To all interested parties-
We have determined that the Hellwig rear anti swaybar #7621 will NOT fit the new FX4 without significant modification to the vehicle. The skid plate for the gas tank does not allow for the installation of the drivers side mounting bracket. Because we prefer that you not modify your vehicle to install our parts, we have decided to develop a new bar kit specificaly for the FX4.

The new kit will have a slightly different shaped bar, more appropriate bracketry, and a spacer for the brake line. (Oh yeah- AND A DECENT SET OF INSTRUCTIONS!) We anticipate that it will take several weeks before we are ready to release this kit.

I'd like to thank those members who have provided us with photos and feedback. I'm extremely pleased with the support offered here at this forum.

Jim Mitchell
Hellwig Products Company

 

Hellwig Suspension Accessories ROCKS!!!!!!

Thank you Jim ... for listening and responding to the needs of your customers (especially F150 owners)! Working with you on this issue was truly inspiring and once again made me a believer in that buying USA products is definitely the way to go!!!

MN2001F-150 (really a 2003 FX4)

 

Oh great, a day late and a dollar short.

I was just out in my garage tonight trying to install the Hellwig on my '03 F-150 FX4!! I installed everything loosely and started tightening things up and of course the drivers side was the last thing I was doing when I noticed that the bracket that holds the skid plate on seemed to be in the way of the sway bar bracket mounting flush against the rail.

I fiddled around with it for a while by trying to change the angle of the bar and finally came to the conclusion that one or the other bracket has to be cut or notched to get it to work.

Since I never heard anyone on this site mention that little detail, I came on here to ask that question.

I have probably spent 2-3 hours tonight on this thing (I was working on it by myself), it looks like I'll be spending a little more time taking it back off!!!!

Anybody need a sway bar for a non FX4?

 

DougS,

Why can't you return it? I purchased mine from JC Whitney and will be shipping it back today. I ran into the same issue as you did and it took a lot less time removing it....cleaned the grease off the D bushings and repacked it. Will be waiting for the new bar to be released......from what I read from B-man it'll be worth the wait!!

 

MN2001F-150 (or is that MN2003FX4 ),

I purchased my sway bar also from JC Whitney, but I bought it back in August of last year for my old truck (2000 F-150 Off Road), but in Sept. I decided to buy a 2003 so I never put it on the '00.

I had now waited until yesterday to finally install it on the '03, (that is why it just figured I did it right before I found out about the little "problem"). Well this morning after sleeping on it, I took a look at the truck again and decided just to modify it instead.

I took off my skid plate, (and thought about just leaving it off but I paid for an FX4 so I decided to keep it). It took me about 45 minutes total time to remove the skid plate, notch it out (that took the longest since I only had a hacksaw and that metal is pretty thick) and then re-install the plate.

I have everything mounted up now with no clearance problems at all. I know that jmitchell said that they would rather not have to have someone modify, but I was in too far, plus have had the bar too long to just give up.

I took some pictures of the modification, but have not uploaded them to my gallery yet. I will have them uploaded shortly under gallery "DougS" in my '03 F150 pictures. If you go there, check out the pictures, also listed under my '03, of my 2004 F-150

Here is a link to my gallery if interested:

https://www.f150online.com/galleries...w.cfm?num=2920

 

You're right...it's MN2003F-150, but they won't let you change a Username on this board. You have to create another and lose all posting numbers. I should have been thinking ahead 2 years ago.....

What did you do about the passenger side brake cable and it's mounting bracket?

Have you been able to drive around and note the handling difference?

 

I really did not have a big problem with the brake line on the passenger side.

I just had to remove the screw on the axle and snap it out from the clip on top of the differential to get the bar in right and then I just clipped it back in and reinstalled the screw. It runs the same curve as it did before, and looks just like the picture that B-Man posted in your other thread titled "Swaybar Questions".

I have driven it about 12 miles so far and I do notice a more solid feel to the rear.

 

JMitchell,

Is the 7621 also a problem on the 2002? I was going to start shopping for this, but now think that I should wait unless the problem is only with the 2003.

Can you clarrify this?

 

Sport150-4x4

I have the 2003 FX4, so I can't answer for the 2002, but my guess would be yes... if you have the FX4 Off Road package which includes the added skid plates. As for the brake line on the passenger side, the problem on the 2003 is that it is mounted in front of the axle and then a bracket, attached to the lower shock mount, holds the line in place. The brake cable line comes across the axle in the same area that the swaybar mounting bracket needs to be attached to the axle.

You can check out my incomplete gallery for pics of the attempted installation ........ https://www.f150online.com/galleries....cfm?gnum=2855