Hellwig Installation
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Hellwig Installation
Somewhere I saw a very good post for a personal website where one of the members took some great photos and wrote up the installation of the Helwig rear anti-sway bar on his X. But I can't seem to find it now that I really need it. Does anyone remember where it is? Thanks,
Steve
Steve
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From: birmingham
I too am interested in the photos. Also in everyone's honest opinion, is a new sway bar a worthwhile investment. Is the aftermarket bigger,stronger, better than original.
Should I replace both or just rear? I have replaced shocks with much improvement but more sway control would be nice.
Let me know.
thanks,
Should I replace both or just rear? I have replaced shocks with much improvement but more sway control would be nice.
Let me know.
thanks,
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Photos of Helwig install ...
I finally found it: http://f250.eurekaboy.com/heilwig.htm. However, this installation is for an F-250 Pickup and it's really different for the Excursion. I found the instructions that came with the kit to be poor. They relied on photos that were impossible to make out - they seemed to be copies of copies on a cheap copier. The short answer to your question is that the sway bar made a very noticeable difference in the handling of the truck. Worth the expense in my book. More later ....
Steve
Steve
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From: Kure Beach, NC
The site you refer to, unfortunately, that gentleman did not install it correctly. He made mod's that were not recomended and unnecessary. The sway bar is meant to be installed with a "wide" grip, thats diff from the factory bar.
I installed mine (2000X 4wd) in around 30 minutes, very easy...well worth the investment. If you have any questions, the people at Hellwig are very helpful. I needed to call because they left out a part on my shipment, they made it right by overnighting it to me. GoodLuck
I installed mine (2000X 4wd) in around 30 minutes, very easy...well worth the investment. If you have any questions, the people at Hellwig are very helpful. I needed to call because they left out a part on my shipment, they made it right by overnighting it to me. GoodLuck
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From: Williamsburg, VA
I just installed the Hellwig anti-swaybar for my X.(I got it from JC Whitney.com for $156 w/ free shipping if anyone is looking for one).
I tow a 28ft travel trailer and it made a HUGE difference in towing. Take off's and braking are noticably more controlled.
The truck also handles much better even when not towing. Cornering is much improved and the wandering has been reduce dramatically, but not completely. I also replaced both front and rear shocks which improved everything even more.
The Hellwig bar is much, much heavier duty than the stock front end anti-sway bar that comes stock on the X. I am thinking about switching out that one as well.
BTW, the link provided my smbrooks is nowhere near how Hellwig wants this bar to be installed on the X. Funny, since the f250 and X share the same rear-rend.
I tow a 28ft travel trailer and it made a HUGE difference in towing. Take off's and braking are noticably more controlled.
The truck also handles much better even when not towing. Cornering is much improved and the wandering has been reduce dramatically, but not completely. I also replaced both front and rear shocks which improved everything even more.
The Hellwig bar is much, much heavier duty than the stock front end anti-sway bar that comes stock on the X. I am thinking about switching out that one as well.
BTW, the link provided my smbrooks is nowhere near how Hellwig wants this bar to be installed on the X. Funny, since the f250 and X share the same rear-rend.
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Helwig Install
After looking at the posted pictures (yes the D supports were too close to the differential to get proper leverage)and trying to puzzle out the instructions - there were a few small parts missing in my kit as well - I just put it together in the only logical way it would assemble. Everything's tight with no interference from other components. It wasn't that tough. But it does make you wonder how they position the stock bars on that axle ...
And the improvement in handling was very noticeable. I wonder what a front sway bar would do ....
The X steers quicker with less "slop" and is definitely flatter in the corners. Body roll is quite a bit less. Very nice improvement - well worth the money to me. I got it from JC Whitney.
Next - full set of Bilsteins to replace tired Monroe Reflex's. Landyots on order (3-4 weeks). I'll report at each stage.
Steve
And the improvement in handling was very noticeable. I wonder what a front sway bar would do ....
The X steers quicker with less "slop" and is definitely flatter in the corners. Body roll is quite a bit less. Very nice improvement - well worth the money to me. I got it from JC Whitney.
Next - full set of Bilsteins to replace tired Monroe Reflex's. Landyots on order (3-4 weeks). I'll report at each stage.
Steve
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Here are some pics I took when I installed mine.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gal...&albumid=13001
https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gal...&albumid=13001
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The pictures posted by Swheeler will be a whole lot more useful than the ones posted earlier. Once I got the kit out, I realized he'd made a few mistakes. If I'm not mistaken (often am) it looks like Swheeler has air bags and possibly a lift because he uses vertical extensions to the end points of the bar which I didn't need, or got in the kit. But, it looks like the arms of the bar are parallel to the ground - same as mine. Nice gallery of pics.
Steve
Steve
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Originally Posted by smbrooks
I finally found it: http://f250.eurekaboy.com/heilwig.htm. However, this installation is for an F-250 Pickup and it's really different for the Excursion. I found the instructions that came with the kit to be poor. They relied on photos that were impossible to make out - they seemed to be copies of copies on a cheap copier. The short answer to your question is that the sway bar made a very noticeable difference in the handling of the truck. Worth the expense in my book. More later ....
Steve
Steve
James
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From: Williamsburg, VA
My kit is very different than swheelers....
My drag links are not adjustable. This is odd, since hellwig supposedly makes
one kit for the X. I am now concerned they sent me the correct one. All seems fine with the ride, and everything matched up during bolt up, just odd.
I have a few pics of my installation.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gal...&albumid=16314
Note the drag links are solid, bolt from the bottom. My X isnt lifted, its stock. Did you modify the drag link part of your installation Swheeler?
-Jeff
My drag links are not adjustable. This is odd, since hellwig supposedly makes
one kit for the X. I am now concerned they sent me the correct one. All seems fine with the ride, and everything matched up during bolt up, just odd.
I have a few pics of my installation.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gal...&albumid=16314
Note the drag links are solid, bolt from the bottom. My X isnt lifted, its stock. Did you modify the drag link part of your installation Swheeler?
-Jeff
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My lash-up looks just like Jeff's. I also have one piece links. I ordered them from JC Whitney a week ago. All these pictures are way more useful than the instructions. I'm running an early 2000 V10 4x4 with the calipers on either side of the rear axle. What I thought were air bags is the snubber on the snubber spring close to the lens. I just didn't look closely enough. Sorry for the confusion.
Steve
Steve
