Does anyone have any experience with Hellwig's 7973 factory replacement front sway bar end links? My OE end links are trash, as well as the sway bar bushings. Opted to replace sway bar as well as end links, so ordered Hellwig's stuff. On comparing the new end link with the OE, there's quite a difference. Just wondering if anyone has them on their truck, and how they've held up. Thanks.

 

If the endlinks you ordered are OEM replacements, there should be exactly no differences. Wasted money really, all you need to do is replace bushings unless your OEM end links are damaged too.

As far as the front sway bar, I think the Hellwig front sway bar is the same size as the factory one, also a waste of money. This is from memory of something I read in the EX forum. The rear sway bar is common with them, because Hellwigs is larger than the EX rear sway bar (as is the F250 rear sway bar), but I seem to recall reading that the fronts were the same as the Hellwig.

How did you damage the links and bar itself?

 

Hey Brandon, nice to see you again.


While I don't have any input on Hellwig, I can say I replaced my end links. I didn't have the expertise to repair the old ones, but I learned that later. I have a lot of fancy tools at my disposal at work, and this is one item I regret not taking the time to repair (as opposed to replacing). I could have saved some money.

As you know, Stinky is not lifted.

 

It looks like the Hellwing 7393 end links are similar to the adding the Energy Suspension bushing kit to the stock end links. I don't know if the bushings used by Hellwig are any different in hardness than the Energy Suspension. I do like how my ES bushings reduce the amount of sway over the stock "ball joint" ends. I would say, by design, the Hellwig would also be an improvement over stock.

 

Rich, as you stated, repairing OE would probably require having the OE bushing pressed out and new pressed in. I opted for Hellwig's replacement as they looked srtaight forward, an easy bolt on. Only thing is, the upper attachment bolt doesnt appear to be reusable, so I'm on the hunt for the right Class 10.9 bolts.

Roland, thanks for the input. The 7973 is a polyurethane bushing like ES. Guess my concern was longevity over the OE "ball joint" style. They weren't that expensive, less than or equal to cheap Dorman replacements. I'll run 'em and see how they do.

BTW, OE sway bar is 1-1/8", Hellwing bar is 1-1/2", hope it helps with body roll when the camper is on. Reason for the swap was all bushings were toast, 205000 miles on the original equipment, just wore out, and wanted a bit of an upgrade.

 

I bought my replacement bolts at the stealership.

 

Got everything bolted on and quick test drive done. The nicest thing first off, is the lack of rattle/clunk on our wash boarded gravel road and no groan/pop while cornering. Body roll is obviously improved, but that would've been true just replacing the worn bushings, the real test will come next week when I take a cross state trip with the camper on. Will report back.

 

Sounds good! Glad to here it went without a hitch.