I'm thinking of putting a steering stablizer on my X - trying to tighten up the suspension in general. Anyone have any suggestions - brands, regular vs. dual stabilizer, etc?

 

If you have the 4x4, you should have a factory stabilizer on there. According to a lot of people on these forums, they don't last very long before they start leaking and are pretty much ineffective. We just got our X two weeks ago, and I've been busy doing more important maintenance things, so I haven't gotten around to taking mine off and checking it yet. I gave it a visual, and it's oily on the outside, so I'm assuming that it's toasted.

www.jcwhitney.com, www.advanceautoparts.com, and many others carry steering stabilizers for our trucks. I'm planning on going with a Rancho replacement single stabilizer, because the truck is at stock height, with stock size tires. Double stabilizers are only necessary in some cases of trucks with larger tires. I say some cases, because it becomes a personal preference at that point. My Suburban has a 3" spring lift and 33" tires, and the single factory stabilizer still serves it well.

Most importantly, what are you trying to firm up in the front suspension? Perhaps there's another issue that needs attention rather than adding a stabilizer? The stabilizer mainly controls wheel ocsillation (sp?) that transfers through the steering components, and the steering wheel. It can help keep the truck tracking straight in a crosswind, but honestly, I ran for about three weeks without a stabilizer on the Burb, and didn't really notice much of a difference. When you're driving an 8k lb. brick through 30 MPH crosswinds, there's not much that's going to stop swaying.

 

I've recently put 4 new bilsteins and a hellwig rear sway bar on the truck. The ride is a bit firmer and smoother now, particularly in turns. However, the front end and steering now feels loose in comparison to the rear. That's what I'm hoping to fix.

I really don't like the wander the truck has, so radius rods are going on the back very soon. I'm thinking a steering stabilizer will complement the radius rods to some degree (in addition to the wander, the steering feels pretty loose).

If you think a stabilizer wont help, or if there is better way to address this, please let me know.

 

Summit has pro-comp for about 30 bucks. Works fine for me. Check you're ball joints.

 

You didn't mention if your EX was 2WD or 4WD but here is a pic of my 99 SD with a 'rough country' dual stabilizer set-up.(Complete kit including shock boots) Sometimes they can be found on E-bay for about $85.00. Should be the same part # for the Super duty and EX but double check. This is a beefy kit so other than checking ball joints as others have mentioned this should help cure your "wandering". I've had aftermarket stabilizers since the truck was new with 35" tires and I'm still on the original power steering pump, so I don't think the stabilizers put that much extra demand on the steering pumps as I have read before in other places.The truck now has 170,000. Never mind the two different headlights in the picture... I was in the middle of giving my 99 an 06 facelift. E-BAY item # 8046265448 says in the listing will also fit Excursions. 3 days left on auction. Hope this helps you.

 

Dual stabilizer makes sense, especially with larger tires. I have seen them in JC whitney catalog. Some also suggest that the Excursion has wander due to a weak rear suspension. A stock Excursion really needs better front and rear springs.On my 2000 Excursion the best mod was front U code springs from the F-350.

 

You don't the milage, but consider changing the stock front sway bar bushings to Energy Suspension polyurethane ones. I did this weekend and the front feels "tighter". It also handles noticably better. A rear sway bar is on my list.

 

I did use the energy bushing on my 2000. The do firm up the ride, but they don't last too long. Eventually the sway bar opens the inner diameter and you end up with a clunk. I got about 25 K miles out of them, then went back to Ford bushings.