I am looking for a good antisway bar for my
1999 F250 L/D 4X4 any one have some good Ideas.

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1999 F250 L/D LARIAT 4X4

 

The Hellwig gave some of the members and me nightmare. I toss the darn thing in the garage and put in a Steeda (110.00) and no more popping or ripping noises.
And to the others members who had the same problems here's the facts and story what I went through with the Hellwig sway bar kit:
1. Took the bar off and on for more than ten times because of the noise and hopefully had some solution everytime putting it back on.
2. Hellwig sent different poly bushings, shackles and even 2 sets of U bolts that's too short and don't even fit.
3. Tech helps don't acknowledge that the bar will fit in some F-150 and won't fit in some F-150.
4. I tried every possible ways even wrapped rubber tubings and greased on the noise area, no avail. Even put the bar upside down as Hellwig tech suggested.
5. The axle on my truck is all scratch up and metal filings are coming off from the results of this (sway bar shackles)stupid sway bar kit.
6. Buyers beware, if the first time don't fit or develop noises, pack it up and sent it back and get your money back! Don't fool with it like I did. steve

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1997 XLT Supercab emerald green,4.6 auto superchip, MSD 8.5 wires and Bosch plat4 plugs, rear dual exhaust, Atlas wheels w HP 275/60/17 tires, P/F Z pads, Lund steps and quarter window shades, Outland grille guard w KC daylighters (for sale cheap), piaa 1000 in bumpers openings, Trenz billet grille, edlebrock ISA shocks, Powerslider, stainless steel fender trim, fluidyne cooler, Airaid kit, Gentex electronic compass dimming mirror,Downey SST tonneau cover(for sale cheap),A.R.E. lid, Steeda sway bar.





[This message has been edited by MIF-150 (edited 10-03-1999).]

 

I have installed a Hellwig on 3 different vehicles (2 Fords, 97 F-150 and 97 F-250LD) with no problems. Works good for me.


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97 F-150, 2WD, Reg Cab,Flareside,Dk Toreador Red, 4.6, 3.55 LS, EGR Bug Deflector, ******* Bed Cover, Bed Liner, XL Full Length Running Boards, Air Aid Kit, Gibson Single Out Cat Back, Superchips, TransGo Shift Kit, Hellwig Rear Sway Bar, Hellwig 2500# Overload Springs

 

Like I said before, It's works for some folks and sometimes it doesn't.
T.Ellenberger, at least you had good luck with the bar on all of your trucks, that's good to hear. But if you're one of the unfortunate ones like me, you'll get so p*#%** off you'll feel like tossing the darn bar to the other side of the moon.
At least good thing Steeda and Belltech makes a sway bar beside Hellwig.
Sorry folks, got to let some steam out. steve

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1997 XLT Supercab emerald green,4.6 auto superchip, MSD 8.5 wires and Bosch plat4 plugs, rear dual exhaust, Atlas wheels w HP 275/60/17 tires, P/F Z pads, Lund steps and quarter window shades, Outland grille guard w KC daylighters (for sale cheap), piaa 1000 in bumpers openings, Trenz billet grille, edlebrock ISA shocks, Powerslider, stainless steel fender trim, fluidyne cooler, Airaid kit, Gentex electronic compass dimming mirror,Downey SST tonneau cover(for sale cheap),A.R.E. lid, Steeda sway bar.

 

I also had and returned the Heilwig sway bar. As soon as I opened the package I could tell it was a poor design. What a hassle. Do yourself a favor and avoid it.

 

I also had all of the problems MIF-150 described. Damn thing just sitting in my garage.



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97 White F-150 XLT 4X4 ORP, 4.6, SuperChip, Stillen Air Intake, Gibson Exhaust, Hellwig Sway Bar, Weld Wheels, 33" Bridgestone A/T Duelers, 3" Body Lift, Rancho 9000's, Billet Grill, SmittyBilt Nerf Bars (Stainless), SnugTop Shell (Expo), Electric Sunroof, Super White Headlights. On Order: White face gauge? Still looking.......

Sound System:
Sony ES CDX780 Head Unit, Sony ES 10 Disk Changer, Sony ES XDP 210 EQ/DSP, MTX Pro 4X75W AMP, Kenwood 300W AMP for Sub., 1 Fared Lightning Monitor Cap, Optima Yellow Top Battery, MTX ThunderForm W/2-8"-4ohm Fosgate Punch XLC, Infinity Kappa components in front, Infinity Kappa 5X7 rear.

http://www.geocities.com/pipeline/reef/5783

 

I just returned from the post office where I shipped my Hellwig sway bar back to JC Whitney for a full refund.

I installed the bar according to the instructions. The bar stayed in place for exactly one day until I turned up a slight incline where the bar "popped" out of position. I got out my instructions and found that they want you to torque the nuts on the "U" clamps to 120 foot-pounds. Well, let me tell you, 120 foot-pounds only succeeded in stripping the threads on the bolt and nut.

I called Hellwig and they said that 120 foot-pounds is too high and that I should just tighten them "tight". Uh, Ok. I did that the FIRST time. He then told me that their kit is designed to fit both the F-150 and F-250 model trucks. He said that the "U" clamps are large enough to fit the largest axle. Well, I ordered the bar for the F-150, not the F-250 and I would expect to have the proper "U" clamps included. Hellwig sent me two sets of smaller "U" clamps and a bag of nuts and washers to replace those that stripped.

New parts arrive. I inspect everything and discover that the shackles which mate with the "U" clamps are bent and that the "teeth" have been compressed so that they are now smooth. It seems that there would be no way to provide a nice tight grip on the axle.

At this point, I decided to return the whole thing and get my money back. Definitely a poor design and poor quality materials.

Did I mention that the sway bar links (which attach the bar to the truck frame) are made of a cheap small-diameter bolt with a large metal sleeve acting as spacer? The outer diamater of the bolt and the inner diameter of the sleeve are off by about 1/8-inch which makes it almost impossible to center the sleeve on the bolt? Did I mention that the poly bushings are supported by standard flat washers on each side? Not the thick, cupped steel washers that most links use, but regular soft-metal hardware-store variety washers? If you overtorque the bushings, the washers will bend instead of simply compressing the bushing.

There is no way in this world I would recommend the Hellwig product to anyone. Save your time and money and steer clear of Hellwig. You have been warned.

--Steve


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1998 F-150 Super Cab XLT, 4x4, SWB, StyleSide, 5.4L, E40D Automatic, Dark Toreador Red, Med Graphite Cloth Captain's Chairs, P255/70R-16 OWL AT Tires, 3.55 LS Axle, Cab Steps, Tow Pkg, Power Color-Keyed Mirrors, Fog Lights, Cast Aluminum Wheels, 6-Disc CD Changer. Aftermarket: Pendaliner SR, Keyless Entry, Delta Deep Aluminum Toolbox, Gibson Swept Side Stainless Steel, K&N, Custom CB and Amateur Radio Installation. See me and my truck at http://bluecrab.richmond.edu/crab-1.htm