Hellwig install Hell-but some good comes from it.

[Keyser Soze]

Got done with my install of my Hellwig Sway Bar from the GB we did. The install is straight forward. It took me over three hours for a job that should take maybe an hour tops.

The cons are as follow;

1- The instructions suck. If it wasn't for the install tip located here I would still be tinkering around.
2- Whoever thought of the creating the square mounting plates with the bolt is a sadist or an idiot. We'll touch on this one later.
3- Would it be that hard to type out a parts list indicating how many of what you should have?.

The pros are;
1- much improved handling. Very very noticible. In fact the is the first bolt on mod where I noticed a definite improvement.
2- Relativley easy install except for some minor set backs due to cons above.

My major gripes and some install tips.

Put the endlinks through the angle bracket before you bolt it to the frame. Other wise you will have to unbolt it to put the endlink through.

The infernal, @#$#!@#, square plate that goes inside the frame to bolt on the angle bracket absolutley sucks. Especially in conjunction with the lock nuts. There is no easy way to get it to snug up without spinning around. It is virtually impossible to get back inside to hold it still while you tighten up the lock nut. I was able to do it by wedging some square aluminum bar stock underneath it but it was still a MAJOR PITA. I spent 2 hours trying to get them snugged up. The problem is magnifyed by the type of lock nuts they use. It takes more effort (torque) to put them on than what you need to torque it to after its snug. There has got to be a better way.

I ended up with two extra lock nuts?

Other than that I am happy with the out come.

Now when the QD come out I'll be at it again.

KS

[ALL MOTA]

Damn... just got mine today (looks purrrty!). I was thinking about it before, but you definately make me want to wait till the quick disconnects come out. Anyone else have trouble?

[basura]

had no problems with the square brackets - they held themselves
in the square hole while tightening

I too had 2 extra nuts - I added them to the J hook - just
for a place to put them

I also used lock-tite on the lock nuts

took just over an hour with the help of a neighbor and his torque wrench
(after organizing all the pieces - and the help of the TS photos)

as for handling - tracks around corners like my old Civic SI

[kymatt]

Originally Posted by basura

had no problems with the square brackets - they held themselves
in the square hole while tightening

I too had 2 extra nuts - I added them to the J hook - just
for a place to put them

I also used lock-tite on the lock nuts

took just over an hour with the help of a neighbor and his torque wrench
(after organizing all the pieces - and the help of the TS photos)

as for handling - tracks around corners like my old Civic SI

I installed mine with the aid of my father's lift, and it was still a PITA for all of the reasons described here. I think I also doubled up the extra lock nuts.

I added mine to my 02 with the stock (non-Bilstein) shocks and the effect was significant. I then added Bilstein HDs (Fr coilovers + rear) and my truck now corners like you wouldn't believe. It can get a bit bouncy over poorly paved roads, but nothing dangerous or even uncomfortable. (I prefer a firm ride.) On curvy roads, this setup has given me *way* too much confidence. It would be very easy to pop the rear out with this setup. My LTX M/S have lasted almost 70k miles, and the would've had another 20k in them, but not with the way I drive my truck now...

[Bai Qui]

I just got mine and installed it today. As far as the install goes, I didn't think it was all that bad. Took me a little under 2 hours from the time I opened the box to the time I took it for a test ride. The only real PITA that I ran into was installing the bolt with the square plate on the driver's side because of the gas tank. I also had two extra lock nuts, but I was shorted two washers. Thankfully I have the proverbial bolt bucket and had washers in there. Other than that, it went pretty smooth.

That being said, the improvement is unbelievable. I only had to drive out of the neighborhood to notice it. I have never installed an aftermarket product on any vehicle that made that much of an impact. Worth every penny. I've been avoidng driving the Tundra to work due to gas prices and a 110 mile roud trip, but I may have to make and exception tomorrow. Definitely a more entertaining drive. Interestingly, my girlfriend doesn't seem all that enthused with my new toy, I wonder why?

[P07r0457]

I just got my bar!!! Took it out of the box, and it's oh-so-purty. Definitely dirty, tho. I need to wash my hands. I did a "dry" assembly off of the truck, and all seems to be well. I had ZERO left over washers, but I've got 6 left over nuts. 4 big ones, and 2 small ones. I'll probably use them to double-up on the others, if possible.

I don't see how this will take 2 hours... But I'm not holding my breath. I can't wait to get this thing installed!

[mmarlatt]

Originally Posted by P07r0457

but I've got 6 left over nuts. 4 big ones, and 2 small ones. I'll probably use them to double-up on the others, if possible.

It has been a few years since I installed mine, but I am sure the instructions called for double nuts on the U bolts. That should take care of your 4 big ones.

I had to cut the metal tube spacers with a hack saw because they were too long and I couldn't thread the bolt. Did anyone else have to cut these or did Helwig finally fix that?

[Bai Qui]

The U-bolts on the axle do call for doubling up the nuts. (This is probably the only situation I could say that with a straight face). The actual installation probably won't take 2 hours. That included getting everything out of the box, preassembling the bar and making sure I understood the instructions. I probably spent half an hour or more doing that. Reading the instructions didn't really help besides the torque specs. I pretty much did the installation by just looking at the pictures. It's really not that difficult of an install.

[P07r0457]

Originally Posted by mmarlatt

It has been a few years since I installed mine, but I am sure the instructions called for double nuts on the U bolts. That should take care of your 4 big ones.

I had to cut the metal tube spacers with a hack saw because they were too long and I couldn't thread the bolt. Did anyone else have to cut these or did Helwig finally fix that?

they were VERY short when I test fit mine... They don't fit unless I compress the bushings, a bit.

[P07r0457]

did the complete install tonight... Started at 6:30 and was on my test-drive by 7:30. Very easy install.. One person for the install (just me)

And, holy crap, this thing is AWSOME! Truck handles like a sports car. In fact, this rear bar out-does the front... And now I want them to make an upgrade for the front!

[student's tundra]

I thought the instructions were not all that impressive. Most like instructions written by a book worm and not a gear head . I thought the overall installation was straight forward though. Took me about 2 hours maybe a little bit more as I spent a lot of time fine tuning/ adjusting. I found the endlinks to be just long enought for the endlinks to be in possition and the bushings just slightly bulging. Not too impressed with the bushings and will probably change them out with polyuerthrane. Now the performance of the truck is simply put...amazing with sway bar . I tested it around the streets of my house that night was quite impressed. Going around corners at 55 mph truck handled but could tell that I was still in a lifted Tundra. Later I did a longer road trip and on offramps there was nothing like it. I drove down a local windy highway/ country road through the mountains and even at 70 mph the truck never felt out of control.

Best and cheapest mod Ive done yet .

[P07r0457]

Originally Posted by student's tundra

Not too impressed with the bushings and will probably change them out with polyuerthrane.

I'm pretty sure the bushings that came with mine were polyurethane.

[KLINDSEY]

Originally Posted by P07r0457

they were VERY short when I test fit mine... They don't fit unless I compress the bushings, a bit.

Double up on the U bolts and I added the last two smaller nuts to the J bolts. The end links where alittle long so I used a small bottle jack to put the bar in compression to get the nuts started.
The only thing I did extra was when you adjust the brake line for clearance near the U bolts I did not like the way it looked,so I bought two longer bolts and added a spacer under each clamp to improve the clearance and this lets the brake line lay smoother and not be in tension. Also makes me feel better.
Mine did not have instructions at all but, I copied off instructions done by Tundra Rose and they were great excellant pic's and some good pointers also. Thanks Tundra Rose by the way.
Now the after install test drive was all what I hoped for and I am very pleased with this mod and the price of it.
Kevin.

[Trouthead]

What should be about an hour job with good pictures and detailed instructions ended up taking me about three. That includes running into the house to print another picture from "tremo's" great write up. Hellwig puts out crap for instructions and pictures. It might take somebody four or five hours to do a really good job with instructions and pictures, and Hellwig should do that. Shade tree mecanics with less OCD than I could probably do it in an hour, but seriously Hellwig needs some more detailed instructions and better pictures. The pictures were so dark on my instruction sheet as to be useless.

"tremo's write up was really helpfull.


That all being said it is a nice mod, but I do not think it miraculously transforms the truck. It does take corners better and so far after 20 miles of dirt road driving it seems to also help on semi smooth dirt. I am glad I did it, but I don't share the view of other that my Tundra is now going to handle like a Miata or a s2000. Hell it doesn't handle corners as well as a 95 Maxima, but it is better.

[P07r0457]

I think people's enthusasim stems from owning a truck, and after this mod it doesn't handle like a truck!