rear sway bar
rear sway bar
Sit. Stay.
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 18,308
Likes: 20
From: Washington State
REALLY!? Last time I priced out everything you need for the Ford bar to work it was like double what the Hellwig costs from JC Whitney. The bar and hardware is only like $120 from JC...if memory serves. 'Course I bought mine almost 5 years ago so.... 
Post Fiend
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 11,314
Likes: 4
Ha Ken - that time flies by doesn't it 
I too got mine from JC for my 03 - guess I don't drive as fast anymore cuz I haven't felt the need to get one for the 05 Ex...
or maybe it already came with one ???? have to crawl underneath as soon as this ice leaves DFW...
I too got mine from JC for my 03 - guess I don't drive as fast anymore cuz I haven't felt the need to get one for the 05 Ex...
or maybe it already came with one ???? have to crawl underneath as soon as this ice leaves DFW...
Laughing Gas
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 852
Likes: 12
From: Billings, MT
Jones-The sway bar makes this large vehicle handle a lot better. I put a Helwig on mine and it drives way better down the highway's curves. Got mine from JC Whitney. Keep an eye out for special coupons with their catalogs...
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Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 5,158
Likes: 35
From: North of Salt Lake City
When you say it handles better, I don't think you're referring to slaloms through cones... 
I just picked up a 2000 limited v10 and really like the ride. Seems to be just the right mix of stiffness and softness. My only complaint is that it wanders in the lane when on the freeway. You kind of have to pay attention or the vehicle will easily drift out of your lane. Would a rear sway bar help keep the truck from wandering?
I just picked up a 2000 limited v10 and really like the ride. Seems to be just the right mix of stiffness and softness. My only complaint is that it wanders in the lane when on the freeway. You kind of have to pay attention or the vehicle will easily drift out of your lane. Would a rear sway bar help keep the truck from wandering?
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Super Moderator
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 29,380
Likes: 118
From: Central Coast of CA
Originally Posted by Jones02SportTrac
My only complaint is that it wanders in the lane when on the freeway. You kind of have to pay attention or the vehicle will easily drift out of your lane. Would a rear sway bar help keep the truck from wandering?
Excursions suck when it comes to holding a lane. And it's only magnified when you tow something. Tow something with a lot of weight and the problem is exacerbated even more.
Type in "wander" in the search function (choosing only the Excursion forum for the search) and you'll get tons of reading.
Most of us change the front and rear springs to OEM springs found on the F250. Some do just the rears with Landyot radius rods. Some do the rear springs and sway bar.
Others, like me, change the fronts and the rears, add a sway bar, upgrade the shocks and never again worry about steering wander...even when towing close to 8K pounds of trailer and moving horses.
Getting back to the question at hand, when I priced the Ford bar (and related hardware) and compared it to the Hellwig I eventually purchased at JC Whitney, it was approximately the same price.
Stewart
Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 5,158
Likes: 35
From: North of Salt Lake City
This is surprising news. For a vehicle built for towing, it sounds like an engineering oversight. Don't get me wrong, I'm a huge fan of Ford products after driving a GM truck, suv and two minivans over 15 years. The Fords have been so much better in quality and effortless to maintain. I have an Expedition which has been a great vehicle even for towing my heavy (10K) travel trailer. It tracks down the road straight as an arrow trailer or not. It just doesn't have the power to pull so that's why I picked up an Excursion. Thanks for the advice on the suspension upgrades, I'll get those taken care of.
Super Moderator
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 29,380
Likes: 118
From: Central Coast of CA
Originally Posted by cprdummy
Regarding lane wander...will installing dual front stabilizers help remedy this? I have been thinking of trying that first.
One, because the steering stabilizer only affects bump steer. The wander is not caused by uneven pavement, potholes, etc.
Two, because some have put forth a hypotheses the wander is caused by normal deflection of the inadequate front and rear springs, created when the tires travel over the roadway surface, allowing the back end of the Excursion to push-steer the front of the Excursion ever so slightly. This hypothesis also explains why lateral body movement from turning maneuvers, lane changes, strong winds, or towing will induce the wander.
In my limited, lay opinion, this makes sense because it seems some tires can minimize the impact the "rear-end push" applies to the front of the Excursion.
When I had Michelins on the Ex, the wander was not as noticeable as when I replaced them with Toyo Open Country's.
Because of this, I surmised (whether rightly or wrongly) the construction of a tire can dampen the wander effect.
Stewart
Last edited by S_Harvey; Jan 19, 2007 at 01:03 AM.
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 253
Likes: 1
Originally Posted by S_Harvey
From what I've read, no.
When I had Michelins on the Ex, the wander was not as noticeable as when I replaced them with Toyo Open Country's.
Because of this, I surmised (whether rightly or wrongly) the construction of a tire can dampen the wander effect.
Stewart
When I had Michelins on the Ex, the wander was not as noticeable as when I replaced them with Toyo Open Country's.
Because of this, I surmised (whether rightly or wrongly) the construction of a tire can dampen the wander effect.
Stewart