How to Install a Torsion Bar Adjuster in a '97 Ford Explorer

The 1997 Ford Explorer shared its platform with the Mercury Mountaineer. The Explorer was available with a 4.0-liter V-6 or 5.0-liter V-8 engine. The Explorer used torsion bar front suspension. The torsion bar attaches to the lower control arm in front, and an adjuster, mounted in a cross member at the rear. As the lower control arm moves up and down, the torsion bar is twisted. The torsion bar acts as a spring because it resists the twisting action. The link can be replaced without fully removing the torsion bar.

Instructions

Removal

1

Park the Explorer on a level, paved surface and set the parking brake. Disconnect the negative battery cable with a ratchet and socket.

2

Measure the ride height with a tape measure. Measure the distance from the ground to any convenient point on both sides of the Explorer. It can be the front of the fender well, the top of the fender well -- any point that is easily measured. Write down the measurement a piece of paper. You will need it after you install the new adjuster.

3

Raise the front of the Explorer with a jack and support the vehicle with jack stands. Follow the torsion bar from the lower control arm back to the cross member. Remove the bolts from the torsion bar guard with a ratchet and socket. The guard attaches with four bolts -- two bolts on the frame and two bolts on the cross member.

4

Remove the adjusting bolt with a ratchet and socket. Count the number of turns needed to remove the bolt. Write this down because you will need it when you install the new bolt. The bolt is located just inside from the torsion bar and threads into a special nut that actually looks like a bar with a threaded hole in it. It pushes on the end of the adjuster.

5

Attach a heavy-duty two-jaw puller to the cross member and the adjuster. The puller needs to have locking jaws that will not spread apart. Tighten the puller to lift the end of the adjuster off of the nut. Slide the nut out of the holes where it mounts in the cross member.

6

Loosen the puller. This will remove the pressure on the adjuster and torsion bar. Slide the torsion bar forward far enough to disengage the adjuster. Remove the adjuster.

Installation

7

Slide a new adjuster into the cross member. Slide the torsion bar back into the adjuster.

8

Reattach the puller and tighten it to lift the adjuster far enough so you can install the nut. Remove the puller.

9

Install a new adjuster bolt, turning it the same number of turns it took to remove it.

10

Install the torsion bar guard and bolts. Tighten the bolts to between 25 and 34 foot-pounds with a torque wrench and socket.

11

Raise the Explorer, remove the jack stands and lower the vehicle to the ground.

12

Bounce the front end of the Explorer up and down several times to settle the suspension. Check the ride height measurement. If the measurements are not equal on both sides, tighten the adjuster to raise that side, or loosen it to lower that side. Try increments of one turn at a time. You do not have to remove the guard because it has a hole in it to allow access to the adjusting bolt.

13

Attach the negative battery cable.