Cheap Handling Fix at Ford Dealer

jyrostng wrote:
"I got excellent results using the adjustable length sway bar links from Hellwig."

What length did you use? part number?

These are what I used: Hellwig 7962 11-14" Adjustable Endlinks

First, I removed one sway bar end link - both top and bottom. Next, I installed one of the adjustable end links in the upper mount, and then adjusted it out until it was aligned with the inboard hole on the sway bar. I then bolted it up and removed the other side and repeated the installation. I did this on a very flat slab with all slides in to ensure that I didn't lock in any body lean caused by shifted weight.

As a note, the steel bushing inserts are undersized for the Ford mounting bolts. I had to drill them out a little bit, but it wasn't difficult at all. I just lightly gripped the steel inserts in a vise and carefully drilled them out.

DryCreek wrote:

jyrostng wrote:
"I got excellent results using the adjustable length sway bar links from Hellwig."

What length did you use? part number?

These are what I used: Hellwig 7962 11-14" Adjustable Endlinks

First, I removed one sway bar end link .

You did it RIGHT, the only right way is with the extenders so you can put the bar back at it's mid point or a little lower so it doesn't bind up the suspension when it bounces. I read your amazon write up, I have prime, already ordered it, be here Tues. no shipping, thanks

I just had it done (front only) at White Marsh Ford in Baltimore..drove from MD to Orlando and back, nice improvement. Going to do the rear ones next time I have it in for service.

I put mine on today, the bolts and bushings that come with it are Std size. the bolts in my 2000 f53 are metric, there's about a .060 difference, the std. being smaller. Maybe that's why some get clunking. The steel sleeves in the stock setup fit in the new adjustable links and are one piece machined and those are the ones I used since they fit the stock bolts. The urethrae inserts are wider than the stock pieces and using the stock steel sleeves, I had go grind about 1/8" off each side of the rubber so it was flat with the metal sleeve. A couple of notes I remembered: these are 9/16x18 thread. very large, I didn't have to run the threads, they weren't powdercoated on the threads. I ground down the sides to prevent binding because the stock insert sleeves were shorter and the rubber was making the assembly wider than stock. I had Z brackets top and bottom. it took 15mm socket and wrench and a 18mm socket and wrench. I'm posting pictures. click the links.

stock versus adjustable extended Hellwig HWG-7962 links for the front of a f-53
http://imgur.com/a/yWMeU

ground down ends to stock width
http://imgur.com/a/V2ssK

Slack in bushing with hellwig supplied bolts
http://imgur.com/a/nBbb2

stvdman wrote:
I just had it done (front only) at White Marsh Ford in Baltimore..drove from MD to Orlando and back, nice improvement. Going to do the rear ones next time I have it in for service.

If you don't mind me asking, how much did the Ford dealer charge you for the adjustment?

jyrostng wrote:
I'm also curious what they say. The CHF changes the geometry on both ends of the sway bar. It limits the suspension travel by the swaybar bottoming out and becoming a mechanical limit it was never designed for............

I replaced the links with longer ones and that fixed that problem.

"I replaced the links with longer ones and that fixed that problem."

Exactly what I also did, you can see the difference in this picture
See the difference in length required to do the chf correctly.

PursuitInsight wrote:
the extra hole is not for the cheap fix. it is to reinforce the link attachment
https://www.google.ca/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=http://www.thedieselstop.com/faq/9497faq/tsb/tsb/files/041102.pdf&ved=0ahUKEwiFpP3jnJ3VAhUBYz4KHZV7BcwQFgguMAE&usg=AFQjCNFHs-qn7_h-nwEuLsKBnpd0nWf1kA

I doubt that's true. The extra holes were there many years before the "Z" brackets were installed. They just used the existing sway bar holes to patch the popping link problem with the installation of "Z" brackets.

jyrostng wrote:
I'm also curious what they say. The CHF changes the geometry on both ends of the sway bar. It limits the suspension travel by the swaybar bottoming out and becoming a mechanical limit it was never designed for.

This is a true statement but is easily resolved with longer sway bar links. I welded up longer link for mine that puts the at rest position of the sway bar end in the same location as the stock links. No bottoming out on mine.

On the rear, some sway bars will bang the differential housing if longer links are not used.