Anyone have any first hand experience with an added rear sway bar for SRW trucks?

My 'search' button doesn't net very much - hoping for some input here. I'm thinking about adding one in hopes of a better highway truck with less wander and less body lean. How about towing... must help there too, right?

I know Hellwig sells 'em, but they're like 250 ish.

Thanks All.

 

I installed the hellwig rear sway bar on my 08 about a year ago. Dramatic change; truck tracks nearly flat even in hard cornering and feels like all 4 wheels are steering. No body roll whatsoever, it even helped correct the bump steer and occasional wheel hop I was experiencing.
For best results change to a mono max type gas shock at the same time, may firm up the ride for a while but feels like the truck is stuck to the road with glue. The hellwig is worth the few extra bucks, poly bushings supplied and doesnt even have any surface rust after a year.
Once you get pi**ed off enough to toss the useless instructions, the installation is straighforward and actually pretty simple. I cant stress enough the importance of getting under the vehicle with the components and holding everything up in place to get a good idea of its' orientation. All of the necessary holes are there in the frame and its easy to see how it saddles to the differential. Use the instructions ONLY as a basic recognition of parts and the finished assembly. The rest is gibberish.
The truck also stays tracking much better when towing or loaded, even in excess of its capacities.

 

Lots of guys/gals add them over in the Xcursion forum, and yes they do make a big difference. Most add them the same time they replace the shocks, so it is a little harder to say how much difference each makes. For those that tow they look into either air bags or RAS system. Do a search in the X forum for towing or wander and you will see lots of threads on these issues.

 

You could try your local Ford parts dept or "Ed" parts guy here on the forum. (he has a different signature now, not sur what it is) or your local junk yard from a donor or wreck.
Price new may be close to the hellwig. Not sure if they had the option in 02, or similar year should fit.

 

Yeah, if the price of a new factory set-up is close to the Hellwig, thwn I might as well go with the aftermarket and get poly bushings and a larger bar.

I'm goning to call my ford parts dept just to see.