e rated tires should be on my list too! if you pull alot of weight. i did not know guy's where still running the d's i got mine replaced under fords recall as well

 

OK, sledhauler has an '00 and compaired it to an '05 with the same trailer. His stock '00 has no bar from Ford just like my '01. There was a vast improvement in handling last weekend when I got mine installed. That's the difference he felt, and like he stated his buddy's was better, but no chevy.

The solid axle in your truck will move in any direction the springs will let it.

the first plain of movement is up and down. we want this movement, but it has to be controlled for streetability. So the sway bar resists one rear wheel being higher or lower than the other. Because of the leaf spring design when one rear wheel is higher than the other it is a different distance from the front axle than the other, and that causes rear steering. the more bar you have, the higher the resistance. The stock bar does a good job at this. There are upgrades available. Just remember the stiffer the bar, the less it belongs off-road.

the second plane is left/right. We do not want any of this at all. the leaf springs do a good job resisting this, and for all practical purposes it is eliminated.

The last plane is fore/aft. The stock springs are able to get twisted from torque forces. AKA spring wrap. Leaf springs do a reasonable job at this is designed correctly, but soccer moms want a soft ride. Ford even went as far as to put a half leaf with a snubber on it to try and correct this issue.

The radius rods are designed to allow up/down movement only, and hold the axle ridgidly in the fore/aft plane and allow no twist so the springs can resist as well.

IMO it's a real good idea. I have a pair of fixed traction bars to go on this weekend. I couldn't see shelling out that much for somethoing that can be done a different way. Landyot gets good reviews. search the web. there's a lot.

 

Hey Guys, I see a couple more threads about handling popping up and wanted to give an update. I got my Hellwig Sway bar last week and installed it this weekend. The installation wasn't bad except the parts bag was filled wrong. There were some pieces missing and others that had too many. I scrounged my bins of nuts and bolts and got it to work though.

I was pleasantly surprised by the results. I didn't expect much difference unloaded, but found that there was. The truck definitely drives down the road much better now. I had to move my sportbike around this weekend and have a rack that goes in the hitch. My Suburban handled the 600# load no problem, but I was skeptical of the X. It did just fine though. I'm not sure when I'll have the big sled trailer on again, but I expect a big improvement.

The shocks will need to be done as well. I gave them a check while they were off for the sway bar and they are pretty weak. They will have to wait a little bit though. Trying to close on a house and want to keep my money in the bank for now.

Thanks for all the input!!

 

Sled, when you get the Hellwig and assuming it was all right, did you have to drill or were the holes already there? IOW, was it bolt on or did you have to do a lot of drilling? Reason I asked is my drill is dead and the driveway is cold. TIA. Also, did you notice much of a difference?

 

No drilling. I got a Helwig bar from SummitRacing last summer and put it on our 2000 Ex. It is a direct fit bolt on. My issue was that even with red lock-tight my upper and lower link bolts came loose a few times. It seems like I screamed them tight with red locktight the last time and the lossening stopped.

 

Looks like Larry already answered you, but I'll confirm. It is a bolt in with no modifications. It adds a bracket to the stock lower shock mounts and drops the links from existing holes in the frame.

Larry - thanks for the tip on the loosening nuts. I'll keep an eye on mine. Also, I'm still keeping your number handy for when I'm ready to buy those shocks.

 

Got the "bars" in. Not exactly how the manufacturer directed, similar to "radius rods".

https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gal...107798&width=2

 

I hope a bar like that isn't much money. I can make a setup like that for about 10 bucks in steel and $40 in heim joints, 5 bucks in bushings. I have a welder, torch, and plasma cutter and aint afraid to use em!

On a personal note.....did you really think that your Excursion needed Radius rods or ladder bars? I look at this way, the main leaf and the main pack on an Excursion is the same as on a F-250/F-350 truck, spring rates are a bit less, but overall very similar. An F truck goes down the road pulling a 48' wedge with 3 cars/mini vans/trucks on it and does not have axle wrap issues. The guys that own them and do this dont complain and say that a set of traction bars or radius rods are needed. Our Excursions have the same frame, axle, and springs...but we just dont have the secondary overload spring (It can be added easily).....why do you think your axle is wraping? Do you think its wraping at start out, or while your going down the highway? I see alot of guys that think there is some mystical spring wrap on Excursions.....there should be no more on our Excursions than on a F-250 truck. I pull 13K lbs with my Excursion....and I dont have ladder bars, radius rods, traction bars, slapper bars, pinion snubbers, or even poly bushings! Im a rebel!

 

Springs on 250/350 trucks are way different than the X.

Compare page 6 https://www.fleet.ford.com/truckbbas/non-html/2002/excurscd.pdf

to page 64 https://www.fleet.ford.com/truckbbas/non-html/2002/fsersdcd.pdf

And the bars were $77 minus 10% and free shipping. And it does track better.

Is yours a 2x4 or a 4x4? Block difference changes things. A stock 4x4 has slappers.

 

Question. Why not simply change out the front and rear springs to what an F250 or F350 has?

 

If I was dropping 3 bills on this, no doubt I would cough up another 60 and do just that with new ones from Ford.
Already have a full set from a take-off, just haven't had the opportunity. The only thing about that is it will be like having an f250 with 1235#s in the back with a center of gravity on top of the bed rail. Most seem to also drop the next 300 on airbags.

 

Fords4Me,

I only looked once, but didn't see any "clearance" traction bars listed on JC Whitney site, nothing under about $130 to 150. Either I'm search-stupid or the $77 price is gone? Can you take a look and give a part or item number if they are still on there?

Thanks, Geoff

 

http://www.jcwhitney.com/autoparts/P...011487/c-10101



TRACTION BARS FOR 4WD PICKUPS
Superior construction! Heavy-duty laser-cut steel for durability and a perfect fit
Polyurethane bushings for extra-long service life
Improve traction and directional stability
Prevent wheel hop...on or off the road
Prevent spring wind up and breakage during acceleration over uneven terrain or while climbing/towing
Eliminate spring/shock damage caused by sudden axle drop. Easy bolt-on installation—some drilling required. Includes 2 bars with poly bushings, mounting brackets, hardware, instructions. For rear axle ONLY.




Year Make Model Additional Info Item Description Unit Item # Price Qty. Order
1999 - 2004 Ford F-Series Pickup Sub Model: F250/F350 Super Duty Traction Bars Kit ZX503522R $77.99

 

Try this link

http://www.jcwhitney.com/autoparts/P...traction%20bar

 

Man ur quik there dad!