I bought a 2003 Excursion last month and immediately noticed suspension and steering problems. First thing I did was replace the stock shocks and steering stabilizer with Ranchos. That helped a little. Then I installed the Roadmaster Active Suspension. That helped a little too. Finally, I installed the Hellwig rear sway bar yesterday. BINGO! That helped A LOT! My X drives like a brand new vehicle now. The body roll is gone and the squirrely steering is finally gone.

I'm sure there's some combined effect from the new shocks, RAS, and sway bar. However, I must say that the Hellwig rear sway bar had by far the greatest effect on the drive-ability of the vehicle. I highly recommend this upgrade to anybody who doesn't have a rear sway bar yet. I just wish I would have done it earlier.

 

The hellwigs are great. Just have to disregard the useless installation instructions.

 

X2. Handling definitely improved. Installation instuction was like decifering an ancient writing on the wall of the pyramid of Giza.

 

Hey jh, I also have the Michelin AT/2s, the hellwig, Bilstein stabilizer and a KYB gas-a-just at each corner. Used 12mm offset rims when replacing the factory stamped steel, pushed the track out a couple of inches. Overall these trucks can be tamed into handling like a Camaro. I've heard that comment from a couple of guys I let drive mine.

 

X3 here. best mod for handling of an X! I almost traded the X after having it for 2 months because the wander was so bad, and towing with it was downright scarry!!! It now handles and tows like nothing I have ever driven.

 

Do you guys have any particular helpful hints on installing the sway bar? I'll be tackling that project in the next week or 2, if it ever stops raining that is.

 

Check out my previous thread when I installed mine.

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...bar-links.html

 

Hellwig has the installation procedure on-line,
I've read it several times already.

- not sure if it's the same as what's included or not
-but the quality of the pictures is fine on-line.

 

Welcome to the land of Better Handling!

Aint it cool how much nicer these rigs are when they handle better?

As has been recommended on different Excursion forums since at least 2004, the Hellwig is but one piece of the puzzle to upgrading the woeful OEM suspension Ford used on the 4x4 Excursions. If you find you might want more, look into upgrading your front and rear springs.

Stewart

 

Thanks Stewart H! A couple of questions for you:

1. What kind of front and rear spring mod do you recommend? Changing the springs hasn't been "on my radar" yet, but I'm always open to new ideas.

2. On the Hellwig sway bar, what kind of regular maintenance issues have you dealt with (if any)? Have you ever discovered fasteners getting loose, bushing wear, or anything else?

 

You should retorque after about 30 days and then check periodically. The double nuts seem to keep everything fine. My bushings have about 55k on them and look fine. They may have been polyurethane, can't remember.

 

The most commonly used springs for the front are V codes. W and X codes are also popular options.

For the rear, B codes are used almost exclusively. Sometimes people will mod their B codes (aka modded B codes) before putting them on.

Here is some extensive reading for you to "catch you up" on the spring mod: https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/7...s-for-you.html

No issues whatsoever. It's been rock solid golden for 7 years now.

Stewart

 

Great info guys! Thanks very much!

 

I know this is an old thread.
But I wonder if anybody here is running this hellwig with some kind of traction bars ?

Kyle

 

Surprised nobody answered this back when it was asked.

The Excursion comes Stock with a "traction bar" So yes, many people are using a traction bar in conjunction with a rear hellwig anti-roll bar.