99 & up 7.3L Power Stroke Engine and DrivetrainDiscussion of the 99 & up 7.3L Power Stroke diesel engine and drivetrain in the 1999-Up Super Duty trucks and Excursions. No gas engine discussion allowed except on transmissions and drivetrain that pertain to all models. Please confine discussion of topics in this forum to those items that are specific to the 7.3L Power Stroke engine.
Installing the Hellwig Rear Sway, shock concerns, HELP!
This is a mess, I bought 4 new Bilsteins and a sway bar kit. Came in on Friday. I climb under the truck, and remove all the necessary part to add the bar and replace the rear shocks. My rear springs are gone, I think. First, there is no 'bow' at all in them. Second, I couldn't increase or decrease the space between the axle and the frame. It was like everthing moved in sequence. I figure I can still do this swap if the shocks. So I go to install the sway bar kit. This is a no go. The bracket that bolts on the axel with the shock mount and new u-bolts is made wrong. The u-bolt is a 1/2" thread and the bracket holes are .050" undersized. There is no way to install without damaging the threads. So I had to settle for only a shock replacement. Now, I will modify these brakets here at work today, but now have a new problem. If I unbolt the shock mount with new shocks, won't the shock extend? How do I keep the shock from extending when the shock mount is removed? Also, can anyone give me some pointers or suggestions on replacing the front shocks?
Last edited by gager2002; 11-09-2009 at 03:37 PM.
Reason: re title
The kits requires a replacement u-bolt and an additinoal bracket to install on the front side of the shock mount to bolt on the "D" bushing bracket.
This is on a 4X2 excursion with out a sway bar at all.
Mine mounted on the pumpkin - independent of the shock mount. THere are ridges in the pumpkin casting for this.
Are you saying the instructions tell you to assemble the shock mount AND the sway bar mount with the same u-bolt?? If that was the case-you would not need a u-bolt - you would need bolts since the bolt would not be going around the axle - what year truck?
__________________ 99.5 F-250 CC LB 4x4 7.3 Red New Pics 1/5/10
Trail Boss Replacement Bumpers, Tool Box, Headache Rack, Full Length Running Boards, Bilstien Shocks, BFG AT/KO 285/75x16E, 2003 Cup Holder, Marinco Heater Plug, Weather Tech Rain Vents / Hood Guard, B&W GN Hitch, X-Springs, Rear 4" F350 Blocks, Hellwig front and rear sway bars, Timbrens, Duraflaps
ok, got the bracket modified. Plan on finishing tonight. Can anyone tell me how to safely do this since there are now new shocks and already broke free from the shipping strap? Can I use bailing wire and wire them compressed? I am not sure how much force they have on them.
__________________
2003 Excursion XLT, PSD, 4X2. 167k miles. 18mpg in town. (4" intake and exhaust installed by po).
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