The end links that come with the Hotchkis suspension should be shorter. Are you using the same springs as before or are you putting the stock springs back on. If you keep the same springs, use the same end links but if you go back to the stock springs then the end links have got to match.

Keep us updated and let us know what Belltech says about your issues.

Good luck.

TB

 

TrackBeast, I switch back to the stock springs. I didn't realize the hotchkis endlinks were shorter. Could someone measure their stock ones and let me know so i can compare.

Also I spoke with someone at Belltech this morning and they said that they had not done any installs on Lightnings before so i had to send them some pictures for their engineers to look at. I'm gona call again here in a few minutes to see what they say.

Here's some pictures of the steering link and the lower ball joint castl nut:

 

damn that is tight. maybe they need to say you have to use 20in or bigger. i hope that shim will work.

 

Those bastards obviously lied to me 2 weeks ago. They told me they had done several. This still doesn't mean it doesn't work. The F-150 and Lightning suspension is almost identical. The .6 drop is achieved through the spring so I really think this should work.

I have here in my notes that the stock end links are 4 5/8". The center sleeve (without washers or bushings) is 3 1/4".

Does the writing on the spindle say minimum wheel size 18 or 19"?

TB

 

it says 18 in minimum.

 

Wether or not your endlinks are shorter would depend on if you ordered your sways for a 2" drop or not. They have both available.

--Daniel

 

when someone finds a correct setup, please start a seperate thread...

 

TrackBeast, what's the 4 5/8" from? Is it the bottom of the sway bar surface to the top of the control arm? I have about 4" from those points. Here's a couple pictures of the overall suspension. This first one is the drivers side with the stock spring and drop spindle:



This next one is the passenger side with an Eibach 1.5" drop spring only:



You could solve the sway bar steering link clearance problem by making the endlink longer but the sway bar seems to be pretty level right now:



So don't really know what to do. Belltech is still working on it but they said that they have these spindles on a supercrew with a drop spring and everything clears fine. I don't understand why I'm having a problem then.

 

Anyone have pictures of the stock height hotchkis sway bar kit? I like to see if the bar itself it bent differently. Thanks.

 

Excellent pictures BTW. Yes you are right. I suspect that that distance is a little less than 4".(Can you measure again?) I have my stock end links here and I checked again. The distance is exactly 4 5/8". From looking at your pictures, a slightly longer end link (stock ones) may solve the clearance problem with the sway bar. If you are back to the stock springs you must go back to the stock end links. With a slightly longer end link your Hotchkis bar will be exactly where it is supposed to be.

TB

 

Here's a picture of the endlink and tape measure. Looks to be about 4" between the sway bar and control arm. If I were to lengthen the endlink wouldn't that affect the effectiveness of the sway bar while it wouldn't be level with the ground anymore?

 

My Red...,
I really think the bar is exactly the same except that the end links are longer. I suspect that they use energy suspension end links. Just a word of caution, if you order the ener. susp. end links be careful, they measure the end links differently than we did above. Not sure but I think it is total length.

TB

 

From that picture, you seem to be closer to 3 3/4". When you shorten the end links, it has to correspond to your drop. In this case, that kit is designed for the 1" drop of their springs. End links that are too short will further load the bar which will affect ride quality. Bottom line is you need longer links at stock length.

TB

 

The energy suspension that corresponds to stock is 3 3/8" part # 9.8119. You can have it in either red or black.

http://www.energysuspension.com/pages/endl.html

Couple more questions:

1-The achieved drop with the spindles, is it exactly 2"? Measure center of wheel to the fender lip. If 2" with stock springs, you should get 17".

2-Measure the length of the Hotchkis end link sleeves. I suspect they should be either 2 3/8 or 2 5/8".

Tb

 

I called hotchkis to see if they had a different lenght bar for they kits for a lower and stock. He said the only difference between the kits is the rear bar end links, the front endlinks are the same for both kits. I guess they are shorter than stock but it would put the ends of the sway bar too far up making it unlevel with the ground. Still waiting for a call back from Belltech.