My Truck Tried To Kill Me! Torsion Bar Crossmember Replacement on my 2005 Chevy Duramax

[@chillitebza]

I'm South African and these kinds of vids are really great to see how y'all keep your cars on the road that side of the pond

[@DayOffDIY]

Awesome to hear, cool to have a South African viewer too. Cheers!

[@bolsonracing1531]

Hi there, for future reference you should lift the front end up and put it on jack stands. That way the weight of the truck is not putting tension on your torsion bars. If you noticed when you undid the crossmember it shot down really quick that wasn’t from gravity or the weight of the steel.

[@DayOffDIY]

I did have it up for most of the job,but you are correct, there was a lot of energy still stored in those bars

[@J-Stackx]

best to have all 4 wheels off the ground but most case people don't have right equipment to do so but no hate we all balling on a budget so we gotta do what we can with what we got

[@PhantomZore]

Man I love that truck! ❤ can’t wait for see more content on it.

[@DayOffDIY]

HEY! Im happy to hear that! Figured most subscribers only wanted BMW content so great news :)

[@RC-zb8tl]

Scary stuff man, props for not letting it get to you too much, throwing on the proper safety equipment and continuing the job 💪

[@DayOffDIY]

Glad I know how to do it know, but yeah there’s a lot of force in those bars! Good to see you again R C

[@NathanBullins-pf7ik]

The best way I found to push the keys up is a bottle jack with a bolt welded on top, it is overkill but makes it effortless to load and unload keys

[@DayOffDIY]

thats a great idea! ill have to try that in the future. Ill definitely be ordering a torsion bar key tool too

[@VicWY]

Thanks for this video! I discovered the same cracks on my Tuff Country aftermarket torsion bar cross member yesterday, and found your video looking for answers. My 2005 duramax is setup almost identical, all the way down to the stereo!

[@DayOffDIY]

Awesome! I love that truck. not my best work but hopefully it was helpful in some way. Im better with the BMWs lol

[@JacobLinn-wx9pl]

Love this im a bmw coming over to trucks as i need it for work(construction) im a e30/36 guy allllll day ​@DayOffDIY

[@masonptasinski715]

Let the front wheels hang. Takes away most of the energy. And a torsion key tool saves lives.

[@JA-zn4mq]

Get the torsion tool, well worth it. I've done with and with out. And yes release all tension first. Also, BIG problem as to why it cracked: No suspension bushing on your aftermarket drop. CST..BAD BAD Design

[@voiceforthevoicelesstruth5480]

My torsion bars came off Easy they rusted right off my Denali! It can be fixe with a stout ratchet strap good luck!

[@DayOffDIY]

Chuck! Youre awesome! Thanks so much for the tip!!!

[@Chevy71350]

I’ve replaced one of those before and that’s the same crossmember I got from GM and it was on a 2500 diesel as well

[@DayOffDIY]

it was surprisingly cheap! the replacement was not very smooth... without a torsion key tool, but we got it done!

[@Bchara-Knio]

God bless you man❤️, always wear safety glasses

[@DayOffDIY]

Thanks Bchara! I will

[@Coyleale000]

“Torque to specs” may have played a part in the failure in the tortion bar crossmember…possibly a few too many Ugga dugga’s when they put it in

[@DayOffDIY]

Thats a good idea, probably was the cause of it

[@davidpancerz5820]

How are the puppies? They might have to make an appearance in every video. Glad you weren't hurt.

[@DayOffDIY]

The puppies are great David! Got ‘em out to the dog park today, socializing little Sage. Great idea, I think I’ll have to do that. It’s time to start training Sage as a shop dog too

[@PhantomZore]

Dude you almost lost An eye at 6:10 please wear eye protection in the future! Safety is no joke!

[@DayOffDIY]

I wasn’t kidding when I said she tried to kill me :/ You’re right, safety is no joke, happy to have made it through this job unscathed

[@PhantomZore]

@@DayOffDIY That truck was pissed with you for leaving it for so long lol. Glad it all worked out in the end. 👍I have seen subframe damage like that before from solid bush conversion kits… it’s like the manufacturer knew what they were doing when they put a rubber bush there. Judging by the views on your other truck videos I’d agree I might be in the minority who love this truck but it’s a bad ass truck and at 20:00 ish when you listed most of the stuff you have done to it and I can tell you love that truck. If you ever want free content on it you can always detail it with your new polisher and wash the underside maybe… Show the old truck some love.

[@DayOffDIY]

I agree, she deserves some attention, time to test the polisher on big Bertha soon I think

[@kevinlogan2306]

Love the content I have a Duramax and a M3

[@DayOffDIY]

You got great taste Kevin :)

[@sonmydful]

@10:19 when you had your face right next to the puller. i prayed for you

[@DayOffDIY]

I got lucky!

[@dererseter-hh1pk]

Another amazing vid!

[@DayOffDIY]

Thanks again!

[@gmanglenn1]

You put a lot of parts wow! Hours and hours of labor. Like $15,000!

[@DayOffDIY]

Indeed! You’re pretty close with that number Glenn, probably spot on if I would’ve kept better track of all the repair costs

[@kobeslaton9675]

What is the part number on the crossmember? I need to replace mine. It's completely off the framed of my truck.

[@buster8295]

They came with sunroofs from the factory. Mine has it. Same truck.

[@DayOffDIY]

Really?! I have an aftermarket sunroof control unit that was mounted into the top roof console, and I spoke to the company that produces them for a wiring question, and I found the aftermarket wiring near my drivers fuse box

[@chrisbrant7844]

Great video

[@Trad-Am]

Front suspension at full droop, to unload torsion bars

[@DayOffDIY]

yeah i learned a lot of lessons on this one. thanks for the comments!

[@jamesaldridge6899]

I may be an idiot asking this…what’s a pumpkin?? Yep I felt your relief when that tip exploded!😮

[@DayOffDIY]

Of course not, questions like that are meant to be asked! Pumpkin is a nickname for a differential, especially one with CV axles because as an individual part it looks like a pumpkin. Hope that helps!

[@jamesaldridge6899]

@@DayOffDIY of course! Thanks👍🏼

[@joshuareyes9298]

Where did you get those kings for that big of a lift ?

[@lieutenantdan8170]

Final destination stuff

[@DayOffDIY]

What’s up Lt! Good to see ya

[@Jessersadler]

dude. . . they make a torsion key install tool. Would have saved ya a couple of hours. . . And been way safer. use the tool, remove the bolt, and bar keeping the keys in. then drive the torsion bars forward, remove the torsion keys, then remove and replace cross-member

[@Mega747400]

on my 1500 im screwed the OEM bracket on the drivers side that holds the crossmember is broken and its in a spot the frame was welded so i dont know if i can drill new holes or not

[@DayOffDIY]

ive seen people drill out the weld and replace the brackets before, maybe you can find a walkthrough online? theres always a solution :)

[@Mega747400]

i meant a full 2 foot section of frame was replaced with plate steel just nervous about it@@DayOffDIY

[@johnharrison5098]

did u ever have like a floating feeling when driving thru dips and hitting bumps? im tryna see y mine is doin it

[@DayOffDIY]

No just a clicking noise

[@Jessersadler]

Replace your shocks

[@eduardodaquiljr9637]

All members or parts under load or stress must be relived to avoid force re-action!

[@DayOffDIY]

yeah I learned some lessons on this one...

[@pdxlbz6504]

Thanks for the video, mine is bent I’ve been looking online for a replacement crossmember, where did you order yours?

[@DayOffDIY]

eBay!

[@pdxlbz6504]

@UNLIMITED GROUP same I have a 3500 SRW and I can’t find my exact part

[@DayOffDIY]

@UNLIMITED GROUP I got mine off ebay! have you looked there? i saw a few options for sale on ebay

[@papajohnthirteen]

I couldn’t watch to scary for me. Hang the front suspension let the shocks go The lower control arms will drop some more Take as much stress off the torsion bars as you can Be safe.

[@DayOffDIY]

I appreciate the comment, not my best work but i learned a valuable lesson

[@masonford4868]

My 1500 chevy driver side broke so it would rattel every time I hit a bump I drove it like that for over a year could not tell other then the rattel on bumps

[@DayOffDIY]

I could feel mine clicking as I drove over off camber terrain, had me too spooked to drive it like that. Torsion bars are no joke

[@sheerwillsurvival2064]

I think that E bay part will bend off road looks very flimsy. Just my 2c cents

[@DayOffDIY]

it was actually a GM original part

[@sheerwillsurvival2064]

@@DayOffDIY 🤔 interesting I was a GM technician and never seen one with the wholes . Oh well something I just haven’t seen

[@DayOffDIY]

I could be mistaken! The stickers said so. Id trust your experience over my memory of the job

[@sheerwillsurvival2064]

@@DayOffDIY 👍🏻

[@NickPierce-wi1dm]

What are those mounts on the frame?

[@DayOffDIY]

Those are mounts that come with the CST drop crossmember lift kit, it moves the crossmember down from its factory location

[@camomudtoy]

Harbor freight sells the unload tool.

[@tanaseav]

I think welding and reinforcing the old one would have been the better option....

[@DayOffDIY]

True! I havent invested in a welder yet though so this was the fastest and cheapest way to fix the issue

[@rafaellugo5747]

Where do you order the bar support??

[@DayOffDIY]

i ordered this one off of ebay

[@rafaellugo5747]

@@DayOffDIY I didn’t find it on EBay do you have the link by chance? Thanks

[@reelnmanglergilly4856]

That part is for the none Allison just fyi

[@DayOffDIY]

ahh maybe thats why it looks different, i wonder if itll be okay, no issues yet!

[@reelnmanglergilly4856]

@@DayOffDIY yes it’ll be ok. I think one has more structure for the torque of the diesel but either way they are both hd models

[@MrRush240]

Did this man not use a tortion bar remover tool? Thats probably y that piece broke off

[@DayOffDIY]

i didnt, but i learned my lesson!

[@Trad-Am]

I've got a cognito NTDB 4-6 lift set at 4, so not relevant for me. Was looking to see how ugly the torsion bar bushings were gonna be, but watched anyway.

[@DayOffDIY]

ahh i shouldve showed em. No visible issues with the bushings but the LCAs are blown out. theyre original

[@Trad-Am]

@@DayOffDIY: installed Kryptonite UCA's last year, when I did my head gaskets, arp studs and 45% over sac injectors. I was actually fine with stock LB7 size injectors, but this was my second set, and the exergy sac nozzles, that last much longer, don't come smaller than 45%. Rest of the list since 2015, built SDP trans, Kryptonite built transfer case, aluminum, instead of magnesium, so no more pump rub. Kryptonite tie rods, and idler arm, gm steering box, Kryptonite wheel bearings, Cognito 4-6 NTBD lift, so torsion bar cross member, stays tucked up in factory mount. Then last year, wire wheel, rust converter, and coated my frame, suspension, rear end etc. With RP-342 cosmoline black looks painted black, but it's a petroleum wax, that seals the steel, and won't rust underneath like paint. It's my Sled hauler, and the salt from mountain passes was starting to be an issue. It sucks, is allot of prep, but it seals out rust, and you don't have a wet slimy mess, that you have to do every year, like lanolin. I do spray surface shield lanolin, inside the body underneath though, where you can't see it. Worth it, If you live where there's snows.

[@24nickSss]

Part number for crossmember support?

[@petersaler731]

Please be careful.

[@DayOffDIY]

Miss you Peter 😘

[@renaldschmotterer8421]

Wow métier à risque 😉

[@gmanglenn1]

That's the problem with trucks! They are dangerous

[@DayOffDIY]

These torsion bars especially, lots of kinetic energy in those bad boys, coil overs are so much easier in my opinion

[@mogukia5806]

멋져요

[@DayOffDIY]

Thanks!

[@keithstone4476]

I hope no one refers to this when working on their truck, this is a lawsuit waiing to hapoen.

[@DayOffDIY]

wasnt my best work, but i was able to showcase my mistakes

[@jonlittle3738]

You're not much of a mechanic, You should be using jack stamps for your front end to get those tires up off the ground, Before you took off the cross member bolts, You should have took your keys out first,

[@DayOffDIY]

i hear ya, didnt know what i was doing on the torsion bars to be honest, first time ever messing with them, but lessons were learned and I try to showcase my mistakes

[@Dreamchaserstophunger]

What happened to putting a floor jack underneath that man?

[@NathanBullins-pf7ik]

The best way I found to push the keys up is a bottle jack with a bolt welded on top, it is overkill but makes it effortless to load and unload keys