Hellwig's customer service

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Dec 26, 2012 | 03:59 PM

Stewart_H

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Joined: May 2004

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From: Central Coast of CA

Hellwig's customer service

I posted this thread over in the Ex forum, but since some of the Brotherhood here uses Hellwig products too, I figure y'all might wanna know how well Hellwig is treating me.

Here's the original thread for background info:: https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...l#post12562378

And here's my original post:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stewart_H

So, I had to take pictures of my rear springs for Hink last night. I haven't been under my Wife's Excursion since my trip down to Pismo, but I think that's when this happened:

Yeah, I lost the bushing and nut.

The drivers side is still on there strong, after 6+, years but I musta done a number of that passenger side when I got stuck at one point with the rear end buried. The suspension flex I had when it happened was pretty radical for a stock suspension but I never thought to check things after I got pulled free.

Anyway, I just got off the phone with Kevin at Hellwig and tried to order replacement bushings and nuts for my setup but he said he was sending them to me for free.

6+ years after I bought from JC Whitney and Hellwig is gonna hook me up. Hows that for customer service?

Since we all push the Hellwig sway bar whenever we talk about the spring mods, I thought you guys might wanna know just how readily Hellwig stands behind their products.

I know Hellwig isn't a Supporting Vendor here at FTE, but we do have SV's who sell their products like Riffraff Diesel, our forum sponsor.

Stewart

So on Christmas eve, there was no rain and I had time to put the new bushings on. I went down to OSH and picked up a few replacement nuts and got under the Ex only to discover, upon closer inspection, I didn't just lose the nut and associate hardware. My end-link actually broke at the tip!

So Christmas morning I sent Hellwig the email I copied below:

Quote:

Hey Kevin, I hope you had a great Christmas!

So, I finally had a day of sunshine that coincided with a break in my schedule that allowed me to work on the Hellwig bar you were kind enough to send me replacement bushings for. Once I got under the truck and actually got a closer look, more hands-on, I discovered (realized) I didn't just lose the bushing, the end link actually broke!

I knew when I got stuck at Pismo the suspension had gotten pretty cocked...extended on one side and compressed on the other...but I didn't realize I broke anything!

You can see it in the picture, I busted the tip off of the passenger-side end link, losing that spacer rod thing, washers, bushings, and nut.

Anyway, I appreciate your generosity and kindness in supplying me with new bushings, but I don't expect more of the same just because you hooked me up once.

How much does a replacement, passenger side end link cost, along with that spacer rod? Perchance, is there another option? A thicker replacement end link than the one that originally came with the sway bar?

Thanks.

Stewart

This morning I got this reply from Kevin at Hellwig:

Quote:

Send me your info and I will send you everything you need thank you

Kevin Parriera

Hellwig Products Company

So I sent Kevin my info and within minutes I got this reply:

Quote:

I am sending you both sides have a happy new year

So the Excursion is getting a belated Christmas gift from Kevin at Hellwig! New end links for a 6+ year old Hellwig rear sway bar, FREE of charge.

Other than their excellent products, I guess it's easy to comprehend why Hellwig has been in business for so long. They understand and have excellent customer service!

Stewart

Dec 26, 2012 | 04:09 PM

trekbasso

Fleet Mechanic

Joined: Dec 2010

Posts: 1,546

Likes: 9

From: Wellington, Co

Stewart, thanks for posting good news. Especially since I put a rear sway bar on mine in the spring. Looks like I am good to go for many years.

Dec 26, 2012 | 04:25 PM

Shake-N-Bake

Post Fiend

Joined: Sep 2003

Posts: 6,096

Likes: 27

From: Mesa AZ

Glad to hear they are taking care of you.

I have a massive Hellwig sway bar on my '99 and it's been great. Probably going on 8 or 9 years now....I would buy from them again if the need ever arises.

Dec 26, 2012 | 04:37 PM

crop harvester

Fleet Mechanic

Joined: Jul 2011

Posts: 1,667

Likes: 5

thats good to know, I just put on a hellwig 1 1/2 dia. sway bar on the front and new bushings in the back oem swaybar,still on the fence about putting hellwig on the back,I haul a 4500# slide in caamper while pulling 6000# boat,that camper up that high really taxes the sway control of these SD.

Dec 26, 2012 | 04:59 PM

xbox73

Mountain Pass

Joined: Mar 2012

Posts: 234

Likes: 0

From: SoCal

I've seen it mentioned before by someone that the Hellwig RSB was great, but they weren't impressed by the strength or robustness of the end links. I'd be tempted to add a Hellwig RSB to my X, but I have an 8" lift, and as far as I am aware, Hellwig does not make longer end links for those with lifts higher than 4-6". But I have Bilstein 7100 reservoir smooth bodies in the rear, combined with all spring (no blocks) lift, and air bags, so the handling is already pretty good as is, so not a pressing need for me. Also, not having a RSB may maintain more articulation offroad. Ideal would be manually disconnectable end links for when off road.

I wouldn't mind some traction bars either to limit axle warp under hard acceleration from a stop. I'm not sure who makes good quality, reasonably priced traction bars though. Caltracs?

Dec 26, 2012 | 10:54 PM

Bonanza35

Lead Driver

Joined: Sep 2005

Posts: 9,399

Likes: 188

From: Norco,CA

There's a write up in diesel power this month on Hellwig showing a truck and camper. Was wondering if I mit put them on my E99.

Jan 7, 2013 | 11:24 PM

Stewart_H

Thread Starter

Super Moderator

Joined: May 2004

Posts: 29,380

Likes: 118

From: Central Coast of CA

Just a quick update. Last week I unbolted the old end link off of the Ex, pressed the new bushing into the new end link with my bench vise and installed the replacement end link on the Ex.

I bolted the sway-bar back onto the new end link and voilà, instant body-roll control was restored!

Stewart