How to Install DMAX XD Torsion Bar Supports on a Duramax
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Upgrade Your Duramax Torsion Bar Supports the Right Way
Why Torsion Bar Support Actually Matters
If you’re piloting an older Duramax truck with a torsion bar front suspension, you’re already asking a lot from a system that was designed to balance ride comfort and load capacity. Start adding lift keys, cranking bars, heavier front accessories like bumpers and winches, or just piling on miles, and things get stressed in a hurry.
That stress usually shows up in the torsion bar supports. Factory units get sloppy, bushings wear out, and before long you’ve got unwanted movement that translates into poor ride quality, inconsistent alignment, and that annoying “clunk” sound you hear every time you put the truck into reverse.
Factory replacement mounts are readily available; however, they’re prone to the same wear as your OEM set. That’s where the DMAX XD Torsion Bar Support steps in. It’s not a flashy part, but it’s one of those upgrades that quietly fixes a bunch of downstream problems and increases both ride quality and quality of life for an older truck.
What This Part Is Really Doing
At its core, the torsion bar support is responsible for holding the rear torsion bar crossmember in place. The OEM setup uses softer materials that wear over time, especially under increased preload from leveled or lifted trucks.
The DMAX XD unit from Dmaxstore.com replaces that factory support with a more robust assembly designed to reduce deflection and eliminate slop. Translation: Your torsion bar mount stays where it’s supposed to, and your suspension behaves the way it should. This becomes especially important if:
- You’ve cranked your torsion keys for lift
- You’re running bigger/heavier wheels and tires
- You’ve added a plow, bumper, or winch
- Your truck has seen several hundred thousand miles, as so many of these trucks have
Installation: The Real-World Version
Start by lifting the front of the truck to take pressure off the torsion bars and supports. You need to take the weight off the torsion bars so that you can remove them from the mounts without fighting the weight of the truck.
With the weight off, remove the bolts holding the torsion bar crossmember to the factory mounts. From there, unbolt the transmission mount from the crossmember. This is a perfect time to inspect it, and honestly, just replace it if it’s questionable. You already did the hard part by getting access, and the cost of this mount is typically sub-$100 from your local parts store.
Now for the part everyone loves to complain about—the factory rivets.
You’ll need to cut them out of the frame to remove the original mounts. A die grinder or angle grinder works well here. Cut a slot into the rivet head, then use an air chisel to break them apart and drive them out. It’s not elegant, but it’s effective. Expect sparks, noise, and at least one moment where you question your life choices. If an air hammer is not available, you can grind these off with a grinding disc. Take care to not gouge the frame rails when you’re doing this.
Once the rivets are out, pull the factory mounts. If your truck has seen a few winters, expect things to be “crusty” to put it politely.
With everything cleared out, install the new DMAX XD torsion bar supports using the included hardware from Dmaxstore. The fit is straightforward and designed to land right where the factory pieces came out. The included bolts are a breeze to mock up, and with the help of a friend, this part is extremely smooth.
Reinstall the torsion bar crossmember to the new supports, then bolt the transmission mount back into place.
At this point, you can optionally hit the area with an underbody coating. If you live anywhere where salt exists, this is cheap insurance and worth the extra few minutes.
Now, repeat the process on the other side.
Pro Tips That’ll Save You Time
Getting to the driver side is tighter than the passenger side thanks to the fuel lines running along the frame rail. There’s less room to work, so expect it to take longer and require a bit more patience. We ended up bending the new mounting tab slightly to get it to rotate into place, then used the bolt tension to bend it back into place upon installation.
When dealing with rivets, the combo that works best is cutting a slot with a die grinder, then using an air chisel to break them apart.
And again, don’t ignore the transmission mount while it’s out. This is one of those rare moments where replacing it is easy instead of miserable.
What You’ll Notice After
This isn’t a flashy upgrade, but it’s one you feel immediately. Perhaps the biggest thing you’ll notice immediately is the random disappearance of the clunk sounds. Outside of that, though, the driving experience behind the wheel feels more firm. The front end seems to wander less, and overall the truck just rides a lot better because the torsion bar crossmember is actually mounted to the frame. It’s one of those fixes that makes everything else you’ve done to the truck work better.
The Real Value
Suspension upgrades usually get attention when they’re big and obvious. Lift kits, shocks, and control arms—those get all the glory. But supporting components like torsion bar mounts are what keep everything working together and keep older trucks running, driving, and most importantly, riding like they should.
It’s one of those small things that will make a world of difference, and the investment, both monetarily and time-wise, is relatively low for the overall difference it makes.
