removing torsion keys

[Kat Killa]

Is there some secret I don't know about to get the keys off the torsion bars?!!! I even dropped the crossmember that holds the keys in place to get a better angle for hammering! I used heat and good amount of WD. Not @ the same time! Any suggestions besides using a bigger hammer?!

 

[JKmotorsports]

The keys should slide right off the bars once you remove the bolts. I assume you removed the bolts, right? Did you jack up the front end to get some of the tension from the LCAs off the bars?

 

[Kat Killa]

Yea the keys and bars were hanging loose in the crossmember, but the keys were not coming off! Until I got pissed!! Now I have 1 side off so I know they will come off with enough force. Now I have another ? I have a 2001 Yukon slt 4WD. Is this a 1/2 ton or a 3/4 ? Maybe a dumb ? but I will explain later.

 

[JKmotorsports]

1/2 ton. Damn keys. Were they rusted in place or what?

 

[Kat Killa]

Rusted is an understatement! I found out about the 1/2 or 3/4 thing also. I was 99.9 percent sure I have 1/2 ton. I just got some 3/4 keys that match the ones I took out. WTF.

 

[goozdenali]

oh dam that sucks, i had the same problem when removing my keys. just seemed like they would never come out

 

[fatnlowtahoe504]

you dont have to have the torsion key tool to take them off right?

 

[Kat Killa]

I used a 7 ton gear puller. Got the info on gmfs. Taking the bolts out wasn't the hard part. Getting the keys off the bars was the hard part.

 

[fatnlowtahoe504]

o man, any other suggestions on getting them off??

 

[Badluck]

You are on the right track. Heat, WD, and a lot of hammering broke my rusted on keys after a couple hours. Sucks to live in a part of the country where our rides rust!