Rear Sway bar?

[Deadman]

Just got my Hellwig rear sway bar delivered yesterday (11/21) after ordering on 9/24, so it was quite a wait since it was backordered from Hellwig (ordered through Summit Racing). I should have done this a long time ago, since the handling confidence level is much improved! My favorite freeway onramp used to cause a lot of body lean, and now it handles much flatter. Small country roads with lots of uneven pavement seem less dramatic as well since head toss is much reduced. Install was very straightforward as well. Just put the back wheels on ramps and 6 bolts later, the new swaybar is installed.

IF you want it to corner super flat, add the front sway bar now. Its not needed, but it really makes it lay flat on the road. The rear is literally a necessity. Without the rear bar, I would of sold this Expedition. I could NOT stomach the pathetic handling on rough roads.

 

[scottdm]

IF you want it to corner super flat, add the front sway bar now. Its not needed, but it really makes it lay flat on the road. The rear is literally a necessity. Without the rear bar, I would of sold this Expedition. I could NOT stomach the pathetic handling on rough roads.

I'll see if I get the itch for the Hellwig front sway bar at some point. It's much improved with just the rear sway bar, so time will tell if I replace the front as well. The OEM front sway bar is already a substantial piece of hardware compared to the rear, so I can only imagine what the Hellwig front sway bar looks like.

 

[Chio4]

I ordered both 10-14 from Hellwig cannot wait

 

[Deadman]

I'll see if I get the itch for the Hellwig front sway bar at some point. It's much improved with just the rear sway bar, so time will tell if I replace the front as well. The OEM front sway bar is already a substantial piece of hardware compared to the rear, so I can only imagine what the Hellwig front sway bar looks like.

The Hellwig front bar is gigantic!

 

[5280tunage]

I have both Hellwig bars in and it definitely makes a big difference. They are a bit noisy though, and I've already pulled them off once to try and lubricate them a little better. I wish they were a better polyurethane style bushing but I do like them a lot.

 

[Deadman]

I have both Hellwig bars in and it definitely makes a big difference. They are a bit noisy though, and I've already pulled them off once to try and lubricate them a little better. I wish they were a better polyurethane style bushing but I do like them a lot.

Gosh, I only hear my bars with the windows down and going slow on destroyed back roads!

 

[5280tunage]

I can slightly hear them inside but to your point, mostly when the windows are down. The worst is over speed bumps/humps, the travel causes a bunch of noise.

 

[BLUWAGN]

Just ordered a Hellwig rear from Summit, I'm excited to see the difference especially when towing! I watched the 3rd row passengers head movements on a road trip last week and it looked like they were riding on a school bus back there.

 

[TBaganATX]

Gosh, I only hear my bars with the windows down and going slow on destroyed back roads!

What do you mean you hear them? A howl, squeak?


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[techdude99]

I would assume a squeak.

Based on past vehicles I've modified, the correct torque on everything in the correct sequence is key. After that, some really slick grease or swapping in stiff rubber bushings fix the squeak on the chassis to bar connection.

If it's the end links squeaking, especially types with metal bushings, the fix is usually more grease and ensuring the torque is correct.

 

[Deadman]

Just ordered a Hellwig rear from Summit, I'm excited to see the difference especially when towing! I watched the 3rd row passengers head movements on a road trip last week and it looked like they were riding on a school bus back there.

My kids told me they thought something was broken as they rear swayed and bobbed so bad they thought something literally broke. It had 400 miles on, brand fn new. I was sooooooo disappointed, I almost had buyers remorse. Then I found the Hellwig bar, and then the ******* at Hellwig stayed in their moms basement for months hiding from the media's puppet Covid, so I had to wait for like 3-4 months for it.

 

[5280tunage]

It's not the end links, it's the bushings holding the bar to the frame rails. I've had the same noise on other vehicles, often it's the composition of the bushings, if you could write the sound it's more of a rear-rear-rear, only really when going over speed bumps/humps.

 

[techdude99]

You guys may want to try some sumo coil springs. I tow a 6000 lbs trails from time to time and this completely erased all of the bounce and squat. Normal driving is a tad stiffer when turning....the side sway stopped significantly.

Jay Mac - Is your suspension CCD or passive? I think Deadman mentioned they didn't help with cornering (not including Sport mode) on his OEM CCD.

The bounce and sway bother me and my family. I didn't pick up a truck with CCD, but I'm reconsidering Sumo Springs because I picked up a set before I took delivery of my trailer based on several posts stating they correct for squat. After adjusting the ball height on my Weight Safe hitch to the correct weight distribution setting, there's barely any squat and it handles confidently while towing.

The OEM CCD handing, as Deadman described several times (along with political commentary that reminds me of my crazy uncle ) confirms what I've read from various sources.

Deadman - thanks for staying active in the thread to post your first hand experiences. It made me take a second look at sway bars when I was considering stiffer springs.

A few questions for thread participants:

1. Has anyone considered keeping the OEM sway bar and replacing the rubber bushings with Urethane (I believe ES makes a generic set that may fit) or high density rubber or injecting the OEM rubber with a stiffening agent, like 3M window weld?
   
2. Is the Hellwig bar hollow or solid? From what I can see, it appears solid.
   
3. Are there any other quality brands worth considering?

 

[5280tunage]

Jay Mac - Is your suspension CCD or passive? I think Deadman mentioned they didn't help with cornering (not including Sport mode) on his OEM CCD.

The bounce and sway bother me and my family. I didn't pick up a truck with CCD, but I'm reconsidering Sumo Springs because I picked up a set before I took delivery of my trailer based on several posts stating they correct for squat. After adjusting the ball height on my Weight Safe hitch to the correct weight distribution setting, there's barely any squat and it handles confidently while towing.

The OEM CCD handing, as Deadman described several times (along with political commentary that reminds me of my crazy uncle ) confirms what I've read from various sources and was the main reason I didn't consider CCD for my configuration.

Deadman - thanks for staying active in the thread to post your first hand experiences. It made me take a second look at sway bars when I was considering stiffer springs.

A few questions for thread participants:

1. Has anyone considered keeping the OEM sway bar and replacing the rubber bushings with Urethane (I believe ES makes a set) or high density rubber or injecting the OEM rubber with a stiffening agent, like 3M window weld?
2. Is the Hellwig bar hollow or solid? From what I can see, it appears solid.
   
3. Are there any other quality brands worth considering?

The hellwig bars are definitely solid. Very heavy. Unfortunately my experience was not great with the parcel service, the first one they delivered as an empty box, the bar must have fallen out at some point, funny that the label said over 50 pounds and the delivery driver delivered a box that weighed about a couple pounds. Ridiculous.

I've had hellwig on previous vehicles. High quality. It was one of the first things I did on this, well worth it.

@techdude99, curious, if you do find some replacement bushings for the end links, I would love to know, technically I can't stand the design of the factory end links. Metal on metal? Heck, I would even like complete end link replacements. I also sent an email to hellwig to see if they have upgraded bushings for the bars.

 

[Deadman]

It's not the end links, it's the bushings holding the bar to the frame rails. I've had the same noise on other vehicles, often it's the composition of the bushings, if you could write the sound it's more of a rear-rear-rear, only really when going over speed bumps/humps.

My sway bar boxes were in rough shape as well...... I was afraid parts were missing, but they were not.

 

[Gillbrak]

Good info here and thinking of upgrading to these. Leary of the bushing squeak though. Is the ride worth it? We have a platinum w CCD. We have a TT that is about 8K lbs loaded.


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[Deadman]

I honestly don't hear the squeak in the car.....

 

[5280tunage]

And again I really only hear in when the windows are down. And I'm just more **** than most. I'd say well worth it.

 

[techdude99]

@techdude99, curious, if you do find some replacement bushings for the end links, I would love to know, technically I can't stand the design of the factory end links. Metal on metal? Heck, I would even like complete end link replacements. I also sent an email to hellwig to see if they have upgraded bushings for the bars.

I'll create a post if I find a good solution.

I think I'll give the Hellwig a try. If anyone's aware of a reseller that offers a holiday discount, please PM.

 

[mwl001]

Has anyone had any issues with Ford service after installing these? Is this considered a wear item anyway and a non-issue? Thanks to anyone who has any knowledge, never done anything like this to a vehicle under warranty before.