E. Long
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• Subscriber since 1/1/2001 |
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• Atlanta, GA, USA |
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• Registered on 1/23/2001 |
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• 2,229 posts |
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 Posted:1/17/2005 23:42 |
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| Quote: | I just rechecked steering wheel play, it's actually 1" - felt like more, but that's the 'drift' issue I mentioned before. I've not done the rear sway bar add - don't really notice much roll, and am trying to keep back end from getting any stiffer than it already is. Put 400 pounds of sand tubes behind rear axle just to smoothe out the ride. Those new Edelbrock shocks are firm!
Radius rods are on order from LandYot, really looking forward to the install - can you say 'shade tree mechanic'!  |
You'll enjoy the radius rods. You'll want the sway bar at some point!!! Night and day difference, believe me! 
| Quote: | I have another question - I've installed 4 new slotted & drilled rotors, PF Z pads, new rear calipers. Truck stops great, but I still notice an occasional vibration/slight shimmy that I think is coming from brakes. I can let off the pedal then hit them again & it will go away. Also, sometimes when I hit brakes hard, truck will veer to the right. If I try to repeat it, it may/may not do it again 
I'm thinking I have a sticky front caliper. Could it be something else? Ball joints are good, shocks are new, all front end comonents are in good shape. Comments? |
I haven't had this type of issue before but it sounds like you're on the right track (sticky front caliper). Did you do the brake rotor swap yourself? Sounds like you might need to pull off the wheels and the calipers again to inspect them. This stuff sure is fun during the winter months, eh??? I'll be replacing a leaking CAC hose and filing the front/rear diffs with new fluid this coming weekend. 
-Eric
'67 Galaxie 500 - 390 FE, .030" over, FE to AOD adapter, disc brake conversion. The Daily Driver.
'00 Excursion - 7.3L PSD, LANDYOT Gen-II Radius Rods, Factory Tech Valve Body, 200K+ miles and going |
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Hawkeyes
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• St. Paul, MN, USA |
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• Registered on 12/3/2004 |
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• 43 posts |
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Posted:1/18/2005 21:18 |
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What does the rear sway bar do to improve ride? Will it take out the 'choppiness' ? Had one on the Suburban & didn't like it (front & rear Hellweg, Rancho 9000's). Made it way too stiff, but did improve handling and cornering.
You say 'night & day difference'. What is the difference?
I'm going to replace calipers if I see any sign of uneven pad wear. It was real obvious on the rear's, could see where one caliper piston was not pressing on the pad at all. Actually hope I see the problem, then don't have to play detective. BTW, use only Fenco (NOT Cardone) reman. calipers. Quality difference is obvious, had problems bleeding with Cardone, had to return them. Can get Fenco at AutoZone.
http://www.fencoparts.com/index2.htm
Hawkeyes
Hawkeyes |
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E. Long
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• Subscriber since 1/1/2001 |
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• Atlanta, GA, USA |
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• Registered on 1/23/2001 |
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• 2,229 posts |
• 1
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Posted:1/19/2005 00:40 |
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| Quote: | What does the rear sway bar do to improve ride? Will it take out the 'choppiness' ? Had one on the Suburban & didn't like it (front & rear Hellweg, Rancho 9000's). Made it way too stiff, but did improve handling and cornering.
You say 'night & day difference'. What is the difference? |
I'm not exactly sure what you mean by "choppiness?"
It doesn't stiffen the ride at all. It addresses body roll. Quick lane changes on the highway, driving over uneven terrain (i.e. offroad or something as simple as pulling into your driveway), cornering, highway exit/entrance ramps a la the "clover leaf" ramp style around here in the 'cities.
You will notice that it feels a bit more nimble because you feel more in control on cornering and lane changes in particular. It makes it feel much less like an 8,000 lb. vehicle that's top-heavy and more like a smaller vehicle, if that makes any sense.
Today, on the way into the office, I had one of those folks that blasts onto the highway at racecar speeds and without looking in their blind spot, pull over almost into me. A quick adjustment and I swirved into the left-most lane. The control of the vehicle was completely there...no body roll that forced me to overcorrect my quick adjustment, it just stuck and went where I wanted it to go.
That's about the best I can describe it. 2004+ Excursions come with rear sway bars from the factory. The reason they didn't in the earlier years (like ours) is becaues the X was so closely based on the SuperDuty platform...which didn't come with a rear sway bar (unless it was a dually, in which case it was an option)...simply because, they didn't need them.
-Eric
'67 Galaxie 500 - 390 FE, .030" over, FE to AOD adapter, disc brake conversion. The Daily Driver.
'00 Excursion - 7.3L PSD, LANDYOT Gen-II Radius Rods, Factory Tech Valve Body, 200K+ miles and going |
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