I have searched and read I think every post on the Hellwig Rear sway bar. But ha anyone installed a FRONT sway bar? I just ordered The front and rear Hellwig for my 01 5.4L 4x2 no less than two minutes ago. Anything you guys can tell me?

<TABLE id=Table11 border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=1 width="100%"><TBODY><TR class=invoice_table><TD class=item vAlign=top width="15%" align=left>HEW-7674</TD><TD class=item vAlign=top width="53%" align=left>Hellwig 7674 Sway Bar Front 1.5 in. Bar Dia. </TD><TD width="1%"></TD><TD class=item vAlign=top width="9%" align=right></TD><TD width="1%"></TD><TD class=item vAlign=top width="9%" align=middle></TD><TD width="2%"></TD><TD class=item vAlign=top width="10%" align=right> </TD></TR><TR class=invoice_table><TD class=item vAlign=top width="15%" align=left>HEW-7643</TD><TD class=item vAlign=top width="53%" align=left>Hellwig 7643 Sway Bar Rear 1.25 in. Bar Dia. </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

 

You should already have a front sway bar from the factory. Don't know why you want to replace it?

 

You know I havent even looked under there. Will look first thing in the morning!

 

I've had Helwig f&r bars on my 2001 4x2 7.3 Ex. for several years and it corners flat and has been around Road Atlanta many times with students amazed that something that big will take the turns at speed.

 

I believe nearly every vehicle has a front stabilizer/sway bar.
(did I hedge enough in that statement).

For me the stock front bar is good enough.
I already have new bushings & sway bar links to put on the front
while I'm under there putting in my new shocks.

 

Yeah, it's not often you need to replace the stock sway bar. But the stabilizer links, that stablize both ends, do need to be replaced when they die out. Just replaced 2 of them on my moms van.

 

Just don't hit them with a rock...

 

Ouch on the rocks !!! I crossed my legs instinctivly when I saw that between your tires

Just like the race teams upgrade their components to improve their rides...
and we replace our shocks, air filters, whatever....

I consider the helwig an upgraded component over stock with better metals and performance..

Now does R&Ring the front stock bar to Helwig improve it as much a putting a rear helwig on the rear when there is none? No, but it improves it some....

 

Well I'm on day two of my install. I could have had them both on in less than 4 hours total. But the only luck I have is ****ty and NONE!

A little history:
The reason I started this install was to improve the ride of my Ex. The PO had already intalled helper air bags and Monroe Reflex shocks in the rear. But I noticed that the back was still a little rough, bouncy. So after searching on here I figured the next add on would be the Hellwig. I went ahead and ordered front and rear sways just to have a matched set. I figured they were engineered to work best as a pair.

Well the Front sway bar is a beefy hunk of metal!! Way thicker and heavier than stock!! It went on very easy, just had to puzzle it around the lower radiator hoses.

My Ex is a 5.4L 4x2 that didnt have a factory rear sway bar. So I figure its gonna be a big improvement. The install on the rear was pretty straight foward after in searched a few posts and pics on this site. Well everything was going fine until I removed the passenger lower shock mount. Apparently when the PO had the air bags and \or shocks intalled the mechanic didnt have the shock mount aligned properly on the alignment notch on the axle. So it was actually riding on top of it instead of seated in the hole. Which was allowing the shock mount to rotate on the axle instead of a rock solid mounting point, thus giving me my rough bouncy ride.

You can see in this pic the shiny rub marks. It also was deformed and pressed down in to the mount.


I tried to pry it back out and up, but ended up snapping it off completely. Hence the new welds in the pic. I ran down to my local pick and pull junckyard and got another mount off an F250 for $10, and will use the old repaired one for a back up. By the way, stealership wanted $60 for a new one and was gonna take 4 days to ship.



My only concern is that the F250 part doesnt have the big plate welded to the back of the mount. Do any of you know the reason the Ex's have that plate?

Well enough procrastinating, let me intall it and go for a ride. Ride Report coming soon.

 

The only purpose I can think of is that plate is where the E-brake cable is mounted on.

 

Just the same as I was thinking jh818.

Well I'm back from my test ride which consisted of 50mph city driving and 75mph highway roads. Im 100% satisfied with the results. Even backing out my driveway I could tell the difference. And the railroad track that usually chips my teeth was smoothed out!! I had the feeling of, dare I say it, driving a sports car! HAHA maybe not a Lambo but it had a more planted footprint!! It no longer the land barge it was, it more of a land cigar boat!!

 

Have any of you had issues with the rear end links breaking? HW already sent me a new one - but the other side snapped. WTH?

 

When you installed the links were they on the correct side of the frame rail? They should have been nearly straight up and down not leaning at an angle left to right or front to rear.

 

They were straight up and down from what I could tell. And on flat ground, tightened evenly. I was thinking on trying some 7/16" threaded rod and using poly bushings on the swaybar instead. Thoughts?

 

LOL, thats awesome, doesnt ride as good as your M5 though i bet??