Anti-Sway bars questions

[FirstFord]

Let me know if I missed something you need, I'll try to help .....

See below:

I would like to know the dimension to the center of the U-bolt, as shown with the orange line:

Any chance you may have this dimension? It's turning out to be fairly important as to if I can mount the sway bar with the airbags.

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[Snakebitten]

From the picture of my truck above, couldn't I have moved that sway bar bracket inboard/outboard at my discretion?

I honestly don't remember while sitting here what determined exactly where that driver's side got placed, except that I think maybe the passenger side had less freedom and so I measured to make them fairly equal?

 

[Buyer2021]

Any chance you may have this dimension? It's turning out to be fairly important as to if I can mount the sway bar with the airbags.

For that one I'll have to get under the truck, likely tomorrow PM (stay tuned).

From the picture of my truck above, couldn't I have moved that sway bar bracket inboard/outboard at my discretion?

Yes, IMO there's a bit of side-to-side latitude on the bracket position insofar as the bar is concerned, constrained by the bend in the bar and interferences on the axle housing.

 

[FirstFord]

For that one I'll have to get under the truck, likely tomorrow PM (stay tuned).

Thank you - I will stay tuned!

Yes, IMO there's a bit of side-to-side latitude on the bracket position insofar as the bar is concerned, constrained by the bend in the bar and interferences on the axle housing.

I am banking on this variable - it can be the make-or break dimension....

 

[Buyer2021]

Thank you - I will stay tuned!

>>>>>

I am banking on this variable - it can be the make-or break dimension....

It turns out my somewhat 'randomly positioned' brackets are not at the outboard extreme possible given the bend in the bar (they're bit inside of that for no particular good reason), so the requested measurement on my truck would be of little value to you. BUT ....

The info added to my sketch should give you what you need to explore the full range of possible bracket locations, considering constraints imposed by the bar and constraints imposed by things on your axle housing:

Hope this helps, Have Fun, and please keep us posted.

 

[Snakebitten]

Awesome collaboration.

 

[amschind]

On the Hellwig I found that I COULD NOT get the factory bushings into the slots due to their width. After a few solid whacks with the hammer did nothing but threaten to bend the sway bar ends, I decided to work smarter rather than harder and a short trip to the bench grinder later, the bushings fit nicely into the slots. It didn't sit well with me, but the amount of force required to squeeze those bushings in was greater than the material strength of the slots on the sway bar ends. The difference was nearly 1/4", i.e. not just push harder.

 

[Eighthtry]

I did Hellwig/Eibach Upgrades front and rear to my 2014 XLT F150. Had about 60,000 miles on it. Made a whole new truck out of it. No problems.

I replaced factory sway bars with Hellwig when I went through my 2011 GMC Yukon Denali(195,000 miles). Also replaced MagnaRides with rear air leveling with new MagnaRides with rear air leveling, which included the rear air compressor as well. I had some popping with the new sway bar on the back, but it worked itself out. Made a world of difference since I had never replaced them.

My experience with MagnaRides on my 2010 CTS V and my2018 Z06 tells me MagnaRides are the best shock out there. Period. Particularly if they are adjustable, which my GMCs were not.

Lube the hell out of the sway bars. Best silicone you can find.

 

[Snakebitten]

I have used Helwig on a few previous trucks, but during the supply chain nightmares they were tough to find and they were priced a bit in the gouge territory.
That led to my first Steeda purchase.

As much as has been documented regarding them, I still think their price and quality were a good value equation. I'd buy them again.

Having said that I think Helwig is the only front for the Gen14? Or is that no longer true? I'm tempted, because I did love how the front affected my 2018. However I'm happy enough with all the tweaking I've done on this truck I'm not sure I want to mess it up. ?

 

[FirstFord]

It turns out my somewhat 'randomly positioned' brackets are not at the outboard extreme possible given the bend in the bar (they're bit inside of that for no particular good reason), so the requested measurement on my truck would be of little value to you. BUT ....

The info added to my sketch should give you what you need to explore the full range of possible bracket locations, considering constraints imposed by the bar and constraints imposed by things on your axle housing:

Hope this helps, Have Fun, and please keep us posted.

Once again, outstanding! And thank you! This falls into the category of "above and beyond"!

It is slowly becoming more and more likely that I will move forward with this. If I do, it will be a winter project. Others have indicated a dislike of the low hanging components as well, so I think there are others interested in seeing the final results. When completed, I will post pictures - but it may be a little while - I'm kind of in the middle of another project right now, and I want to finish that first before I get started on another one.

 

[FirstFord]

I'd appreciate knowing the exact PN of the Firestone air bag kit you've installed.

Ooops, sorry about that!

I do not have On Board Scales (nor CCD), but I do have a B&W Turnoverball underbed hitch for my 5th-wheel trailer which precludes use of 'bags' using over-the-frame mounts or bolts (we've all got our particular challenges ).

I started to get pictures of my install, but it occurred to me that it might be better to provide some drawings out of Firestone's installation instructions. Hope this helps:

 

[Buyer2021]

I started to get pictures of my install, but it occurred to me that it might be better to provide some drawings out of Firestone's installation instructions. Hope this helps:

Hey, I do appreciate that.

Nice setup but nope, it's not a workable alternative with my Turnoverball underbed hitch mount which has a thick plate that 'wraps-over' the top and outside face of the frame rails where that strap and carriage bolt want to go. Thankfully the previously mentioned Air Ride 88355 does accommodate my situation, having an installation option with no straps or U bolts over the top of the frame rails.
_______________

I'll patiently await a later-in-the-winter update on your project, please do keep that in this already bookmarked thread so I catch it.

Have Fun!

 

[Buyer2021]

Once again, outstanding! And thank you! This falls into the category of "above and beyond"!

Just FYI, you get 'special support' as a fellow 2022 Lariat SuperCab owner (the last of the best configuration).

 

[FirstFord]

Just FYI, you get 'special support' as a fellow 2022 Lariat SuperCab owner (the last of the best configuration).

"Special support" - you don't know how close to home you hit! If only you knew how true your statement was - I need all kinds of "special support"! Reminds me of Joe Cocker - "With a Little Help From My Friends"....

Yeah, the SuperCabs are skirting on the edge of being "rare" - the market is so completely dominated by crew cabs. I love my SuperCab, and am glad that you seem to be the same with yours. I've had a number of trucks, and this is the first one that wasn't a regular cab/8' bed. I had big concerns about giving up that 8' bed, and the 6-1/2 was as short as I was willing to compromise. That bed marries up nicely with the SuperCab. I was disappointed when I learned that starting with the '23 model year, Ford was dropping the Lariat trim level, relegating the SuperCab to only XL and XLT trims. If, God forbid, some kind of catastrophic event took place and my truck got totalled (timeout, while I knock on my head!), I could not replace my truck with a "like-kind" one.

Whoops, I think I'm in the process of hijacking the intent of this thread.... Sorry, everyone....

 

[SudS2k]

Took a flyer and bought the Steeda 2wd version after talking to Customer Service. I dropped the rear by taking out the rear axle block. Got it in and the bar leveled parallel with the ground with using only about 1” of the threaded rod meaning at least 1” of thread engagement on each side of the end links customer service said minimum 0.5”. I could have come close to parallel even with the block not removed.

With that said I cannot understand the rationale for the length of the end links on the 4wd. As if everyone with 4wd gets a lift. PSA Steeda, lengthen the threaded rod 0.5” and sell it as a 2wd & 4wd unlifted. Then you can market the other as 4wd as “for lifted”.

Is your truck a 4wd? Are you basically saying that the steeda 2wd bar will fit a 4wd truck just fine even without removing the block spacers?

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