How About A Hellwig Sway Bar Chevy E3500
See threads about putting them on the fords but haven't seen any threads about putting them on the chevy E3500 ?? Anybody have one put on ? On my 2005 FW 23A 5000 the front one looks to be 1.5 in...
Forum Discussion
I'm a Ford Guy, but I've worked on a Chevy RV and your question intrigues me.
Seems that a 2005 Express 3500 might have a 32mm/1.25" or 36mm/1.4" front sway bar. Ford OEM sway bar for E450 is only 1" and Hellwig's upgrade is 1.375" so...
I would NOT replace your OEM sway bar. I know you didn't say you were considering that, but what you can do is make sure that the END LINKS are Polyurethane like MOOG K700537 and not rubber. I replaced the end links on an old E350, changing from spongy rubber to hard poly bushings from NAPA and the change in handling was simply amazing. If your center bushings (where the bar attaches to the frame) are soft or damaged, get poly for those too.
Snowdance testified to the improvement from a Hellwig rear sway bar kit. That's Hellwig #7635 at $268/free shipping from SD Truck Springs, an outfit many of us have bought from. It's a 1-3/8" bar. By comparison, Ford's OEM rear bar is 1-1/8" and the Hellwig is 1-1/2" so you can see the Hellwig for yours is a good beefy bar.
I wanted to wait to say this till somebody with Chevy replied. Snowdance did, and what he says lines up with what I thought a Chevy owner would. Your coach is
1. Short/Small
2. Light
3. Chevrolet
When you fortify your front bar and add a rear one, you are improving your RV. You'll feel improvement in its already good characteristics.
Most of us upgrading sway bars have
1. Long/Large
2. Heavy
3. Ford
So we're working to solve issues and improvement comes along with the solutions. Those of us who feel their rig works well with only OEM components will be more satisfied if they choose to upgrade.
I've added junkyard OEM bars to vehicles that offered them as optional equipment. We had two 1980's T-Birds. One had a rear sway bar and the other didn't. I went and found one for the one that didn't and it improved the car after I installed it. I noticed a T-Bird bar would work on our Aerostar van, so I got another to put in the van. Sure enough, helped it too.
Rear sway bars are simply good to have.
Seems that a 2005 Express 3500 might have a 32mm/1.25" or 36mm/1.4" front sway bar. Ford OEM sway bar for E450 is only 1" and Hellwig's upgrade is 1.375" so...
I would NOT replace your OEM sway bar. I know you didn't say you were considering that, but what you can do is make sure that the END LINKS are Polyurethane like MOOG K700537 and not rubber. I replaced the end links on an old E350, changing from spongy rubber to hard poly bushings from NAPA and the change in handling was simply amazing. If your center bushings (where the bar attaches to the frame) are soft or damaged, get poly for those too.
Snowdance testified to the improvement from a Hellwig rear sway bar kit. That's Hellwig #7635 at $268/free shipping from SD Truck Springs, an outfit many of us have bought from. It's a 1-3/8" bar. By comparison, Ford's OEM rear bar is 1-1/8" and the Hellwig is 1-1/2" so you can see the Hellwig for yours is a good beefy bar.
I wanted to wait to say this till somebody with Chevy replied. Snowdance did, and what he says lines up with what I thought a Chevy owner would. Your coach is
1. Short/Small
2. Light
3. Chevrolet
When you fortify your front bar and add a rear one, you are improving your RV. You'll feel improvement in its already good characteristics.
Most of us upgrading sway bars have
1. Long/Large
2. Heavy
3. Ford
So we're working to solve issues and improvement comes along with the solutions. Those of us who feel their rig works well with only OEM components will be more satisfied if they choose to upgrade.
I've added junkyard OEM bars to vehicles that offered them as optional equipment. We had two 1980's T-Birds. One had a rear sway bar and the other didn't. I went and found one for the one that didn't and it improved the car after I installed it. I noticed a T-Bird bar would work on our Aerostar van, so I got another to put in the van. Sure enough, helped it too.
Rear sway bars are simply good to have.
