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Installed Bilsteins and Helliwig
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Senior User
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 415
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From: Long Island - NY
Installed Bilsteins and Helliwig
First off -- the Bilsteins are unbelievable. I put them on yesterday and it was an instant night and day change. The truck handles as close to a sports car that a truck this size ever could... Definitely love the new handling and feel. Even my wife said she really liked the difference sitting in the passenger seat ...
Now for the Helliwig - I had a strange situation ... I installed the driver side using the parking brake hole - BUT the passenger side hole was too small - there was no way for the bolt's diameter to fit. I ended up using the hole just above it and a half inch or so to the rear. Then I added 2 thick washers to the tie rod bottom ( just above the top bushing end to offset the height difference. The passenger side tie rod end is not straight ( vertical ) since it sits a little further back but is tight.
Anyone think that this could cause any other damage ? anyone have the same problem with the passenger side hole ??
Now for the Helliwig - I had a strange situation ... I installed the driver side using the parking brake hole - BUT the passenger side hole was too small - there was no way for the bolt's diameter to fit. I ended up using the hole just above it and a half inch or so to the rear. Then I added 2 thick washers to the tie rod bottom ( just above the top bushing end to offset the height difference. The passenger side tie rod end is not straight ( vertical ) since it sits a little further back but is tight.
Anyone think that this could cause any other damage ? anyone have the same problem with the passenger side hole ??
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Joined: Feb 2008
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From: Port Republic, Maryland
OK, good luck with it,...o yea, by the way, we also used a small bottle jack on the frame in front of the leaf springs to raise the frame away from the leaf springs to allow us easier clearence to maueuver the bolt through the hole,..I was worried about the clearence of the bolt head and the leaf springs, but after it was tigtend up, the clearence was fine.
Did you drive yours with it the way you had it installed slightly misaligned? I'd like to know if you could tell any difference after you get it straight?
Did you drive yours with it the way you had it installed slightly misaligned? I'd like to know if you could tell any difference after you get it straight?
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Joined: Dec 2008
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From: Taylors, SC
Same here on my 04. If my fading memory serves, i too was concerned about clearance between the link bolt head and the leaf spring. After it was torqued down, it was fine.
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Joined: Feb 2009
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From: Long Island - NY
I got at it again this morning with a new set of ratcheting wrenches that made those tight spots by the tie rods so much easier. I moved the tie rod and got it through the correct hole and tightened it all up. On the driver side I couldn't see how the parking brake bracket could fit when I assembled it without it hitting the leafs. I just took the bracket off used the washers. I then zip tied the brake cable to the frame instead.
The ride is really so greatly improved - I'm sooo happy shocks/sway bar were my first real mods. Honestly I was a bit disappointed on how my X handled when I first got it compared to my wifes Suburban. Now I can say that this truck handles as good - if not better than the Suburban
The ride is really so greatly improved - I'm sooo happy shocks/sway bar were my first real mods. Honestly I was a bit disappointed on how my X handled when I first got it compared to my wifes Suburban. Now I can say that this truck handles as good - if not better than the Suburban
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Joined: Feb 2008
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From: Port Republic, Maryland
good deal....myblkex. I dont know if you saw on a previous post of mine regarding the brake bracket, but I had to use a pair of channel lock to open the loop on the end to enable the bolt to fit through. But no worries, I'm sure the zip tie will work just as good.
SO you think that new bilstien shocks really made a dramatic difference ha? I have a 2002 Ex 7.3 diesel with 80,000 miles, I just had to replace the upper and lower ball joint on the driver side, and the driver side wheel bearing. I just put on my hellwig sway bar, but have not done shocks yet. I gotta say that the new ball joints and wheel bearing made a world of difference with my steering and handeling. I am considering new shocks too.
SO you think that new bilstien shocks really made a dramatic difference ha? I have a 2002 Ex 7.3 diesel with 80,000 miles, I just had to replace the upper and lower ball joint on the driver side, and the driver side wheel bearing. I just put on my hellwig sway bar, but have not done shocks yet. I gotta say that the new ball joints and wheel bearing made a world of difference with my steering and handeling. I am considering new shocks too.
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Senior User
Joined: Feb 2009
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From: Long Island - NY
My '00 V10 has just turned 92K and the stock shocks needed to go ... Got the Bilsteins on sale 4 for 3 price. Immediately you could tell what an immense difference they make ! Side to side roll as well as front to back sway in hard braking is almost completely gone. The truck stays steady and straight over large bumps and potholes. The best $200 spent so far ...
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Joe Kucinski
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Joined: Dec 2008
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From: Western Kansas
I ordered Bilsteins and Sway bar for my Ex. on March 1. Had the sway bar on the March 5.The shocks finally arrived on Thursday. I opened the box Friday morning to put them on and I was sent a set for a Dodge Durango. Now I have to ship them back and wait for the correct set to arrive.
Mitch
Mitch
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Joined: Dec 2008
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From: Western Kansas
No, I hadn't started taking anything apart. I was just unpacking them to head for the shop. at least I caught that break. talked to shockwarehouse and they said as soon as the package was back in the FEDEX system they would send the correct set.Hope bt the end of the week to have the right ones here.
Mitch
Mitch
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Joined: Dec 2008
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From: Western Kansas
Update on shocks. FEDEX picked up my return box of shocks on Monday morning. I called shockwarehouse.com and told them that they were in the FEDEX system and the told me they would ship the correct order that day. Got home from work today and they were on the front porch. Way to go shockwarehouse.com!
Regards,
Mitch
Regards,
Mitch
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Joined: Jun 2005
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From: Oregon
I also took advantage of the buy 3 get one free deal on the Bilsteins and installed both them and the Hellwig rear sway bar today. It definitely has a firmer ride but that is expected since my old shocks were the originals with 112,000 miles on them. I already had the RAS system and I'm hoping that with these new items the Ex will be more stable when towing.
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shockwarehouse
I ordered my shocks for my 05 yesterday from shockwarehouse,awesome price and someone I forget who had mentioned to put fordtruck in the promotion box on check out and that saved me another 10.00 so total shipped to my door was 195.00 for all 4. Extremely happy since locally they priced them at 95.00 per shock. Thank you everyone for great info
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