Sway Bar Questions

[mike650]

My 2002 4x4 X did not come with a rear anti-sway bar so that is why I am going Hellwig per the suggestions of my peers on this web site. I went a step futher and I am in the process of replacing the front anti-sway bar as well.

The Hellwig front anti-sway bar does appear stronger and slightly larger than my stock front anti-sway bar.

We placed the Hellwig front sway bar side by side with the stock front sway bar while my X was on the hoist. Until you do the same, I do not know what else to tell you.

Not much else to add other than the bars will be installed next week.

Thanks!!

[FMTRVT]

Bruce,

You've lost me there. I thought the factory rear bar was 24mm?


But I would still like to get someone to measure the front Hellwig as well.

[blackx]

I got the Hellwig rear sway bar from Summit for my Excursion. I did it on the advice of this board. I was very happy with it (did not notice any paint quality problems). The only problem that I had was after about 5000 miles, I noticed a clunk coming from underneath on turns. It turns out that some of the hardware had loosened which allowed some slop to clunk. Tightened up the bolts and good as new.

[Bruce1954]

It is 24mm however a F-350-some applications uses a 30mm bar and it comes with bushings so it is a direct bolt in just remove two bushing mounts-4 bolts, and two link nuts replace with 30mm bar for $48 and change (that was about 2 years ago) and you are done.

And yes this only applies to 2003 and up with the factory bar.

Bruce

[Bruce1954]

The hardware seemed marginal to me when I did this in early 2002 so I used ford parts, had to use SD link arms and shorten them, but you can buy them now.
70k on Ford rear bar no problems, I did have the front links replaced under extended warranty because of a noise over large bumps.

Bruce

[FMTRVT]

OK, so any of you Excursion owner's getting tired of tripping over those wimpy OE sway bars that are hanging around in the garage, tripping your wife, now that you have the fabulous Hellwig bar. Can't stand them up in a corner worth a damn, they are always falling over.

[mike650]

Finaly installed my Hellwigs then took my X on a test drive into the mountains. The handling was awesome!! It feels like I have a brand new truck. To everyone who has an older X that did not come with a rear anti-sway bar - this upgrade is a must!!!

Also..

I took my Lyman Caliper and measured my old front sway bar, it was 1.430". I then checked my new Hellwig front bar and it measured 1.517". Hellwig advertised the front sway bar as 1-1/2". There is also a big difference in weight and strength between both sway bars, the new Hellwig being superior to Ford OEM. Just for kicks, I then checked my Hellwig rear anti-swaybar and it measuered 1.317". Hellwig advertised the rear bar as 1-1/4". Not much else to say except if your are on the fence about a front Hellwig sway bar, go for it.

Back to the mountains, yahoo!!