DIY Article Do-It-Yourself New Hellwig Rear Stabilizer - Page 3

dspain01 · #31 (**permalink**) 08-26-2008, 12:23 AM

Ordered on Thursday... Hellwig promised delivery today Monday... sure enough, a large box waiting for me at my door. Grant it, I live in CA where they were shipping from but still pretty fast. $230 shipped and I got everything sealed in box. Went through this write-up word for word and install took about an hour and a half (no air tools). The bushings proved to be the hardest part, but found out I could make a press using the existing hardware (bolt, 2 large washers, and the nut) I tightened all together until bushing slid into place and then loosened the bolt. I am sure there was a better way, but I was getting pretty frustrated.

Took it for a quick drive onto a couple of California Freeway on-ramps and I couldn't be happier. Tested the fittings after the drive and everything felt solid. Great job Hellwig... another happy customer that would recommend this product to anyone.

Buck62 · #32 (**permalink**) 08-26-2008, 02:49 AM

Did you order your bar as part of the "Group Buy" from Dave?

I'm ready to pull the trigger on the Hellwig bar for my '06 DC 4X4... like right now.

Tundrav8yamaha · #33 (**permalink**) 08-26-2008, 09:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dixie4x4

Not this Kennel truck I hope, John Conner??

I got your joke LOL... Wouldn't he be driving the T3 Tundra edition

....

dspain01 · #34 (**permalink**) 08-26-2008, 01:02 PM

I did do the group buy. Very nice customer service and definitely delivered on their promise for a quick turn around. Everything came delivered and no missing hardware. I hope the need to speed around corners will stop soon, I think I might get myself into trouble. But honestly, the handling has greatly improved as you can see by the multiple posts and the install seemed to go much easier with the adjustable links and newer design.

Buck62 · #35 (**permalink**) 08-26-2008, 01:58 PM

Thanx man...

I just got off the phone with Dave and ordered mine.

Dave is awesome, great guy.

Can't wait to get my new bar!!!

dspain01 · #36 (**permalink**) 08-26-2008, 03:32 PM

I think if you had access to a press or a vise... the bushings would go a lot easier. I mean I greased those things up good and got no where. Good luck with the install. I think you will be pleased.

Dave@Hellwig · #37 (**permalink**) 08-26-2008, 05:37 PM

The bushings do not require a vise for installation. Here is how I do it in the shop. Grease the outside of the hourglass bushings liberally and stand them up on a workbench. Place the loop over the bushing and press down firmly on the end link next to the loop. The bushing should start into the loop and stay in place. About half the time you can get the bushing all the way in. If not, you can hold the end link/bushing assembly like a hammer and tap the bushing on the workbench until it is centered. Grease the sleeves and tap them in with a hammer. The poly bushings are very durable and there is little chance you will damage them installing them this way.

DavidTaylor9 · #38 (**permalink**) 08-26-2008, 05:43 PM

How bad does it limit your rear travel? I know i took my front off my tacoma for that reason but how about the rear?. Does it limit articulation?

dspain01 · #39 (**permalink**) 08-26-2008, 09:27 PM

it feels a little bit tighter, but not as bad as you would think. I sure wouldn't offroad with it on, because something has got to give when you articulate that much.

Thanks Dave, I really did try to push those bad boys in. Maybe I just need to make more trips to the gym... haha. I beat on them pretty good once I thought I had it "set" but it popped out everytime. To each is there own I guess. I got them in and everything functions perfect.

Buck62 · #40 (**permalink**) 08-27-2008, 04:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boosted27606

The HELLWIG antisway bar is absolutely great !

I installed mine and after a few miles it was clearly obvious how much better the truck handling was. No more leaning into turns and, as an extra icing on the cake, a MORE comfortable ride to boot !

I could not understand at first why the truck seemed softer until I figured out that as one rear wheel hits a bump, it instantly transmits that upward input into the shock and spring, thus resulting in a stiff motion of the chassis. Now the wheel has to move BOTH sides of the truck ( both shocks and both springs) due to the extra stiffness of the bar.

That situation makes the rear suspension significantly softer yet more stable.

GOOD JOB HELLWIG !

I just wanted to say that your post was the one that convinced me to get the Hellwig stabilizer bar. I bought my Tundra with the intent of towing a travel trailer that weighs somewhere between 3,500 and 5,000 lbs (which I'm still looking for) to reduce the sway that is inevitable with a fairly big trailer. But the fact that it rides better even without the trailer was the final deciding factor.

Thanx.

Greenie · #41 (**permalink**) 08-27-2008, 08:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by single

For you own sake... check the hardware bag for all parts before you start the intall. I got my bar in Friday and planned on installing it today. Got the truck up on blocks, the ubolts in place. D bushings in place, sway bar hanging ready for the adjustment arms and found that I was missing the two 9/16-18 nuts that lock the adjustment bars. None of the local hardware stores around here carry that nut, and all the bolt houses are closed on the weekend! So, I removed everything from my truck and will start again Monday night.

My sway bar came in today and after reading your post about missing hardware I immediately checked mine.

The same two 9/16" nuts were also missing from my hardware bag. Fortunately NAPA had what I needed. Just a buck and a quarter but it appears that someone in packaging back at Hellwig might not be as attentive as they should be.

single · #42 (**permalink**) 08-27-2008, 08:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greenie

My sway bar came in today and after reading your post about missing hardware I immediately checked mine.

The same two 9/16" nuts were also missing from my hardware bag. Fortunately NAPA had what I needed. Just a buck and a quarter but it appears that someone in packaging back at Hellwig might not be as attentive as they should be.

NAPA ??? Dang, I checked everywhere I could think of for that nut and there's a NAPA store 1/2 mile down the road. Ended up getting one at the bolt house Tuesday.

Dave@Hellwig · #43 (**permalink**) 08-28-2008, 11:03 AM

We had a documentation error - the nuts were not on the Bill of Material. We corrected the bill of material to call out these nuts. If anyone needs the nuts contact me and I'll send them out to you.

single · #44 (**permalink**) 08-28-2008, 06:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave@Hellwig

We had a documentation error - the nuts were not on the Bill of Material. We corrected the bill of material to call out these nuts. If anyone needs the nuts contact me and I'll send them out to you.

Not a real problem, just a little disappointment to have to wait a little longer to do the install. Thanks for the offer though. It's not like a major piece was missing.

Greenie · #45 (**permalink**) 08-29-2008, 10:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave@Hellwig

We had a documentation error - the nuts were not on the Bill of Material. We corrected the bill of material to call out these nuts. If anyone needs the nuts contact me and I'll send them out to you.

It was a lot easier to pick up the missing nuts locally than to have Hellwig ship them to me. Shipping would have been more than the hardware was worth. Not a big deal for a "shade tree" who has learned over the years to improvise.