Sway Bar Questions - Diesel Forum

mike650 · 05-19-2004, 11:26 AM

I have a 2002 X and was considering adding a rear sway bar to it. Would this be a good thing to do? If yes, should I also look at replacing the front one with a beefier one? What sway bar manaufacture would you suggest and is there a site or location you would recommend that I purchase it from?

Any input would be very much appreciated!!

Thanks!

jschira · 05-19-2004, 12:00 PM

Yes, put on a rear sway bar. Worth every penny (<$150).

The factory front bar could be better, but is OK.

Hellwig is the brand of choice.

www.jcwhitney.com
www.summitracing.com

drchris1024 · 05-19-2004, 02:43 PM

[ QUOTE ]
Yes, put on a rear sway bar. Worth every penny (<$150).

The factory front bar could be better, but is OK.

Hellwig is the brand of choice.

www.jcwhitney.com
www.summitracing.com

[/ QUOTE ]

Agree 100%...Best mod that I've done money vs. result. Summit Racing $149 to my door in 2 days.

jschira · 05-19-2004, 02:50 PM

You need Hellwig Model #7643

Here is a link:

http://store.summitracing.com/partde...art=HEL%2D7643

CHPMustang · 05-19-2004, 03:22 PM

Every Excursion needs a rear sway bar no matter what. You'll be pleased with the results [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

Ahh Northern California how we miss it [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

krshultz · 05-19-2004, 03:25 PM

I've been led to believe somewhere on here (of course now I can't find it) that if you have a 4" exhaust, the Hellwig won't fit anymore. Any truth to this?

mike650 · 05-19-2004, 03:49 PM

Hey guys these are great suggestions!!

KRSHULTZ brought up up great question!!! Will the Hellwig rear sway bar fit on an X 4x4 with a Banks 4" monster exhaust???

also..

Will I notice much of a difference if I replace my existing frony sway bar with a Hellwig or am I ok?

Thanks again!!

CHPMustang · 05-19-2004, 03:51 PM

My stock 3.5" exhaust comes no where near the rear Hellwig at least on our Excursion [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shrug.gif[/img]

RussBarnes · 05-21-2004, 10:22 AM

I put the 1 1/4" rear bar on mine. I took a short trip and drove locally for a week (about 1000 total miles). The next weekend I was checking everything and found that there was a dent in the tailpipe from the corner of the bushing bracket. There's at least 3/4" if not an inch of clearance. That's with a factory tailpipe. I cut a corner off the bracket with my sawsall and maybe gained another 1/2", but I noticed that the whole exhaust can sure move around and watching the rear tires as I travel the interstates and do a NASCAR side-to-side tire scrub, I can watch the rear tires move in and out of the wheelwells. I wish someone made a Panhard (Track) bar for these, I'll bet that would be a good handling improvement that wouldn't hurt the ride.

By the way, I also installed the 1 1/2" front bar after driving with just the rear for a week, DO IT! Adding the rear feels good, lightens the steering wheel load, reduces lean but you can feel that a lot of work is going on by the rears and on wet it could swap ends. Adding the bigger front bar was as major an improvement as installing the rear and it only goes from 1 3/8" to 1 1/2", well worth it. Guess my days of roundy rounds gives me the seat of the pants feedback, but the handling on these rigs from the factory may be fine for soccer Mom's, but to travel the highways they need some work.

krshultz · 05-21-2004, 11:19 AM

Cruiser, how bad of a dent was it?

This is what I was afraid of. My 4" will almost certainly hit then. Guess I'll put the bar on, and take the truck to the guy who did my exhaust and see if he can make it work. Thanks for the info.

02ex · 05-21-2004, 11:44 AM

My 4" exhaust does not hit the hellwig bar or airbags in the rear. Different brands will vary, my pipes were flo-pro's I think (local shop installed them), although come to think of it, the bar and bags were in place when the exhaust was done, so they may hove done some tweaking then.

Alaskapsdvan · 05-21-2004, 12:25 PM

I know that I added a sway bar to the E350 and have cut down on the body roll greatly. Handling is much better with the bar than with out the bar. Bought my sway bar from Hellwig, and also added the spacers from correctrack, another great add to the van.
Kinda pived that Ford did not put the swaybar on the van in the first place with all the bad Page Ranking that is going on with the vans.
just my .02 worth

RussBarnes · 05-21-2004, 01:41 PM

The dent was the diameter of a nickel, probably about 1/8" deep. I could see many scratch marks around the dent so something was moving. Looking at the real estate under the rear, I'd say a good shop could keep a larger pipe away from the bracket.

krshultz · 05-21-2004, 10:25 PM

Thanks all..Cruiser, I'll have my exhaust guy go to work. He's a guru [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

FJF · 05-22-2004, 01:04 PM

Has anyone found some pics of a hellwig sway bar installed. I was wondering what kind of clearence there was between the bar and the exhaust. I have a 5" exhaust and was going to put a swaybar on but would like to see what to expect before ordering one. FJF [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shrug.gif[/img]