FordExcursions.com Forums
Jeff Banks
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• Hampton, VA, USA |
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• Registered on 8/22/2003 |
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• 2 posts |
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 Posted:8/23/2003 11:41 |
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Hey out there in X land! Just found this web siteI've got a F350 (which people have said is very similar to the Excursion). Going over washboard roads the truck feels like it jumps around alot. At first it got me worried that something might be wrong, but someone mentioned that it might be spring wrap(sp?). The basic idea was explained to me that the rear axel moves forward ot backward because of something about the leaf springs. Does that sound right? Anyway, I'm a eBay nut and found this
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2428483540&category=42609
Does anyone know if this would do anything to smooth out the washboard roads? I don't know much about these trucks yet and don't want to screw anything up.
Thanks! |
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Phil Eaton
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• Lander, WY, USA |
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• Registered on 4/28/2003 |
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• 42 posts |
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 Posted:8/24/2003 09:45 |
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Add a sway bar to the rear axel from Hellwig. The swaybar made a tremendous difference on washboard much to my surprise. If you like that, add urethane bushings on the front swaybar for a general handeling improvement.
Traction bars reduce axel wrap and would be the next --more expensive--step on the rear if the sway bar does not get what you are after. |
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LANDYOT
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• Subscriber since 11/23/2003 |
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• Newport News, VA, USA |
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• Registered on 7/15/2003 |
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• 1,110 posts |
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Posted:8/24/2003 11:53 |
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I installed a Hellwig sway bar on the rear of my 2001 4x4 Ltd Excursion, and while it did exactly what it's designed to do (reduce sway ... very nicely, too), it did nothing for the "felt" reverberation ... ie. spring wrap. I also replaced the shock absorbers with Rancho RSX9000 (at $100 each!), and while they helped a little, they cannot eliminate spring wrap ... only absorb some additional shock, which is caused by the spring wrap condition. Back to square one. |
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Phil Eaton
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• Lander, WY, USA |
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• Registered on 4/28/2003 |
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• 42 posts |
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Posted:8/24/2003 13:57 |
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That’s interesting Land Yot. Maybe it was my combination with velvet ride shackles on the rear springs as well for my x. The odd thing is that I saw the improvement over “corduroy” only after the sway bar. Another thread by a different x owner claimed improvement in handeling over washboard after the sway bar install and I thought that was peculiar. Nonetheless, I also saw improvement. Maybe there is some variation between even between same models and build years as ours are the same. My x used to shudder so much over washboard that the corresponding noise made conversation with a normal voice impossible.
However, it certainly makes sense that true axel wrap should not be reduced by sway bars. I guess that would depend on whether axel wrap is actually the root cause of the original posted concern. I do remain impressed by the effects of the sway bars and polyurethane bushings. I can only speak for my x, and of course my opining is always potentially wrong.
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FamilyRideII
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• Flower Mound, TX, USA |
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• Registered on 8/7/2003 |
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• 51 posts |
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Posted:8/24/2003 16:09 |
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If you look at the mechanics of an anti-sway bar, driving down the road it's doing nothing. If you look at what it does, it simply transfers the ups on one side to the downs on the other or visa versa. However, if you are in conditions where it's swaying, which on washboard you may get one side working on oposition of the other thus it's technicaly "swaying" quickly from side to side, you may feel more solid.
I know that driving down the road towing our boat, which at about 7500# is a load for an Expedition, I don't feel the sway from cross winds or the slam of a big conventional cab running 85 MPH passing me. I'm solid and have had it up to about 90 MPH (ya, long story and it's definitly a "special" occation). And in my case, I replaced the OEM with a Helwig. Huge difference in handling too!!! I can not get it to where I feel the front end "pushing" to a point I feel I'm going to lose control after the replacement!! My test is a "circle" enterance to a hwy near by. At 30 I would start feeling like I no longer had as much control, much past that and I had to slow it down. I'm pushed it to 50+ (it's tight circle) and only got worried about pealing a tire off!
I can imagine what adding a bar to an Ex that didn't have one to begin with is like!! 
2004 Eddie Bauer Excursion
4x4 6.0 PSD, all the goodies, Superchips 1704, Magnaflow, Isspro Gauges, 285 REVO's |
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Jeff Banks
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• Hampton, VA, USA |
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• Registered on 8/22/2003 |
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• 2 posts |
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 Posted:8/25/2003 07:18 |
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Well, I bought those rods off eBay. The auction had ended before I got there, but the seller happily shipped a set out after sending him an email. The results? Good! Going down the road, they make no difference, but, railroads tracks, bumps, or anthing else that makes the back end jump up, and these rods really help! Now the back end doesn't shake after a bump like it used to. Good product, looks heavy duty too (good welding on the joints)!
The truck has a stock sway bar on the back, but I never thought about it helping with the shaking, and don't need to worry now! |
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JohnBoy
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• DFW, TX, USA |
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• Registered on 9/3/2002 |
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• 972 posts |
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Posted:8/25/2003 08:24 |
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LandYOT,
were those your items on eBay?
I recall you were trying to develop them - I guess you got them perfected ?
2005 6.0L 4x4 Eddie Bauer Ex
2003 6.0L 4x4 Limited Ex - traded in (BooHoo )
"The Republicans should back off and let men marry men, women marry women, and legalize abortion. In three generations there would be no Democrats." |
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LANDYOT
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• Subscriber since 11/23/2003 |
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• Newport News, VA, USA |
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• Registered on 7/15/2003 |
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• 1,110 posts |
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Posted:8/25/2003 19:06 |
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JohnBoy,
I sent you an e-mail to answer your question.
Ken E. |
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LANDYOT
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• Subscriber since 11/23/2003 |
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• Newport News, VA, USA |
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• Registered on 7/15/2003 |
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• 1,110 posts |
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