I ordered a sway bar for my 2004 X before checking if I already had one. Much to my surprise, when the shop went to install it, they found I already had one. The questions is, is it worth replacing the stock bar or not. I hate to spend the money for nominal improvement.

Before I return it, if there is someone in the Memphis area that would like to buy it let me know.

 

I just installed on my ex and I have to say I like the improvement it has given me. I feel it corners better and while on the road I feel there is less weaving or need for as much corrective steering.

 

The Hellwig bar is quite a bit better than the OEM rear anti-swaybar. Put the Hellwig on yours, then sell the OEM unit on Ebay.

 

I just replaced the front and rear sway bars on my '05 X. I made the change incrementally to feel each step. My X has 5K miles and is running the factory stock 16" wheels and tires with no suspension upgrades. Yet.

First, I removed the rear (it's a Limited with tow pack, so it came with a rear bar) and noticed very little difference in roll-stiffness -- I think the rear bar comes into effect when towing or when the rear axle load is significant.

Second, I replaced the front bar with the Hellwig bar, which is about a 1/4 inch thicker. This is a dead easy installation process. I retained the thicker factory clamps and used the Eurothane bushings in the Hellwig kit. Roll-stiffness was dramatically better for cornering and the truck is less vague on the freeway (as already noted in this thread.)

Keep in mind, at step two, the truck is running the Hellwig front and no rear bar at all. I was tempted to re-install the rear bar but decided it was better to go to the Hellwig bar and see what happens both in terms of instant gratification and in terms of minimal wasted effort.

Third step, I installed the rear Hellwig bar, which is about 1/8th inch thicker than the factory "tow pack" bar on an '05 Limited 4WD Excursion. I would say the rear bar introduced a little (more) plow-on understeer, but otherwise didn't make the ride harsh and really didn't do much compared to having no rear bar at all.

Interestingly, the Hellwig kit mounts their bar to the somewhat wider spaced rear shock mounts instead of to factory pick-up points. This involves replacing the drop links with a stronger design and replacing the shock-mount U-bolts with thicker items and a simple plate to locate the rear anti-roll bar pivot point bushings (again, a good quality polyeurothane that's much larger than stock) so being an 1/8" thicker and being mounted at wider fulcrums (points of leverage) with stronger drop-links, the rear bar is a significantly more beefy unit, but practically has very little impact.

Personally, for the relatively few dollars, I'd put on the rear bar from Hellwig. But someone not wanting to throw money at their truck, or someone not wanting to waste an hour on the weekend to bolt it up or someone really wanting much more reduction in roll-stiffness might not find the rear Hellwig bar all that satisfying.

As mentioned many, many times on numerous enthusiast forums, Hellwig products do the job, but disappoint in quality and in terms of the thin documentation and "one size fits all" appearance on the fitment kits. I put Hellwig bars on my previous truck too. When they arrived, dropped off in my driveway, I immediately called to say they looked like they'd fallen out of the delivery van, rolled down the freeway and then been run over by peak hour traffic for a day or so before being repackaged and delivered to me. Their response was friendly and cooperative but boiled down to "that's the way they come" and other forum people suggested if I want a nice finish, just budget on a refinish in powder-coat. Disappointing, but that's part of the downside to a maker with no competitor for many of the product applications ... after all, as far as I know, there just isn't another bar maker for many SUV/4WD applications. I guess that's their niche and their overall business plan. No big deal, just don't be shocked if the bars show up looking like pig-iron. : )

 

My 04 Limited 4X4 does not have a rear sway bar. I got ripped off.

 

It's part of the tow pack.

 

My '01 didn't either.

 

My '00 with tow package did not have one. But, I guess I got lucky, since my '04 did. I decided to return the Helwig and stay with the stock bar. The new Bilsteins shocks and new Bridgestone Revo tires made a world of difference.

Thanks for all the advise!

Larry

 

The stock suspension really agrivates me Seems I'm gunna spend a lot of money doing what Ford should have done (springs, spring wrap, greasable ball joints, sway control, serviceable front wheel bearings,.........)

 

Like you said, the difference is in the towing. Bar/No-Bar is night and day different with a trailer hooked up.

 

I replaced the stock rear bar with a hellwig and there was a small but noticeable (at least I like to think I can notice it) improvement. The bigger bang for the buck is in replacing the stock shocks which allow the truck to wallow around way too much. I put Bilsteins on mine and LOVE the difference. It does ride a bit more firmly but I like the feel and the improvement in handling is dramatic to me. If I had to choose one or the other, I'd do shocks no question.

 

That is exactly what I did. The shock made a huge difference.

 

Well if you do not have a sway bar GET ONE !!!

I have had 2 Xs and I messed around and did not put one on the 02. Well my new 05 at about 500 miles on it I put the hellwig on it and it makes one helluva difference. going to go the Bilstien route before long.

I got into a curve way too heavy while talking to my BIL and feel I would have rolld it without the swaybar. That made a beliver out of me. You don't go into a 25 mph curve at over 55 mph and come out unscathed in a top heavy vehicle such as an X.

My X is 2WD .

Crazy - Ed

 

I got completely different results from just the Hellwig rear swaybar. Front bar is still stock.
After I installed mine, the handling improvement was like night and day. It really tighten up my rear, and made my x a neutral handler with virtually no sway now. No more understeer plowing like before when I had no rear bar. I have all my tires pumped up to 60psi, and I swear it will out corner anything except all out sports cars.
Be sure you tighten up the links down so the bushings are compressed and look a little squished. If you don't do this, you will get more play and not get the full benefits of the rear sway bar.

 

WILL IT FIT A 2001 4x4 I COULD USE ONE BUT I LIVE IN TEXAS AND THERE IS ALWAYS FEDEX RIGHT HOW MUCH DO YOU WANT FOR IT