removed the hellwig

X-70STANG-F150 · 2009-07-21 03:25:02

JD, that's crazy talk... :-missingt:-missingt:-missingt

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Jul 25, 2009 | 07:00 PM

#31

william_04_x

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JD, that's crazy talk...

Jul 26, 2009 | 08:30 PM

#32

X-70STANG-F150

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From: sw mich

aortiz, don't worry about it. he was getting on my nerves too. i notice there haven't been a bunch of 4wd people jumping to his defense. i drove a bunch of 4wd ex's when i was shopping for them. although i can't say i did an intensive study on those with sway bar vs those without, i do not recall a significant problem with any of them.

anyway, now that i've been a couple of weeks without the bar i am starting to miss that little extra lean control. i'm a little suprised that i'm the only one that has had problems with the install. i might call hellwig. i think my problem is too much pre-tension. my thought is if i can move the end links forward about 1"-2" , then i can make it work.

Jul 26, 2009 | 08:40 PM

#33

aortizexcursion

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Quote:

Originally Posted by X-70STANG-F150

Glad you don't feel disrespected.

Have you thought about just getting an OEM bar?

Jul 26, 2009 | 08:54 PM

#34

X-70STANG-F150

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From: sw mich

yes, i have. i'd like to seem some more details on what that looks like and how it connects. maybe i'll try a ford parts book.

Jul 26, 2009 | 09:26 PM

#35

aortizexcursion

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Quote:

Originally Posted by X-70STANG-F150

yes, i have. i'd like to seem some more details on what that looks like and how it connects. maybe i'll try a ford parts book.

Try sending a pm to Ed (partsguyed). See if he can help you out there. It seems like he hasn't been active in awhile though. Anybody know where he's been?

Jul 26, 2009 | 09:36 PM

#36

bigdog55

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From: Bremerton, Wa.

I previously drove a '98 3/4 ton suburban which was basically stock and it handled quite well even with my current trailer with a regular anti-sway setup on it. The reason that I got rid of it was a bit of a lack of power and an average 6.5 mpg towing.
I got my "EX" on Ebay and picked it up in Denver and drove it home across Wyoming and up thru Utah and Idaho all on the freeway. There were some pretty good head winds and cross winds and several times I wondered just where that thing thot it was going.Got home and hooked up the trailer and the towing was just ridiculous,so I put new shocks and Ride-Rites on it, which helped it a bit. After talking to several people on this forum,I added the Hellwig,WOW,big difference in the way the "EX" handled both towing and not.After that addition was the Equal-I-zer hitch setup which helped even more when towing.. I am really glad that I added the Hellwig and wouldn't want to drive my 4WD w/o it. I have to say that I have never driven a 2WD,so I don't feel that I can comment on that one.
What I can't seem to understand is what the Ford engineers were thinking about when they designed this rig on a SD frame and then downgraded all the suspension components. I know,soccer moms,but Chevrolet never did that and still sell a bunch of Suburbans to them.

Jul 26, 2009 | 10:09 PM

#37

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My 03 4X4 has a factory rear bar in it. I believe my truck was a may 03 build date. Just throwing it out there that some 03's got the rear bar factory.

Jul 26, 2009 | 11:10 PM

#38

X-Hibition

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From: Outside Boise, Idaho

Connection of the stock rear bar is very straight forward. Two U bolts that go around the diff that hold the brackets in place. There are cast pieces in the diff that center the brackets for the bushings, and of course holes in the frame for the end links. I have pictures still on the camera, but I'll be damned if I know how to post them.