What's the best cure for wind buffeting on the highway, particularly when passing semis and cross wind gusts? My truck is stock as far as the suspension goes. I realize this is a truck and it's going to get pushed around some, but I think it could do better than it does. The truck has about 9000 miles on it. Will sway bars help, or would better shocks do more good? I'd rather do one or the other right now, and not both at the same time.

Thanks,

Sven

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2000 F150 XLT 4X4 Off Road 5.4L Reg. Cab 3.55

Performance Enhancemets:
K&N
WMS Velocity Tube
Gibson Sweptside

Audio Enhancements:
All of the above, plus
Sony C7000X HU
Cerwin-Vega SS2502 components(Front)
Blaupunkt PCxp573s(Rear)

Radio-delay mod

(For now)

 

F150Sven,

Fat swaybars with poly bushings, firm heavy duty shocks, and a running start...

And a radar detector might come in handy too.. ;-}~

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Drive it like ya stole it,

Terry Deaton
99 F150 XLT, 2WD, 4.6, S/C, S/B, Superchip, K&N FIPK, FMS 9mm, +4s, Nerfs, Leer Top, Cow Catcher W/Bright A$$ Lights, True Duals with hi flow cats, 275 Dunlops with 3.08 gears, fat swaybars, Steeda front and Hellwig rear, 3.5" Fabtech spindles with 2" blocks, B/E Performance Shift kit with B&M Cast Deep Pan, Steeda Billit Pedals.
Coming Soon: 4.10s and Auburn Diff, Eibach Front Coils and Add a Leafs, Underdrive Pullies and Kick A$$ Shocks.
96 SVT COBRA (almost stock)
98 AERO black w/lotsa chrome
Speed Kills, drive a Chevy and live forever.
http://www.geocities.com/terrydeaton.geo/index7.htm

 

Hi, F150Sven.
Not F150-related, but my name is Svenson; was just wondering if by chance yours was as well? Not trying to be nosy... just that your 'handle' caught my eye.
Charlie

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2000 Lariat, 5.4, 3:55 L.S., 4wd, ext cab, Tow pkg, Chestnut/Gold, Century mid-hi cap, Ford short bug deflector, contoured Ford running boards and bedmat.

 

Charlie,

That's my 1st name. The last is just as Swedish.

Treadmarks,

The detector is already in effect, just looking for ways to keep it of the yellow line when passing.

Thanks

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2000 F150 XLT 4X4 Off Road 5.4L Reg. Cab 3.55

Performance Enhancemets:
K&N
WMS Velocity Tube
Gibson Sweptside

Audio Enhancements:
All of the above, plus
Sony C7000X HU
Cerwin-Vega SS2502 components(Front)
Blaupunkt PCxp573s(Rear)

Radio-delay mod

(For now)

 

Sway bars and good shocks can help. The sway bars seemed to help more for what you described for me. Good luck !!

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2000 F-150 XL, RC, LB, 5.4L, 4R70W, 3.55LS,
Class III tow, Payload #3, & Convenience pkgs.,
4-wheel disc/ABS, Chestnut/Parchment 40/60,
Ford bedliner w/Paintsaver & gas/wheel/spare locks,
Mobil 1, K&N oil filter, K&N F.I.P.K., Superchip,
Dynomax ultra-flow welded 3" cat-back w/ 3" Y-pipe,
Hellwig front & rear anti-sway bars, Rancho RS 9000s.

 

Max,

Do you have the part numbers handy for the Hellwigs? I looked on carparts, and they list more than one p/n. Thanks.

------------------
2000 F150 XLT 4X4 Off Road 5.4L Reg. Cab 3.55

Performance Enhancemets:
K&N
WMS Velocity Tube
Gibson Sweptside

Audio Enhancements:
All of the above, plus
Sony C7000X HU
Cerwin-Vega SS2502 components(Front)
Blaupunkt PCxp573s(Rear)

Radio-delay mod

(For now)

 

F150Sven- Sorry I didn't respond faster; I was out yesterday. www.hellwigfirst.com can give you basic details, 1-800-367-5480 (ask for technical advise). The rear bar is listed online [1997 and up,2&4 WD=#7621,1&1/8"] it has different end links included for 2&4 WD. My front bar only came out 2 weeks ago, not listed online, not sure if it fits other than 2 WD models [#7646,1&7/16"]. My advise is to call Hellwig tech advise personally first to confirm front bar # and availability. By the way, the front bar kicks *** on cornering, the rear one helps alot on highway movements. Also, J.C.Whitney constantly runs sales on both. Their #s & $s = front, #78GX7401PF,$119.95 ; rear, #55GX5693A,$109.95 This sale is through Feb 28th, mention catalog #122J-11, sale program code PLWK, 1-800-837-4227, They told me that they would honor this $ and sale to any who called. Good Luck !! Happy Holidays.

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2000 F-150 XL, RC, LB, 5.4L, 4R70W, 3.55LS,
Class III tow, Payload #3, & Convenience pkgs.,
4-wheel disc/ABS, Chestnut/Parchment 40/60,
Ford bedliner w/Paintsaver & gas/wheel/spare locks,
Mobil 1, K&N oil filter, K&N F.I.P.K., Superchip,
Dynomax ultra-flow welded 3" cat-back w/ 3" Y-pipe,
Hellwig front & rear anti-sway bars, Rancho RS 9000s.

 

F150SVEN,
I just bought my truck in May. It had 52k on it. It is a very loose suspension compared to what I'm used to. I put 2"springs up front, and Rancho 9000's all the way around. This helped a little. Two weeks ago, I put new factory springs in the rear. It actually helped a little more. And upon measuring I found it lifted the truck in the rear an inch. The old springs were sagging.
My next step is the Hellwig sway bar as mentioned above. As MaxM mentioned these will probably help more. If I had to do it all over again, I WOULD START WITH THE SWAY BAR. For the time only the rear is needed as the factory did not install one.
This should help quite a bit more.
I'll be ordering it from J. C. Whitney, as they have specials all the time.
Regards,
Mike

I just looked at your sig again. I am not to swift on these 97 or later f150's yet. Doesn't the 4x4 come with a sway bar in the rear? I don't know this, I'm emabarassed, sory.
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MIKE KIEVIT
1996 EXPLORER XLT
1997 F150 2WD(2ND OWNER)
1999 COBRA

[This message has been edited by MKTRUCK (edited 11-24-2000).]

[This message has been edited by MKTRUCK (edited 11-24-2000).]

 

did energy suspension bushings up front and added a hellwig bar in back that took care of the wind buffeting on the highway. fairly cheap mod also.bushings are about 30 bucks.

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------------------------- 99 SILVER XLT/REG.CAB/4.2/5SPD/3.55/K&N/Dynomax Super Turbo/Westin Black Nerfs/SuperChip/Hellwig Rear Swaybar/Energy Suspension Front Swaybar Bushings and Endlinks/Trenz Billet Antenna

 

Thanks guys. I just got back from the extended weekend. I'll probably be ordering the rear SB after the holidays.

Sven

------------------
2000 F150 XLT 4X4 Off Road 5.4L Reg. Cab 3.55

Performance Enhancemets:
K&N
WMS Velocity Tube
Gibson Sweptside

Audio Enhancements:
All of the above, plus
Sony C7000X HU
Cerwin-Vega SS2502 components(Front)
Blaupunkt PCxp573s(Rear)

Radio-delay mod

(For now)