2007 E350 super duty V10.

I was underneath my van today spraying lube on my squeaky leaf springs and I became curious to check out the front.

I noticed the left side of my swaybar is pushing upward on the control arm and the passenger side is pushing downward on its control arm. Neither side is pushing very hard: it took medium strength from my fingers to move each away from its contact with the rubber

Also both sides it fit very loose in the rubber hole.

Is this normal?

Also I checked the body ride heights at each wheel and found that the left side was about half inch lower than the right side. I don't think this is caused by the sway bar, but I am curious what you all think of these questions.

 

It's not normal for any space between the sway bar and the bushings, the sway bar should fit snug into the axle bushings with no movement.

You could also hear a "clunking" sound if there is space.

The bushings are worn out, and need of replacement.

The sway bar should not have any bearing on the height difference your explaining, as the frame/body ride on the coil springs in the front.
And on the leaf springs in the rear.


A couple of factors could explain this, one that the coil springs are loosing there capacity, a spring is cracked or broken?
The way the vehicle is loaded? Do you have more items in the rear on the left (drivers) side than on the passenger (right) side?

Also, were you checking this on a perfectly flat and lever surface?

 

Have to agree with Wildman here...............

OEM I-Beam sway bar bushings are notorious for wearing out probably around the 75K mile mark---they're pretty much junk even brand new. If you'll be retaining the stock front sway bar looking into urethane replacement bushings from Energy Suspensions.

FWIW in order for the sway bar to work even halfway effectively it needs to be in tight contact with the I-Beams---any slop in the mounting system reduces how well it works.

 

I don't have any concerns with how it handles. (but I am interested in JWA's reported improvements regarding the upgraded front sway bar and added rear sway bar)...

I'm going to post some pics of mine later today... I can't help but wonder if it's like everyone else's

 

Not like mine at all----I got rid of that stock undersized Pixie Stix.

 

show me some pics!

 

Search for the Hellwig sway bar site and download their installation instructions---that's not only informative but quicker too---I'm heading out for work, 260 mile round trip. (Search for the specific vehicle application to get the correct install .PDF.)

Or are you wanting images of the OEM bar with urethane bushings? That I can do later today, well after noon EST.

 

Aftermarket sounds great but Id like to see OEM if anyone has pics.

 

I have one of those too---its how I appear to know something about this topic.

It'll be sometime Monday now----other things taking attention away.

 

do you have multiple E-vans?

 

I'm curious as to why Hellwig sells a rear bar that is bigger than the front bar. I guess for heavier loads.On RWD cars it increases oversteer.

 

Urethane bushings in the I beams will "clunk" if you get any wear at all.
the OEM bushings will not. I have left the factory ones until they bang on the steel sleeve and got no noise until it hit that sleeve. put urethane ones in and they were making noise after only a few months use. left them in for a year until the next safety and then went back to OEM. I put many gravel road miles on my van too, and when my trailer isn't behind I drive it like its stolen

 

I do. Currently a raised roof 2000 E250 standard body and an '03 E250, standard roof, extended body. The '03 has the Hellwig front and rear bars, '00 OEM bar with urethane bushings

Correct---plus loads inside the cargo area especially those behind the rear axle greatly increase the leverage effect, sometimes inducing increasing rear end sway. Front sway bars are much more "short coupled" meaning the load they're meant to control is closer to their attachment points.

I'm not sure how a heavier rear sway bar would increase oversteer? That's one to ponder.

We're driving completely different vans then----totally disagree with all of this ^^^. Having put just about 100K miles on two different vans with self-installed urethane bushings they're far, far superior to the squishy OEM stuff. In performance and longevity there's simply no comparison. I don't want to doubt someone but based upon my own personal experience urethane tops OEM every time.

Because they don't wear out like OEM the chance they're clunking after such a short time is kinda unbelievable. If they do clunk I'd suspect installation, whether the I-Beam bushings themselves or the U-brackets up front on the frame horns.

An OEM bushing that has worn away until just the steel sleeves are left will clunk at the least bit of sway bar bounce or movement. Seems these symptoms are a bit backwards. Again, based only on my own 100K mile experience.

 

I love the urethane MOOG bushings I put into my van a year ago(10K?) Nice upgrade in ride quality.

just looked em over last week, and they are not such a pretty blue anymore, but appear to be in excellent condition. I did all 4 bushings.

 

It's a racing thing , it changes the crossweight and "unhooks" the rear in a turn.
I doubt it's an issue with a van since you don't drive 10/10ths