Torsion go snap!

[BattelWagun]

So earlier this winter I hit a curb after sliding on some black ice in a parking lot. Ever since then I've heard this weird snapping noise whenever I turn, hit a good bump, etc. Well I took it to my local mechanic who said it was "ok" and "safe to drive". So I drove it for a few months and the other day I decided to trade in my old bald ass tires (aka super sports racing slicks ) for some new shoes. Today I went for an alignment and Wilrae told me that I have a snapped torsion bar, bad steering linkges (almost all of 'em) and i need to have the frame slugs removed... Long story short I'm in the hole about 9 bills.
So I've got a few questions:
1)what the hell is a frame slug..?
2)is a torsion bar hard to replace?

As we all know Ifd rather save some cashola and do it myself, but I also wouldn't be too happy if my death certificate read "Death by steel bar under heavy tension."

 

[bowtiefreak]

A torsion bar may be trouble but mainly do to being old and rusted. Need a torsion bar removal tool but this can be done in your driveway

 

[99Yukon_Z71]

Damn brah sounds bad, but its not as bad as you think. Only problem is that the torsion bars are under extreme tension, and need to be unloaded with a torsion bar tool. Now if the bar is snapped, it would be easy to remove it, but still would need the tool to install the keys again. But if the truck isnt sitting low on that side, the bar might not be snapped. If the bar snaps, the truck would be sitting on the bump stop in that side.

As far as the "frame slugs" go, those are welds that the factory does when aligning the truck when it was new. Those have to be broken and removed in order to adjust the control arms for the alignment. So that means you truck had never had an alignment before. Hope this info helps out!!!

 

[BlkYukon95]

Frame slug; on your upper control arms where they mount to the frame. The factory left "knock outs" or "frame slugs" in there. To give the truck an alignment the shop would then have to remove them. That allows the shop to adjust the upper control arm. The bolt and washer for the control arm is not a normal bolt and washer. The washer acts as a cam and the bolt is flat on one side. Knocking out the slugs allows you turn the cam to the desired position.

It is not hard to remove them. They make a special tool for it, and it takes maybe 5 minutes per slug (2 on each side).

Too bad for the front end. They cant give it an alignment with that much wear. I just had to replace my pitman arm, idler arm, 4 tie rods, and 4 ball joins. Luckily my gf's dad is the auto instructor at the local Tech, just cost me parts, which were all Moog. At the tech's reduced price parts still cost me almost $800.

 

[BattelWagun]

Damn brah sounds bad, but its not as bad as you think. Only problem is that the torsion bars are under extreme tension, and need to be unloaded with a torsion bar tool. Now if the bar is snapped, it would be easy to remove it, but still would need the tool to install the keys again. But if the truck isnt sitting low on that side, the bar might not be snapped. If the bar snaps, the truck would be sitting on the bump stop in that side.
!!!

It's definitely not sitting on the bump stop, I think it may just be damaged. I'm just happy it made it three months without failing! Haha
As for the frame slugs, the shop said it'll cost about $200 to remove 'em because it's hard to do. Am I getting jipped here? Because if it's like blkyukon95 said, it definitely shouldn't cost that much...

 

[steamroller]

Make sure it's the actual torsion bar that is broken and not the weird mounting brackets that the 4 door uses for the torsion bar crossmember. I'd hate for you to be charged for a torsion bar and them not actually replace it.


Pics in this thread
http://www.tahoeyukonforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=14469&page=2

 

[Sickblutahoe]

If you do find out that it's the t- bar it's really easy to do all you need is a good jack and a couple stands also you don't need that special tool it's like 120 bucks all you need is a really big C clamp which are fairly cheap just remove the base on the adjustable part of the clamp after you remove that the ball will fit perfectly in the opening of your t- bar key. As far as the slugs go I would let the shop do that since they are gonna have to align it anyway.

 

[BattelWagun]

Make sure it's the actual torsion bar that is broken and not the weird mounting brackets that the 4 door uses for the torsion bar crossmember. I'd hate for you to be charged for a torsion bar and them not actually replace it.


Pics in this thread
http://www.tahoeyukonforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=14469&page=2

Well even though it's a 4D Tahoe, I know I have that crossmember mount. Possibly they changed it, because I know for a fact that the torsion system has never been touched. The shop said the notches that lock the t bar into the key itself are damaged though, so I definitely need a new key and bar. They ain't charging me that much either, should have her back tomorrow!

 

[BlkYukon95]

yeah, the slugs are that easy to do. I was in the shop when he did them. If they are going to do the front end work, everything that needs to come off is off.

 

[BattelWagun]

Alrighty then, I'm just having them do everything as its 30º outside and I have a narsty cold coming on. Should have it back today well see what the damage is...