Need some good advice...

[frito-bandito]

I am currently trying to replace the transfer case in my 98 Expedition (also have a build thread) and at the advice of a local mechanic, I removed the transmission crossmember with the assumption that the t case would be able to come out between the exhaust and the torsion bar crossmember...wrong!!
So my question is, would the tension be relieved of off the torsion bars if I lift the Expy to where all the weight is off of the front wheels, and if so, would it be safe to unbolt the torsion bar crossmember and slide it forward enough to clear the t case? Please help me out, I don't know crap about torsion bars or t cases for that matter, thanks.

 

[Thermo]

Use a large C-clamp and you can take up the load on the keys using the C-clamp. That will allow you to remove the bolt that holds the key in place and then allow you to remove the bracket that the bolt is bolted to. From there, you can use the C-Clamp to relieve the rest of the stress on the key (not much will be left at this point).

Of note, count the number of turn or measure the height of each bolt. You need to get the key bolts back to roughly the same position. If you fail to do this, you may find that the truck will sit at a funky angle due to the torsion bars not being evenly loaded.

 

[masterhacker]

I say crank em up and level it out

 

[frito-bandito]

Use a large C-clamp and you can take up the load on the keys using the C-clamp. That will allow you to remove the bolt that holds the key in place and then allow you to remove the bracket that the bolt is bolted to. From there, you can use the C-Clamp to relieve the rest of the stress on the key (not much will be left at this point).

Of note, count the number of turn or measure the height of each bolt. You need to get the key bolts back to roughly the same position. If you fail to do this, you may find that the truck will sit at a funky angle due to the torsion bars not being evenly loaded.

Thanks for the advice, do I need to take the weight off of the front wheels first?

 

[sgtowing]

Good luck with it.

 

[masterhacker]

yup, put vackstands under the frame with the front wheels off the gorund

 

[sgtowing]

yup, put vackstands under the frame with the front wheels off the gorund

I know I'm not the smartest but what are "vackstands".

 

[frito-bandito]

Thanks for the help everyone, I'll give it a try and see what happens, I'll keep y'all updated!

 

[walnuts4x4]