What is the difference between the factory REAR sway bar and the Hellwig unit. Is the Hellwig bigger in diameter or is it the mounting which makes it better?? I noticed the rear sway bar is minute compared to the front one.

 

Not the mounting and not all trucks come with one.

 

- If the X came with a sway bar it is somewhere around 24mm

- an updated sway bar from an F350 is around 30mm

- The Hellwig sway bar is about 32mm at least that is what I remember when measured it.


1. If you do not have a sway bar it may be easier to get the Hellwig since it come with all the mounting brackets.

2. If you don't have a sway bar find a donor truck with the 30mm bar and get all the components from it.

3. If you have an existing sway bar that is smaller than it would be easiest to purchase a 30mm from Tousley. One from an F350.

The front sway bar is like 34mm. I think they made the bigger front sway to compensate for weak springs.

Tim M

 

I think they made the big bar in the front because of no bar in the back and the weight of the truck. Those with stiff springs in the back don't really need a bar back there also.

 

I've read that people are adding the Hellwig rear bar to help with the steering wander. If you have a stock rear bar, is it worth upgrading it to help with the steering wander? Yep I have the steering wander. It got a bit better with a new front stabilizer, new front sway bar endlinks and bushings, and a 1/4 turn tighter on the steering box but its still not a very pleasant drive.

Didn't mean to hijack the thread but I'm assuming the original poster is in a similar situation to me.

Mark

 

Fixing steering wander is a combination of a number of changes and the larger rear sway bar is one part of it.

1. look into the v/b code upgrade.
2. proper sized rear sway bar - yes its worth upgrading from those that have done it.
3. check your front end parts - ball joints, tie rods and such.
4. Steering box replacement.

other- RAS (roadmaster active suspension)

Review the entire wandering thread to see what updates might be best for you.

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/7...ml#post6722938

Tim M

 

Thanks Tim, I have read through so many articles on steering wander. Lots of good info. I was just wondering if a bigger rear bar would help. I'm working on the cheap easy fixes first. Next is the power steering flush. I really want to do the V/B code upgrade. I'm a pretty good shade tree mechanic. Have worked on my own cars for years. I want some used springs but it seems to be really hard to identify the used springs. The part numbers on the springs don't seem to help reliably identify them as V or B. I want to the modded B thing too.

I had new tires put on (paid for by the car dealer when I bought the car a few weeks ago) and the tire place said the front end was nice and tight. Steering box will be the last ditch effort.

 

It will help a little but it won't cure the wandering problem.

Tim M

 

Thanks for all the info! I just bought my X about 6 weeks ago and have been very pleased. Driving the 200 mi home on the IS was very pleasant. No wandering present that I could detect. I soon noticed the bushings in the front swaybar were bad so I replaced them and really haven't noticed much if any difference. I also replaced the axle bumpers in the front, spring bumper in the back and would have replaced the rear axle bumpers but I couldn't get the old ones out. Have to get my die grinder to get them off.

Today I test pulled my enclosed car hauler and altho the X V10 is certainly not peppy I still didn't notice any wandering. Thank goodness for that. I only towed it about 20 miles so I'll know better next weekend when we're going on a little longer trip.

My X is a 4X4 and does have the rear sway bar but it is so small I was wondering if there was a better inexpensive replacement. It sounds like the F350 one may be the ticket.

I certainly like the idea of the radius rods but if I go that way I'll design my own which is not very difficult.

Keep the good info flowing!!!

 

Sway bars have nothing to do with wandering and everything to do with leaning. They don't even come into play until you start to lean. On a right turn (example) the bar(s) push down on the left wheel (s) the same as a stiffer spring would and the stiffer your springs are the less you need them.

 

The proof is in the pudding, Brent.

Regarding the 4x4 Steering Wander problem that commonly afflicts Excursions, based on why the Steering Wander happens, adding a rear sway bar does help with the wander problem.

Stewart

 

I too agree a rear bar helps with the rear steering 'feature' of the Ex's..
At least it did on my three

One other thing regarding the hellwig that hasn't been mentioned so far is the materials used in their bar versus the stock steel sway bars..

the hellwig is not only thicker, but made of higher grade materials that resist twisting even more - one of the first mods on all three of my ex's....

Only problem I encountered from them was that now that the Ex could corner so much better, I needed to tie down things inside better... like tool box in the back, kids, etc.

 

True a sway bar helps with lean but a big bar will essentially increase spring rate. It's doing nothing at all on flat level ground but with uneven road and anything else inducing body roll, a big bar, very technically speaking can have an affect on spring rate, which might explain some steering wander help. I do think its strange that the bigger bar is helping but people swear by it so it must be having a effect on spring rate. It's like how adding the V/B springs helps.

 

I knew I would be wrong sooner or later.
But I don't see how that is possible when it wanders while on level road and not turning. ............still not convinced here.
Everybody agrees that the bar has no effect while driving straight and this is when the wandering occurs so I'm just not grasping it.

 

Only when it leans.