). Made the install a little easier, but probably not required.
hellwig install issue (maybe)
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 291
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I'll be honest. I have no interest in buying a sway bar for a vehicle, that doesn't fit the vehicle.
A sway bar is one of the easiest bolt in modifications you can do, and it seems like none of these go on right.
A sway bar is one of the easiest bolt in modifications you can do, and it seems like none of these go on right.
FTE Chapter Leader
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 30,586
Likes: 1,234
From: N. IL
No, I didn't shorten the sleeve, just drilled the hole forward and a bit higher to compensate. If I ever upgrade to the V/B mod springs, I may be able to go back to the original hole since the spring pack would be thicker and may factor into the angle of the link. Or my leaves have sagged abit and may also factor into the angle.
I hear ya beef, but I really enjoy the tweaking part
.
Elder User
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 674
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From: Hattiesburg, MS
The 4x4 adds the rear block which means the axle to frame distance is different than 4x2.
Cargo Master
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 2,885
Likes: 24
From: Chino, California
Correct. Those rear window struts are different lengths between a 2WD and 4WD. 2WD struts are longer. Ford was concerned that in a 4WD, it would be too high and hit the garage door?
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Freshman User
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 39
Likes: 1
From: Monument, CO
Just installed mine yesterday. Bar is shifted a slight bit to one side and hard up against the rear diff. Doesn't seem right but unless there is a defect that's the way they are. Doesn't appear right but EX sure handles better. Was actually able to take my hands off the steering and it tracked straight going 75 down the "I"...
Just to close the loop on this. Emailed and talked to the folks at Helwig and they got me straightened out. Fits great and aligned perfectly. Much better handling than before, don't notice any wandering whatsoever. Good customer support and probably the best mod I've done in a while...
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 224
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What did you do or change to make it work better? My bar should be sitting at my house if not ealy next week. Thaey bent me a custom bar to fit the specs I gave them. Their customer service is #1
Freshman User
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 39
Likes: 1
From: Monument, CO
Ha!, Rather embarressed to say. Lets just leave it as I took the advice of someone to throw out the directions and it would be obvious on how to put it together, it wasn't (at least to me). Also they changed the design in 2005 so some of the pics on here from older installs don't match up with the current product. Try to follow the directions and giive what you are doing a regular sanity check and you should be good...
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Senior User
Joined: Mar 2011
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Ok... As promised I would post back when I all was finished. I received the new bar and links in the mail. Hellwig custom bent the bar and the links are completely different. I removed the old bar and links installed everything and tighten her down. If you look at the pics you will see that the bar is still not perfectly level but definatly a lot better. The pic is when I dont have air in my air bags as well. I usualy run around 40lbs and that helps get the bar level as well.It now clears everything fine and no chance of hitting something it shouldnt. The links seem a lot stronger as well but arent adjustable. If they were, I would be able to get the bar a level. I may look and see if I can raise the links to the upper hole. If so that would make it level too. The new links do have a swivel adapter on the bottom which will help. I think all in all Hellwig has gone above and beyond to make this correct. I would buy from them again without hesitation. Its hard to find a company in todays economy that stands behind their product as Hellwig has done. I hope this helps anyone who may have a problem. If you need any info from Hellwig ask for Dave Wheeler.
FTE Chapter Leader
Joined: Nov 2010
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From: N. IL
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 123
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From: Thousand Oaks, CA
It lives!
Bringing this thread back from the dead....
Amazon delivered my Hellwig bar the other day, and some have complained that the directions were somewhat lacking. Better than mine, since I got no instructions at all! It looks sorta straight forward (yeah, just like all the other projects). Maybe I can talk one of my SoCal brothers into coming by to help?
Curt
Amazon delivered my Hellwig bar the other day, and some have complained that the directions were somewhat lacking. Better than mine, since I got no instructions at all! It looks sorta straight forward (yeah, just like all the other projects). Maybe I can talk one of my SoCal brothers into coming by to help?
Curt