Let's talk handling
05-27-2017, 10:04 PM
#21
Ok...got the front bar on today and it made just as big of an improvement as the last 4 trucks I put them on. The Energy Suspension links would have worked and dropped the bar quite a bit but the bolt was too short and I had a million other things to do today so I stuck the OEM links back on it.
I got to thinking about it and I'm gonna just shorten the OEM links. Why would I put a bushing link in place of a zero deflection link? I guess I wouldn't after thinking about it more. I'll just cut the stock one in the center, lap it back to whatever the new length winds up being and TIG it back together.
I also go to thinking about the stock bar. It's 1 3/8" on a Screw....is it the same on a single cab truck? On other trucks I've had the front bar was smaller on a lighter truck. If that's the case here a stock bar could be an upgrade to someone with a RCSB. Can someone put a tape on theirs?
Back to the Hellwig bar...I'm gonna move the rear bar to the middle hole tomorrow and see if it balances things out a bit better.
I got to thinking about it and I'm gonna just shorten the OEM links. Why would I put a bushing link in place of a zero deflection link? I guess I wouldn't after thinking about it more. I'll just cut the stock one in the center, lap it back to whatever the new length winds up being and TIG it back together.
I also go to thinking about the stock bar. It's 1 3/8" on a Screw....is it the same on a single cab truck? On other trucks I've had the front bar was smaller on a lighter truck. If that's the case here a stock bar could be an upgrade to someone with a RCSB. Can someone put a tape on theirs?
Back to the Hellwig bar...I'm gonna move the rear bar to the middle hole tomorrow and see if it balances things out a bit better.
05-31-2017, 09:10 AM
#22
I decided to experiment yesterday with the oem end links. I cut them in half, laid the rods side by side and TIG welded them back together. The measurement between the body ends is 2.125", I got it down to 1" and that's as far as I was comfortable going this time. Since I lapped the rods side by side the ends are offset now which actually let me line up everything better. The angle of the link ends is much better than before. You can't see anything since I shot them with some black paint that was still wet in this pic but for now this is as good as it's gonna get.
I may buy another set and weld the bodies together with no rod at all between them. That'll mean taking them apart so I don't melt the boots and burn the grease inside but that's an experiment for another day. I'm making a road trip to Colorado next week and didn't wanna get too crazy and have something break on the way. I'd rather be close to home when I try something stupid. lol
I may buy another set and weld the bodies together with no rod at all between them. That'll mean taking them apart so I don't melt the boots and burn the grease inside but that's an experiment for another day. I'm making a road trip to Colorado next week and didn't wanna get too crazy and have something break on the way. I'd rather be close to home when I try something stupid. lol
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crankinaway (05-31-2017)
05-31-2017, 09:54 AM
#23
Senior Member
Thread Starter
I decided to experiment yesterday with the oem end links. I cut them in half, laid the rods side by side and TIG welded them back together. The measurement between the body ends is 2.125", I got it down to 1" and that's as far as I was comfortable going this time. Since I lapped the rods side by side the ends are offset now which actually let me line up everything better. The angle of the link ends is much better than before. You can't see anything since I shot them with some black paint that was still wet in this pic but for now this is as good as it's gonna get.
I may buy another set and weld the bodies together with no rod at all between them. That'll mean taking them apart so I don't melt the boots and burn the grease inside but that's an experiment for another day. I'm making a road trip to Colorado next week and didn't wanna get too crazy and have something break on the way. I'd rather be close to home when I try something stupid. lol
I may buy another set and weld the bodies together with no rod at all between them. That'll mean taking them apart so I don't melt the boots and burn the grease inside but that's an experiment for another day. I'm making a road trip to Colorado next week and didn't wanna get too crazy and have something break on the way. I'd rather be close to home when I try something stupid. lol
05-31-2017, 04:27 PM
#24
(3) All 122" WB models get a stiffer 36 mm solid stabilizer bar along with models equipped with either the Trailer Tow Package (53A) or the Max. Trailer Tow Package (53C). Models with the Heavy-duty Payload Package (627) get a 36 mm solid stabilizer bar as well.
^Thats from a Ford PDF. Basically there's a solid and a hollow front bar depending on the options listed above. Mine came with the solid bar. Just throwing his out there in case anyone has a truck that came with the hollow bar and wants to try a solid front bar. It's free for the taking...if you're in the Houston area. It's free plus shipping if you don't.
^Thats from a Ford PDF. Basically there's a solid and a hollow front bar depending on the options listed above. Mine came with the solid bar. Just throwing his out there in case anyone has a truck that came with the hollow bar and wants to try a solid front bar. It's free for the taking...if you're in the Houston area. It's free plus shipping if you don't.