85MH325
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• Eastern, IA, USA |
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• Registered on 3/20/2004 |
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• 54 posts |
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 Posted:3/12/2005 11:35 |
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I thought I'd pass on what I learned today...
The installation of Landyot's radius rods have done marvelous things for the handling of my mostly-stock late-model-year Y2K Ex. (both calipers behind the rear axle). But, I tow a 9,000 lb Airstream (loaded), and I'm looking for all the help I can get before this year's towing season begins. So, this morning I read every thread here regarding sway bars... and called Lynch Ford in Mt.Vernon IA (the largest Ford dealer nearby, and with EXCELLENT parts and service departments) to inquire about the OEM bars (mostly because of the cost difference between Helwig and OEM). Apparently the OEM bars have been discontinued by Ford for the Excursion as "not necessary". Riiiiiiigggggtht...
So, having already done some significant research on the web, I ordered front and rear Helwig bars from Summit Racing at $162 each. While I was there... I also ordered a heavy-duty OEM replacement steering stabilizer... at the whopping sum of $31. I don't do any serious off-roading with the Ex, have a lift, or oversized tires, so I really don't need to do the big bucks replacement stabilizer, or to do double stabilizers on it.
Shipping from Summit is free, with a single $8.95 handling charge per order.
The rear bar is in stock... the front will ship in three weeks (or so).
Roger |
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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 |
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 Posted:3/12/2005 19:27 |
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Roger,
You are missing out if you have been running without a rear sway bar!!!
I don't do any serious offroading either and still went with an aftermarket ProComp steering stablizer shock. The $30 range sounds about right.
You'll love the sway bar. Body roll will be significantly reduced, it will feel like a different vehicle while cornering, lane changing, etc. Let us know when it's all installed. Take a look at the pics in my X's registry entry on the Hellwig install. Their instructions are pathetic. 
-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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85MH325
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• Eastern, IA, USA |
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• Registered on 3/20/2004 |
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• 54 posts |
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Posted:3/12/2005 22:27 |
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Thanks, Eric... I'll keep you posted. I figured that I was probably missing out on something... my Ex only has 61k on it so far... so it's got lots of years left... I figure I might as well get it as solid as I can
Roger |
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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
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Posted:3/12/2005 22:59 |
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Yeap the addition of the rear sway bar will give a whole new meaning to the word "Confidence" when driving 
I also have the Procomp ES2000 front stabilizer and what a difference over the stock wanna be unit 
Roger,your 2000 did not come with a front sway bar from the factory or were they not an option with the V10's?
Radius Rods coming this summer for our Excursion 
Bill
Bill
2002 Excursion XLT-P 4x4 7.3L Powerstroke Diesel
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85MH325
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• Eastern, IA, USA |
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• Registered on 3/20/2004 |
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• 54 posts |
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Posted:3/13/2005 08:31 |
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Bill, I don't have the option list for the 2000 Ex, and I bought it used, so I don't know what could have been on as an option, but mine doesn't have ANY sway bars on it at all. I think that FORD recognized some problems after production began and tried to figure out how to deal with them. It was kind of confusing reading through the threads, as apparently some 2003s may have shipped with factory sway bars... and now maybe some 2002s? I couldn't find anything that led me to believe that any of the 2000s or 2001s had factory sway bars under them.
Trying to tame the Behemoth's tendency to wander and shy at inappropriate times has truly been an adventure! Hopefully, these sway bars along with the radius rods will do the trick...
Roger |
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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
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Posted:3/13/2005 09:51 |
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From what I gather the 2003 7.3L did not get rear bars but some of the 6.0L's did based on availability. 
To my knowledge all the 4x4 models came with the front sway bar but on the 2000's I've seen a couple that did not come with them from the factory but it must have been an availability issue
at KTP since the Excursion was Ford's newest truck during that time period.
Bill
Bill
2002 Excursion XLT-P 4x4 7.3L Powerstroke Diesel
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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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quietman
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• Laguna Hills, CA, USA |
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• Registered on 2/8/2005 |
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• 21 posts |
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Posted:3/14/2005 12:07 |
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Ok here's a couple for you guys...
I have a 2005 EB PSD 4X4 and it came with a front/rear sway bar. The rear bar is a spindly thing, but the front is pretty hefty.
The front however HANGS DOWN WAY BELOW the axle at the ends, with looong links to the body.
Wassup with that? I off-road every week, and have already hit the front sway bar ends, and dented in the factory steering stabilizer.
Does the hellwig aftermarket front bar hang down?
Can I get short links...or cut and re-weld shorter the ones I have?
Does the Hellwig rear bar work a lot better than the ford one...it LOOKS better?
And LANDYOT....Can I install your ultra-cool radius rods with a 4" block in the back like I have?
Thanks!
Quietman
www.roenation.com
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gawent
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• Atlanta, GA, USA |
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• Registered on 3/2/2005 |
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• 65 posts |
• 1
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Posted:3/14/2005 14:51 |
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I have a '04 4x4 Limited PSD. I would have assumed it would have come with a rear sway bar. If it did I can't find it!! It has the front bar, and quietman, I agree, that is one funky looking bar on the front . I think I will be going with the Helwig for the rear.
2004 X Limited 6.0 PSD 4x4 - Hellwig Rear Anti-Sway, Timbren Rear Load Boosters, ISSPro Guages: Tranny, Boost, Pyro A-Pilar Mounted, Prodigy Brake Controller, Hensley Arrow Hitch System, PSD Badges
17,400 lbs. of CAT certified combined weight rollin' down the road in style!
1997 Exploder XLT 4x2 V6 DOHC (going, going,...) |
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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
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Posted:3/14/2005 16:11 |
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From my readings the stock front bar is 36mm and the Hellwig is 38.1mm
and the stock rear bar (if equipped) is 30mm and the Hellwig is 31.75mm
Greg,Summit Racing carries the Hellwig bars but the Excursion models may be on backorder front what I gather.
HEL-7643 for the rear and HEL-7640 for the front if desired 
Bill
Bill
2002 Excursion XLT-P 4x4 7.3L Powerstroke Diesel
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