checked.
I wanted to see if there was some noticeable difference about the "weak" bar.
Couldn't find anything obvious. Pretty sure they're all stock.
Here's a picture of the porkchops:
http://machinesoflovinggrace.net/gmc/frontend/Images/Picture%20372-trim.jpg
You might be able to eye-ball angle differences based on how they line up
with the other features of the casting.
> I would suggest that perhaps you and Karen are not running the stock pork
> chops but ones with different angles. They may have been changed in the past
> to compensate for weak torsion bars. Karen indicated that one was weak,
> Perhaps the other was weak and pork chopS with different angles were used.
Karen
1973 23'
1975 26'
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Karen
1975 26'
San Jose, CA
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