Hellwig AntiSway Bar

[DevinSixtySeven]

...mac's spring, in the first ts group buy on the swaybars back in the day. looked like *** then, too.

where can a guy find this por-15 stuff? it's surely better than the pos-00 that's on there now .

-sean

[tremo]

A quick Yahoo! search revealed:

Factory Direct:
http://www.por15.com/

Same Day Free Shipping:
http://www.prp-porstore.com/

Seee-ya,

Jim.

[KLS]

The Hellwig sway bar works very well once you get it installed. All the hardware for mine fit, and I don't care how it looks. I found the instructions to be adequate.


Ken

[Possum]

Originally posted by KLS
The Hellwig sway bar works very well once you get it installed. All the hardware for mine fit, and I don't care how it looks. I found the instructions to be adequate.


Ken

Same here!

I really like mine and had no installation problems on it at all. Did you try to call Summit to get the problem you are having with parts corrected? From my understanding they are a great company to do business with.

Dan

[pomfret]

I have to agree the Hellwig's QC leaves something to be desired. Beside the poor finish on all the parts, I was completely missing the endlink bushings, and one of my endlink bolts was bent. I had no problems getting replacement parts for free, but I ended up ordering a Rancho endlink kit and Energy Suspension greaseable sway bar bushings. I'll also be replacing the stock U bolts and nuts with some quality hardware from NAPA.

I'll have another $100 or so into refinishing and hardware, for a total out-of-pocket cost around $250. Still cheaper than Toyota parts and installation (and I know it's done right).

[lelandstanford]

I have installed Hellwig bars on several Econolines and Astro. I have to agree that they often make mistakes on the hardware accessories. The endlinks and endlink brackets require periodic inspection or they will shake themself loose.

However, I personally think rough finish of the bar is more practical. I grease it once and never had to worry about squeaking. Several Suspension Technique bars I bought before tend to squeak and require grease every 10-15k.

[mikeinaustin]

all the parts came correct with mine. naturally i did a complete dry run before attempting to install it.

i don't care about the finish as no-one ever jumps under my truck to look at it.

no noises yet, i do like the idea of those greasable bushings, and if i ever develop a problem i might switch over to them.

[pomfret]

Originally posted by mikeinaustin

no noises yet, i do like the idea of those greasable bushings, and if i ever develop a problem i might switch over to them.

I'll be picking up my refinished swaybar today... I'll get some pics up of all the parts including the bushings (if they're the right ones).

Brian

[bbarada]

The finish on mine was terrible also. In fact, they boxed it while the paint was still wet and there was paint on the inside of the box! But all the parts were there and I installed it in about 25 minutes. You have to be careful to notice that some of the nuts are lockable and don't turn easily.

No problems yet, and I love the handeling improvement.

[illinois524]

Got mine from Summit Racing and found out I was missing several parts so I called Hellwig and they sent me a whole new box of parts even ones that I already had without question. As far as the finish goes it doesn't sound like any of them are good. That's why I had mine powder coated because you do see enough of it that I wanted it to look good not to mention long term durability.

[taipan]

Installed mine just over a year ago. Yeah, finish on the bar was crap, but who's gonna see it? That geometry of the J-hook thing kinda perplexed me, but I installed it as per instructions anyway.

SYNOPSIS: Works great, nary a squeak and a MUCH better roll control than without!

taipan

[Bbbutch]

I also installed mine over a year ago and immediately noticed a great improvement in handling. It has to be the #1 best mod ever to be done to our trucks!!! The only exception would be the restricted movement for 4 wheeling out in the boonies.
And (just like the other posts) the finish wasn't that great but I don't care. I got some sandpaper a couple of rattle cans and painted it and the hardware. I continued on and drilled and tapped the bushings and installed grease zerts in them.
It was a bit hard to get the drivers side hooked up but I managed to do it any way.
I haven’t seen TRD’s rear sway bar but I have seen many factory rear sway bars on many different trucks and I always notice how much lighter they are (smaller in diameter) compared to the Hellwig sway bar.

OK, long story short. It's a pain but its well worth it.

[toyotafool]

I wouldn't call myself an expert but I have had my own shop for about 20 years. I drove Helwig crazy to get them to come out with a kit for the rear sway bars for several months. (Long before Toyota offered one) When they finally sent me a note that it was available I immediately ordered it.
The J bolts were not quite right so I called them and they fed-xed them overnight and the install was finished the next day. If there were any problems with matching hardware sizes I don't remember.. I would have simply grabbed the correct size off the shelf and used it without another thought but I realize that the average owner does not have that option and the problems could be severe.
The handling definitely improved, no longer handles like a truck.
Finish quality?.. I am not driving a show truck.. it is to be used.. if I had finished the bar (no problem at my shop I assure you). the finished product would not appear any different than the original in a couple of weeks..I do not put my truck on the lift when I wash it and I sure as h___ don't crawl under it to polish my sway bar... the finish isn't pretty but I don't care. .
I haven't had any squeeks yet but the install is only about 75,000 miles old so they might develop soon... I plan to drive it for a couple of hundred thousand more miles so if needed I will take it off and grease the bushings. I think I can handle the time and price of lubricacant.
I have only 98,000 on it now. If my other 4 Toyotas are any indication (total of way over 1/2 million miles) it is just about to get broken in. My only problem was the O2 sensors.. which were replaced about 40,000 miles ago and have not had any problems since, KOW (knock on wood)..
Now all I need is limited slip diff.
Love the forum and plan to join the club soon...
John Wild toyotafool@hotmail.com

[rodchester]

Originally posted by taipan
Installed mine just over a year ago. Yeah, finish on the bar was crap, but who's gonna see it? That geometry of the J-hook thing kinda perplexed me, but I installed it as per instructions anyway.

SYNOPSIS: Works great, nary a squeak and a MUCH better roll control than without!

taipan

Ditto!

Rod

[WONTUN]

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.