Hellwig Swaybar = Joke

[HEAVYHITTER]

So I went to throw the Hellwig swaybar on this weekend and well you guessed it. I was missing about 3 nuts several washers and bushings and the kit was sent out w/ a list of in inventory parts with handwriting saying out of part #xxx and they still sent the kit out w/out the parts!!!!

What a joke! For the $200 or whatever this thing cost you would think they could get the hardware even remotely close!!

Oh and don't even get me started on the black and white sheet they call directions! WOW. So there are about 4 different washers of varying sizes and not one mention of what washer goes where. Yeah it can be figured out but I don't get it. If I am in the business of selling swaybars I would make sure they had the required parts and make sure the directions were clearly written. Sure mistakes happen but good lord!!!! This thing kit is a joke so far. Its laughable how bad it is.

Off soap box.

I remember seeing a writeup about the swaybar installation w/ pictures. That sure would come in handy. Anyone have that?

Thanks

[mykidsarebrats]

Where did you get it from??

[HEAVYHITTER]

JCW

[neilc88]

[ QUOTE ]
So I went to throw the Hellwig swaybar on this weekend and well you guessed it. I was missing about 3 nuts several washers and bushings and the kit was sent out w/ a list of in inventory parts with handwriting saying out of part #xxx and they still sent the kit out w/out the parts!!!!

What a joke! For the $200 or whatever this thing cost you would think they could get the hardware even remotely close!!

Oh and don't even get me started on the black and white sheet they call directions! WOW. So there are about 4 different washers of varying sizes and not one mention of what washer goes where. Yeah it can be figured out but I don't get it. If I am in the business of selling swaybars I would make sure they had the required parts and make sure the directions were clearly written. Sure mistakes happen but good lord!!!! This thing kit is a joke so far. Its laughable how bad it is.

Off soap box.

I remember seeing a writeup about the swaybar installation w/ pictures. That sure would come in handy. Anyone have that?

Thanks

[/ QUOTE ]

Sorry, they sent me so many extra nuts and washers a few years ago that they ended up shorting you.
I think once you get it installed you'll be happy, at least I am.

[HEAVYHITTER]

[/ QUOTE ]

Sorry, they sent me so many extra nuts and washers a few years ago that they ended up shorting you.
I think once you get it installed you'll be happy, at least I am.

[/ QUOTE ]

[img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif[/img]

[Ferraridriver]

I just did mine Saturday, I got extras too, but I agree, the instructions are a joke

[HEAVYHITTER]

[ QUOTE ]
I just did mine Saturday, I got extras too, but I agree, the instructions are a joke

[/ QUOTE ]

So do you recall which washers you used where?

You guys must have got my pieces!! [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif[/img]

Does anyone have any pictures of their install? W/ missing so many parts I am confused on whether or not my idea od how it is suppose to come together is right.

[Ferraridriver]

I used the thick washers on the down links and the bolts in the frame, lock nuts on down links, biggest washers on the plates that go on the shock mounts.

Lock nots have a slight depression on every other flat

I have two big lock nuts, two regular big nuts, and one of each 1/2" washer left over

[Bruce1954]

[ QUOTE ]
So I went to throw the Hellwig swaybar on this weekend and well you guessed it. I was missing about 3 nuts several washers and bushings and the kit was sent out w/ a list of in inventory parts with handwriting saying out of part #xxx and they still sent the kit out w/out the parts!!!!

What a joke! For the $200 or whatever this thing cost you would think they could get the hardware even remotely close!!

Oh and don't even get me started on the black and white sheet they call directions! WOW. So there are about 4 different washers of varying sizes and not one mention of what washer goes where. Yeah it can be figured out but I don't get it. If I am in the business of selling swaybars I would make sure they had the required parts and make sure the directions were clearly written. Sure mistakes happen but good lord!!!! This thing kit is a joke so far. Its laughable how bad it is.

Off soap box.

I remember seeing a writeup about the swaybar installation w/ pictures. That sure would come in handy. Anyone have that?

Thanks

[/ QUOTE ]

You could have bought the Ford with no directions for about $130-150 then used my picts to put it together! The Ford set is easy I would say hard to even do it wrong but with a little effort you might be able to.


This is why I have been recomending the Ford bar for years.

Only snag is the right shock mount on 02 and earlier; 04-05 are OK; 03 could be a mixed bag we never did figure that out for sure. The solution is easy cut it down if you have to or buy the 04 right shock mount for about $15.00


Why don't you call your dealer and ask them for the price on all the parts for an 04 X sway bar setup. To bad ford accessories never had this as a kit it would have made ordering easy.

Be sure to get an RMA from JCW and send it back if you don't want to deal with it.

There is a parts list on here someplace if you have a realy lame parts department. Lame = "you must supply correct part numbers to them"

What year is your X? You don't have an 03 - 05 with the 24MM rear bar do you?

Bruce

[Dunbar]

I am shopping for a rear sway bar, V codes, F codes and Bilsteins. What vendor do you guys recommend? I know shipping will be an issue and I can look for take off springs locally but will probably wind up with new.

I can check the local dealers in Northwest Houston but if I am buying a sway bar I would probably get the bigger one. I like Bilsteins and can just shop for the best price but which version do we put on the X'es?

Sorry for the hijack but someone asked where you got the Hellwig and if it makes a difference which vendor, I would like to which ones try to get it right.

Dunbar

[HEAVYHITTER]

You could have bought the Ford with no directions for about $130-150 then used my picts to put it together! The Ford set is easy I would say hard to even do it wrong but with a little effort you might be able to.


This is why I have been recomending the Ford bar for years.

Only snag is the right shock mount on 02 and earlier; 04-05 are OK; 03 could be a mixed bag we never did figure that out for sure. The solution is easy cut it down if you have to or buy the 04 right shock mount for about $15.00


Why don't you call your dealer and ask them for the price on all the parts for an 04 X sway bar setup. To bad ford accessories never had this as a kit it would have made ordering easy.

Be sure to get an RMA from JCW and send it back if you don't want to deal with it.

There is a parts list on here someplace if you have a realy lame parts department. Lame = "you must supply correct part numbers to them"

What year is your X? You don't have an 03 - 05 with the 24MM rear bar do you?

Bruce

[/ QUOTE ]

I have an 03 7.3L w/ no stock rear swaybar. I honestly thought the kit would be pretty straightforward. So far it seems to be about the opposite. I'll get it figured out its only a bar w/ some brackets but its amazing how many people have had lack of parts or extra parts. No quality control what so ever.

And my local Ford dealer is about as bad as it gets. I don't know about the parts department but the service I have had there recently has been about on par w/ what my 2 year old neice could do. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif[/img]

[william_04_X]

here's a pic of my recent install (Hellwig rear bar and Bilstein shocks about 3 weeks ago)..i used the big locknuts on the short through bolt on the top of the D-clamp..i used two non-locking nuts on each end of the U-bolts(jam-nutted)..locknuts on the bottom of the endlinks..that's the only way i could figure to use all the parts and keep it all tight..

IIRC the instructions stated which washers to use where..for the end links use the thickest washers that fit the link rod..that is where the stress is..you want to support those end link bushings..the washers holding the plate to the shock mount don't have as much load pulling on them..those bolts have more of a sheer load..

the rear shocks were really simple..the fronts were a bit of a PITA..the upper mounting shaft/rod must be held with an allen while the nut is tightend with a wrench..that seemed to take forever with the limited amount of space to work with..i was too lazy to remove the wheel well liner which would have helped..

good luck... you'll get it,
william

[Ferraridriver]

[ QUOTE ]

.the upper mounting shaft/rod must be held with an allen while the nut is tightend with a wrench..that seemed to take forever with the limited amount of space to work with..i was too lazy to remove the wheel well liner which would have helped..



[/ QUOTE ]I used box wrench on the nut and turned the shaft with an allen socket and rachet handle [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

[william_04_X]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]

.the upper mounting shaft/rod must be held with an allen while the nut is tightend with a wrench..that seemed to take forever with the limited amount of space to work with..i was too lazy to remove the wheel well liner which would have helped..



[/ QUOTE ]I used box wrench on the nut and turned the shaft with an allen socket and rachet handle [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

[/ QUOTE ]

that's why you drive a ferrari.. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif[/img] [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif[/img] [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif[/img]

[HEAVYHITTER]

Thanks guys