FordExcursions.com Forums
Phillip Beall
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• Honey Grove, TX, USA |
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• Registered on 11/7/2004 |
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• 74 posts |
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 Posted:4/12/2007 19:02 |
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All,
About three weeks ago we got our local tire shop (Discount Tire - Paris, TX), which does a fair amount of 4x4 work, to install a Hellwig anti-sway bar (Hellwig 7643) and Landyot's radius arms (Gen III) for us. To say the ride improvement was astounding would in fact be an understatement. 
The quality Ken puts into his product is apparent from the packing (each individual part wrapped in newspaper and packed tightly into a heavy duty box) to the quality welds and great finish to the little labels on each item to ensure it is installed correctly. I winced at the fact that these engineering marvels would be on the bottom of the Excursion! 
Once down off the lift I took a quick spin around the block and pulled back into the shop as Kathy pulled in in my truck. I thumbed toward her Excursion and told her to drive it and I'd get her impressions when we got home. When we got there, about fifty miles, she told me she was utterly amazed. She had been a bit skeptical that the ride would improve much and ALWAYS hates spending money (Yeah guys, I know, a gal that hates to shop...and gorgeous to boot.). Both of us have the same opinion:
1 - The ride quality is vastly improved - beyond description in fact. You just have to experience it to really appreciate the ride/steering improvement.
2 - The safety of the ride also has to be significantly improved, as tracking is much more precise and refined.
3 - What we had just resigned ourselves to, the sloppy steering, was totally eliminated. No more rear end wander... 
The Excursion now corners just unbelievably nicely. Where we used to let off the accellerator in curves it now tracks so true we just power right through them. Pulling a trailer is also noticably more refined.
I have at least two personal friends I know of with Excursions and each will get an unabashedly supportive report on the mod, and a printed copy of Ken's Word document. I am also going to chat with the owner of the Discount Tire and give him a copy and suggest he bring the matter up with any Excursion owners he works with. We genuinely believe Ken's mod is a huge safety improvement, not to mention the improved ride.
If you have the cash and you're just cheap - get over the expense and do this mod.  Even if the huge ride improvement isn't justification enough for you, don't let your family ride in an Excursion without this mod.  That is just how much I think safety is improved. And if you simply can't afford the mod, start cutting out some Starbuck's (and we're huge Starbuck's fans) and save your pennies to get this done as soon as you can. 
Ken, thanks for your quality engineering and obvious pride in your craftsmanship. Your stuff is first rate and we're delighted with the end result. The biggest safety improvements we have made to the Excursion are installing heavy duty drilled and slotted front break rotors, the anti-sway bar and Ken's radius rods.
Phil
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RayRay1
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• Piscataway, NJ, USA |
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• Registered on 4/24/2005 |
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• 54 posts |
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 Posted:4/13/2007 20:58 |
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I've got several GEN-I and GEN-III kits available. At this moment, I don't anticipate starting another batch until late this year, if not until early-2008.
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Gen-III kit for my truck, the damage??
2003 Xcursion EB 6.0 diesel, AFE Stage 1 instake, AutoMeter Phantom Boost, EGT & Trans guages, Leveling Kit, BFGoodrich 315x75x16 on Weld Sidewinders, Eclipse radio & CD changer, Rockford amp & 12' subs, XM radio, 10.5 Mobile DVD video system |
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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:4/13/2007 21:06 |
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| Quote: | | Gen-III kit for my truck, the damage?? |
Click on my username and send me an e-mail requesting the radius-rod info-pack, and I'll send a reply e-mail with an attachment. I'd send it to you from here, but I cannot attach documents using the webmail server on this forum. Thanks! Ken
Phillip - Your kind words are making me blush. Thanks! I like this kind of blushing. |
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CHPMustang
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• Plano, TX, USA |
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• Registered on 7/24/2002 |
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• 1,800 posts |
• 1 Vehicle
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Posted:4/28/2007 21:46 |
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I installed the Gen -2 kit today and basically have the same words as Phillip,it undoubtedly is the best suspension upgrade that could be done to the Excursion.
One thing we did notice is the braking improvement,oh my gosh the braking is like wow!
I'll have more to follow along with some photos of discoveries while tearing into the X this morning
Great work Ken! 
Bill
2002 Excursion XLT-P 4x4 7.3L Powerstroke Diesel
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CHPMustang
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• Plano, TX, USA |
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• Registered on 7/24/2002 |
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• 1,800 posts |
• 1 Vehicle
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Posted:5/9/2007 09:13 |
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Ken or anyone in fact,have ya'll had the factory traction bar snubber disintegrate prior to installing the Radius Rods?
Bill
2002 Excursion XLT-P 4x4 7.3L Powerstroke Diesel
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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:5/9/2007 15:26 |
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| Quote: | | Ken or anyone in fact,have ya'll had the factory traction bar snubber disintegrate prior to installing the Radius Rods? |
Yes! I personally have disintegrated several pair of snubbers just prior to installing the radius-rods.   
But in all reality, no, I have never witnessed any that have gone or worn away on their own. |
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CHPMustang
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• Plano, TX, USA |
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• Registered on 7/24/2002 |
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• 1,800 posts |
• 1 Vehicle
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Posted:5/9/2007 18:11 |
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Well here's to witness what the passengers side snubber condition on our Excursion
I uploaded a few photos to my Suspension Folder
Bill
2002 Excursion XLT-P 4x4 7.3L Powerstroke Diesel
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housedad
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• mt royal, NJ, USA |
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• Registered on 10/8/2005 |
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• 88 posts |
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Posted:5/10/2007 11:07 |
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Dang if that don't look MELTED!!!! WOW! |
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CHPMustang
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• Plano, TX, USA |
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• Registered on 7/24/2002 |
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• 1,800 posts |
• 1 Vehicle
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Posted:5/10/2007 11:54 |
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The snubbers were fine prior to our winter western states trip in December 2006 but we believe the thick rough washboard snow/ice covered interstates of I-70 in Kansas & Colorado day after the blizzards is what shattered them.
I too was very surprised at their poor condition at 57,000 miles
The pass side's snubber material seems more aerated than the drivers side which was just starting to separate,I'll have to shoot photos of that one.
Bill
2002 Excursion XLT-P 4x4 7.3L Powerstroke Diesel
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4WDBeast
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• Thibodaux, LA, USA |
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• Registered on 5/20/2007 |
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• 5 posts |
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Posted:5/21/2007 18:41 |
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OOOH....I want one...Sent my email and waiting for reply. I wanted to buy YESTERDAY. Please tell me there are more
Bart |
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