New owner with questions

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Fastcar

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I got 22” factory rims and just ordered the rear Hellwig sway bar. Everything about this Expedition is factory with 13,500 miles on it. Essentially, there are no obvious defects, tires are inflated according to door jamb placard, there have been no accidents to the vehicle, either.
About the door jam tire pressure recommendations. Those figures are usually so the consumer will receive a softer ride. As a suggestion, try running the tires at the max pressure that is on the sidewall of the tire. It may help, if so drop them a couple pounds and check the foot print.
 

BigOleFordFan

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If I were here, you would know it !
About the door jam tire pressure recommendations. Those figures are usually so the consumer will receive a softer ride. As a suggestion, try running the tires at the max pressure that is on the sidewall of the tire. It may help, if so drop them a couple pounds and check the foot print.
Well, over-inflation is almost as bad as under-flation, but both will cause the tires to go wear out way sooner than normal, but to each his own as they say, but by all means, do what feels right to YOU.....

I keep mine at 36psi everywhere, all the time, all at once, nottaproblemo, and I get a comfortable, predictable and well-rounded ride & handling, and tread wear too...hahahaha :D
 

Fastcar

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Well, over-inflation is almost as bad as under-flation, but both will cause the tires to go wear out way sooner than normal, but to each his own as they say, but by all means, do what feels right to YOU.....

I keep mine at 36psi everywhere, all the time, all at once, nottaproblemo, and I get a comfortable, predictable and well-rounded ride & handling, and tread wear too...hahahaha :D
My thought was that max pressure would change the ride. Then the OP could lower the psi a couple of pounds at a time. Hopefully arriving at a pressure that gave him the ride he desired rather spending money on tires, wheels and suspension parts That is also why I mentioned checking the foot print. In no way did I recommend running the truck with the tires in an overinflated condition. Apparently I wasn't clear enough. My apologies.
 

Moeman

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I've always been surprised to hear people complaining about a lot of float in an Expedition ride. I'm pretty critical of ride and handling, and I definitely don't think the vehicle has a good ride, but I've just not experienced this side to side floating feeling.

There's definitely something to be said for proper tire pressure. I put aftermarket wheels and tires on an F150 and played around trying to max out fuel economy with the bigger tires. Too much and it definitely started feeling less stable on the highway. Same for a Honda Accord - new tires at stock pressure didn't feel planted. Decreased 2-3 psi and made a world of difference.
 

Fastcar

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@Fastcar I understood. It’s a good approach. Thank you!
Ah, there is hope!

Just a thought if I may. I'm going to guess it's pretty hot where you are located. If you decide to mess with the tire pressure do it first thing in the morning. The sun beating down on a tire can raise the pressure by a bunch.
 
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steve3591

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They used to make a 2 wheel drive max plat. Mine is a 2022 with now just over 12000 miles in 32 months.
I don’t have any of the problems mentioned above. Dink know how much I’d different in a 4 wheel drive.
I think now only 4 wheel drive no more 2 wheel drive
 

Burz

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My 2024 Timberline is mushy at best on the freeway and higher speeds. I clearly need to buy Hellwig's Hellwig rear sway bar also and will be.


Part numbers if you need them:


7696 if for the front sway bar and the 7688 is for the rear
 
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LanceExp2025

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No need for the front? Could I at least do urethane bushings? If so, what size and where can I get them?
I am in total agreement w/ the HD Helwig rear sway bar ONLY. I had an F450 2wd PU that we put our 10'-6" Lance camper in the 8' bed of and towed a 3-horse 7000# drag trailer behind. Even though it was an F450 w/ dual rear wheels it would sway a little (not really bad at all) on the highway from CA to OK when towing the horse trailer w/ camper on-board. I upgraded to the Helwig HD 'rear' sway bar ONLY and "END of problem" totally. That sway was most notable driving through the Northern panhandle plains of Texas where the cross winds are famous.

Also, I would NOT put 'urethane bushings' in, under any circumstances. Never tried them on any Expy but did put them into my 1966 Ford Fairlane front suspension and front sway bar (as recommended on the Fairlane forum) and even though it improved the cornering sway "only slightly", it was 'Brutally' noisy from every road noise being transmitted right into the car. Took them out, went back to NEW stock rubber and it was so very much nicer driving! Hope this helps? Lance
 

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My thought was that max pressure would change the ride. Then the OP could lower the psi a couple of pounds at a time. Hopefully arriving at a pressure that gave him the ride he desired rather spending money on tires, wheels and suspension parts That is also why I mentioned checking the foot print. In no way did I recommend running the truck with the tires in an overinflated condition. Apparently I wasn't clear enough. My apologies.
That won’t change the floaty ride. It will just make you feel the bumps harder. It might handle better, but still will have the floaty feel. I understand the concern with how the body feels detached from the frame. I came to like that feel rather quickly though.
 

Fastcar

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That won’t change the floaty ride. It will just make you feel the bumps harder. It might handle better, but still will have the floaty feel. I understand the concern with how the body feels detached from the frame. I came to like that feel rather quickly though.
I found that a raise in air pressure will stabilize as it stiffens the side wall. Ii will also shrink the footprint or contact area of the tire. A floaty ride to me is a wandering sort of thing as it isn't into the pavement.
 
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Nimtz31

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@LanceExp2025
Thank you for your input.

The Hellwig online instructions say to replace the front sway bar bushings too. I haven’t received the package yet to see if they included those bushings with the kit.

If the rear sway bar reduces the issue, we’re going to buy the front kit as well.

Reminder: I’m alright with how it drives now, but it’s (mostly) my wife’s vehicle, and she doesn’t feel safe driving it. To me, the floating feeling is VERY SUBTLE and mostly normal. The F150 that she’s used to driving is solid and planted feeling to her; which is true. It feels a lot better driving the truck.

Thanks again, everyone. Lots of people helping here.
 
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Nimtz31

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Update: installed rear Hellwig sway bar a few days ago. It handles better on the corners and in canyons. I feel more confident when driving around turns. Not night and day for me, though.

It did not correct the floating feeling. Does anyone here live in Utah county or Salt Lake County? I15 has grooving in the road, not from construction. It’s kinda wavy in Lehi area. That’s what I’m starting to think it is.
 

LanceExp2025

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Thanks, Nimtz31! That is much wanted and great information to know. Our 2024 Expedition MAX Limited did NOT have the CCD and, thus, does NOT have that "Floating" feeling. Thinking about the Helwig HD rear sway bar (which I was considering), I did NOT want to install one on our 2024 Expy because I was NOT willing to sacrifice any ride 'smoothness' quality. With your personal experience here, it confirms my prior thinking and I thank you for sharing this experience. Ours handles just fine but we have NOT towed anything very heavy yet. Next weekend will be our first HD towing job w/ a 2800-3000# drag trailer (loaded) for a 300 mile trip (600 miles round-trip) up to Mammoth Mountains and back. We'll see then how it all goes but, pretty certain that it will be OK and uneventful. Lance
 
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Nimtz31

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I don’t feel as though the smoothness was sacrificed post-sway bar installation. I have not noticed much difference in the smoothness and neither has my wife. But, in all fairness, we’re used to driving the F150.

I can confirm now the grooving in the freeway around here has a larger impact on the independent suspension aspect in contrast to the solid rear axle of the truck we’re used to driving. It’s just something unexpected and I think we’re used to now.

Still going to keep the rear Hellwig sway bar and potentially buy the front. It has tightened up body roll.
 

Dice Roll

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I found that a raise in air pressure will stabilize as it stiffens the side wall. Ii will also shrink the footprint or contact area of the tire. A floaty ride to me is a wandering sort of thing as it isn't into the pavement.
Interesting, I drove mine with the tow psi some after dropping the trailer and all I felt were harder bumps. Only way I’ve experienced tighter suspension ride feel is in sport or tow mode.
 

Mr Big

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Update: installed rear Hellwig sway bar a few days ago. It handles better on the corners and in canyons. I feel more confident when driving around turns. Not night and day for me, though.

It did not correct the floating feeling. Does anyone here live in Utah county or Salt Lake County? I15 has grooving in the road, not from construction. It’s kinda wavy in Lehi area. That’s what I’m starting to think it is.
Nothing will correct the floating feeling, on a Platinum, except switch to another mode.
Sport eliminates the float, as well as some other settings.
I use normal around town. But when I experience too much floaty boat effect because of the bad road, I switch to sport.
Sport gets addicting because of the torque, suspension and steering. But it will hold some gears longer for obvious reasons.
With that said, I love everything about my Platinum. It has plenty of power, drives great, can be sporty when you want it to be, perfect for road trips, and the B&O stereo system is fantastic sounding, if set correctly.
 
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