Took this afternoon to install my Big Wig, Hellwig rear stabilizer bar on my 2006 Dodge, 2500 Diesel.Unfortunately, nothing fits!The box says it is for a 03008 5.9L truckThe small parts box within the main box says the same thing:But the saddles to go over the axle do not fit. One leg is supposed to go over the center section casting and the other on the axle. But it will only go over the cast center section. The other leg hangs in free airI could modify this saddle bracket by cutting one side to fit the center section so the other leg would contact the axle tube, but it gets worse.The "U-Plate" hole spacing does not match the saddle bracket or the U-Bolt:It will be interesting to see how quickly this gets resolved. Sure hope I don't have to send the whole thing back!

Rbertalotto wrote:Sure hope I don't have to send the whole thing back!Sending this one back may seem like a drag… but once you get your RoadMaster anti-sway bar installed it will have been worth the effort. ;)-Mark

Hi Roy,You shouldn't have to modify anything. I just did this install back in Jan and it's pretty easy. I did double check 7265 and it is the one made for your truck. Are you straddling the axle bracket over the casting lip and not the one side on top of it? If you are and it still doesn't fit right you may have some mislabeled parts. Hellwig will work with you. They have great customer service.My Hellwig Install

I just did some more measuring. My frame rails are 39” apart, center to center The sway bar I received is only 33” center of eye to center of eye http://public.fotki.com/Rbertalotto/vehicles/dodge-cumming-diesel/1404597452970.htmlhttp://public.fotki.com/Rbertalotto/vehicles/dodge-cumming-diesel/1404597453667.html So even if I modified the saddle brackets, the bar is too narrow. Also as an FYI: My frame rails are a box 3” wide by 6” deep

Four years ago when I bought mine I was missing parts. A few others around that same time experienced the same problem. Now they are packaging the wrong parts. I think for the next one I will do some serious looking at the Roadmaster.

Wouldn't the dogleg offset in the links make up the 6" difference in the width of frame verse sway bar? Plus frame bracket just a tad off to side. Couldn't say on the bushing clamp unless they just got pinched-tried to insert bushing?The axle saddle though if both 'ears are cut at same radius, obviously it isn't going to fit both the tubes and center section. I was thinking (contrary to instructions) maybe intent was to butt up against center section but does not look there is any room width wise. Hmm-unfortunate as its Sat, cant talk to anyone for 2 days.

Huge Hellwig Disappointment! | Good Sam Community

msiminoff
Explorer II
Jul 05, 2014
Rbertalotto wrote:
Sure hope I don't have to send the whole thing back!

Sending this one back may seem like a drag… but once you get your RoadMaster anti-sway bar installed it will have been worth the effort. ;)
-Mark
Mello_Mike
Explorer
Jul 05, 2014
Hi Roy,
You shouldn't have to modify anything. I just did this install back in Jan and it's pretty easy. I did double check 7265 and it is the one made for your truck. Are you straddling the axle bracket over the casting lip and not the one side on top of it? If you are and it still doesn't fit right you may have some mislabeled parts. Hellwig will work with you. They have great customer service.

My Hellwig Install
Rbertalotto
Explorer
Jul 05, 2014
I just did some more measuring.

My frame rails are 39” apart, center to center

The sway bar I received is only 33” center of eye to center of eye

http://public.fotki.com/Rbertalotto/vehicles/dodge-cumming-diesel/1404597452970.html

http://public.fotki.com/Rbertalotto/vehicles/dodge-cumming-diesel/1404597453667.html

So even if I modified the saddle brackets, the bar is too narrow.

Also as an FYI:

My frame rails are a box 3” wide by 6” deep
kerry4951
Explorer
Jul 05, 2014
Four years ago when I bought mine I was missing parts. A few others around that same time experienced the same problem. Now they are packaging the wrong parts. I think for the next one I will do some serious looking at the Roadmaster.
AnEv942
Nomad
Jul 05, 2014
Wouldn't the dogleg offset in the links make up the 6" difference in the width of frame verse sway bar? Plus frame bracket just a tad off to side.
Couldn't say on the bushing clamp unless they just got pinched-tried to insert bushing?
The axle saddle though if both 'ears are cut at same radius, obviously it isn't going to fit both the tubes and center section. I was thinking (contrary to instructions) maybe intent was to butt up against center section but does not look there is any room width wise.
Hmm-unfortunate as its Sat, cant talk to anyone for 2 days.
805gregg
Explorer
Jul 05, 2014
Mine bolted right up with 0 problems in 30-45 minutes, are you sure you are installing it right?
Rbertalotto
Explorer
Jul 05, 2014
are you sure you are installing it right?

I'm pretty sure I'm doing it right. I'm pretty mechanically inclined. One of the pictures shows the saddle and the "D" Bushing clamp. It is obvious that these two items are miss-matched as the U-Bolt would not mate them together.

And the saddle clamp if I just install them on the axle tube places them too far apart for the sway bar to be mounted to them.

Will need to see that Hellwig says on Monday. I left them a voice mail and a couple of emails.
dadwolf2
Explorer
Jul 06, 2014
Sorry to hear you were shipped the wrong parts. I just installed a 7265 on my truck about a month ago without any problems. I am sure they will help you through this.
Rbertalotto
Explorer
Jul 07, 2014
Kevin at Hellwig got back to me today and looking at the pictures I sent them it appears the incorrect brackets made it into my box of parts. He is shipping out the correct brackets tomorrow. Let's hope there are no other hicups.
woodhog
Explorer
Jul 07, 2014
You will soon forget any problems you had when you take your first drive, it was by far the best modification we made to the old weak framed Dodge. Ours is a 2004.5.

Forum Discussion

Huge Hellwig Disappointment!

About Travel Trailer Group

Related Content

Huge discrepancies

Hellwig Bigwigs

Disappointed!!!!!!!

Hellwig sway bar

Disappointing test drive