Hellwig Sway Bar Install Tips
Hi Folks
I just completed the Hellwig Sway Bar install on my '00 2wd Tundra and what a big noticeable difference! Very happy with the results.
I had installed the TRD Yellow/Blues from Wheelers in the rear and also installed the Daystar Poly Bushings from Wheelers on the front sway bars as well. That was great but I was still getting bucked around with the rear still leaning in turns. The Hellwigs straightened that out for more control in turns. Now the rig feels "flat" in the turns.
The TRD Yellow/Blues will be installed up front to cap this all off after the holiday weekend.
Some install tips:
1. Used a clamp to hold down the supplied Frame Bracket. In my
case, I was able to fit the top clamp jaw through the large
circular hole that is adjacent to the rectangular hole used for
the Frame Bracket bolt. This way it does not twist and turn as
you are trying to secure it with the nut.
2. My Spacer tube for the supplied end-link was too long and I
did not have enough threads left to attach a final
spacer/washer and lock nut to secure the assembly so
I got out the trusty hack saw and cut off an additional
1/4 inch so I could secure it ( I just did not want to wait for
Hellwig to send me more parts). I deburred the cut end
with a file to smooth it out.
3. Since I did not have an extra set of "hands" to help me,
I used a couple of pistol-grip clamps to hold the bar in place
to help with attaching the Saddle Bracket, D-bushing with U-Plate.
4. Used waterproof grease since these bushing's will squeek if
you don't.
5. Made sure I mounted the U-Bolts outside of the brake line mounting brackets. I know through all the threads that this is the
preferred place. I also see that the Wheelers Off Road
website shows the install in the same location. Good enough
for them, then good enough for me.
6. Don't forget that there are two kinds of lock nuts in the
kit. The nylon insert ones for the bottom of the end-links
and the other ones that have a rectangular stamp on the
side of the nut. You won't use these for the U-bolts since it
will take a lot of time to torque them, so they recommend that
you double nut these. There are 8 plain nuts that have no
markings on them and they are among the larger ones in the
kit.
Sway bars are from JC Whitney for $121 plus shipping which brought it to about $136 and change. When I ordered it, I asked them to look at the invoice and tell me what the model number was. There are in-house numbers listed but there is a column that says MFG Part Number. Be sure that it is the Hellwig model #7641.
Well, that's about it. Gotta say that the finish was not that great
as most people have said but this was not one of the worst either.
The QC issues with the kits are still a bummer, but if you get around all that, for the money, this is one of the best bangs for the buck.
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