Install Hellwig Rear ASB & Rancho's
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Tuned
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 336
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Install Hellwig Rear ASB & Rancho's
Hey everyone!
So this past weekend I finally got around to installing some goodies on my '02 X.
Got the Hellwig Rear Anti-Sway Bar installed (as well as new shocks on all 4 cornver), and I have to say it really wasn't that hard.
Some notes that I recall from my install:
1. Definitely hit the bolts on Shock mounts on the axle as well as the lower bolt going through the shock with some WD-40 a few days before your project to make sure they don't give you hell.
2. When installing the new U-Bolt through the shock mounts, for the love of god watch out for the brakes lines that are right up against the axle. I had a second set of hands helping me, so as I took the shock mount off, my helper routed the ubolt on safely and then inserted through the shock mount.
3. Before I actually undid the u-bolts for the shock mounts, I marked them to make sure I oriented them right. I know there is a "round peg" on the axle to helps to center and align the mounts, but you never know! 13 year old truck, I figured if they rusted away or broke off, I was covered.
4. I didn't lift my truck when doing this and I managed just fine. It is doable to get under there with the sway bar and get it over the driveshaft and "stage" it into place.
5. Once I had the D brackts/bushings in place and bolted on, it was pretty smooth from there out. The newer instructions say to install the end links one bolt away (closer to the rear and its higher) from the e-brake hanger on the driver side. Even doing that, the washer still hit the bracket. I pretty much took that bracket off all together and just used a zip tie to hold the ebrake cable where it was suppose to be. Makes it easier than having to fight with it or rigging it up somewhere else.
6. Passenger side was a pain in the butt in general. with the exhaust in the way does cramp things up a little, but with patience you will get through it.
7. The hellwig instructions were good enough. I definitely read through them about 20 times prior to installing it. I staged the setup on my garage floor, and made sure each and every nut bolt & washer were accounted for and knew exactly where they all went. Made it so much easier when it was time to crawl underneath.
8. On the passenger side shock mount, when you put in the second nut on the ubolt after everything is said and done, I believe it was the lower one, dont panic if the nut really only goes on half way. I double and tripled checked the first nut was on tight as can be, but with that "skid plate" often found on that side, you find that it just lets the nut catch about 2/3 of the way in give or take. I did use lock-tite and torqued it down really good.
With the new shocks (Rancho 9 series) , the Rear bar & the new red head gear box, I fell in love with my X all over again. Taking turns, it's just so much different. She feels steady and true now.
Next project coming up, Coolant Filtration!
Thanks for reading!
So this past weekend I finally got around to installing some goodies on my '02 X.
Got the Hellwig Rear Anti-Sway Bar installed (as well as new shocks on all 4 cornver), and I have to say it really wasn't that hard.
Some notes that I recall from my install:
1. Definitely hit the bolts on Shock mounts on the axle as well as the lower bolt going through the shock with some WD-40 a few days before your project to make sure they don't give you hell.
2. When installing the new U-Bolt through the shock mounts, for the love of god watch out for the brakes lines that are right up against the axle. I had a second set of hands helping me, so as I took the shock mount off, my helper routed the ubolt on safely and then inserted through the shock mount.
3. Before I actually undid the u-bolts for the shock mounts, I marked them to make sure I oriented them right. I know there is a "round peg" on the axle to helps to center and align the mounts, but you never know! 13 year old truck, I figured if they rusted away or broke off, I was covered.
4. I didn't lift my truck when doing this and I managed just fine. It is doable to get under there with the sway bar and get it over the driveshaft and "stage" it into place.
5. Once I had the D brackts/bushings in place and bolted on, it was pretty smooth from there out. The newer instructions say to install the end links one bolt away (closer to the rear and its higher) from the e-brake hanger on the driver side. Even doing that, the washer still hit the bracket. I pretty much took that bracket off all together and just used a zip tie to hold the ebrake cable where it was suppose to be. Makes it easier than having to fight with it or rigging it up somewhere else.
6. Passenger side was a pain in the butt in general. with the exhaust in the way does cramp things up a little, but with patience you will get through it.
7. The hellwig instructions were good enough. I definitely read through them about 20 times prior to installing it. I staged the setup on my garage floor, and made sure each and every nut bolt & washer were accounted for and knew exactly where they all went. Made it so much easier when it was time to crawl underneath.
8. On the passenger side shock mount, when you put in the second nut on the ubolt after everything is said and done, I believe it was the lower one, dont panic if the nut really only goes on half way. I double and tripled checked the first nut was on tight as can be, but with that "skid plate" often found on that side, you find that it just lets the nut catch about 2/3 of the way in give or take. I did use lock-tite and torqued it down really good.
With the new shocks (Rancho 9 series) , the Rear bar & the new red head gear box, I fell in love with my X all over again. Taking turns, it's just so much different. She feels steady and true now.
Next project coming up, Coolant Filtration!
Thanks for reading!
Posting Guru
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 1,072
Likes: 0
From: Dustbowl, NV
Cool, glad the install went well. I take it you had no rear sway bar before?
Driving in the mountains will be a whole new level of enjoyment!
Be sure to check the bolts again in a few hundred miles...
Driving in the mountains will be a whole new level of enjoyment!
Be sure to check the bolts again in a few hundred miles...
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 1,812
Likes: 88
From: Thousand Oaks, CA
After awhile you might want to try the Hellwig front bar. Especially if you're lifted. Your stock front bar is probably 34mm (1.33") and the Hellwig bar is 38mm (1.5"). It is better "matched" to their rear bar. The Hellwig bar comes with black polyurethane main bushings. You should feel a difference with the Hellwig front bar, just not near as much as the rear bar. Turns will be even more steady and flat. When you're lifted the weight of the vehicle being higher causes more lean in turns which the larger bar will help with. Ever see a lifted formula car? At the very least change the front main bushings to poly. Sure is fun to drive with these upgrades.
Thread Starter
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Tuned
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 336
Likes: 0
Thanks for the responses!
You are right, I didn't have a bar before at all! Ford really should have given every X one from the gate!!
The only lift my X has is the 2" Shackles in the front I installed about a year ago, other then that, stock on the suspension. I've thought about lifting the truck, and as bad *** as that would look, couldn't ever justify the $ just for that look
Very happy with the X though!
You are right, I didn't have a bar before at all! Ford really should have given every X one from the gate!!
The only lift my X has is the 2" Shackles in the front I installed about a year ago, other then that, stock on the suspension. I've thought about lifting the truck, and as bad *** as that would look, couldn't ever justify the $ just for that look
Very happy with the X though!
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