Rear Sway Bar Options

[posplayr]

Addco also has a 1 1/8" rear bar for about $200
https://www.addco.net/product/ford-e...-1975-01-rear/

[dhally]

Originally Posted by posplayr

Addco also has a 1 1/8" rear bar for about $200
https://www.addco.net/product/ford-e...-1975-01-rear/

It looks like that one is only for older vans - mine is a 2009. Our local salvage yard may have one off an E450, will find out on Monday.

[BrianW]

Originally Posted by dhally

It looks like that one is only for older vans - mine is a 2009. Our local salvage yard may have one off an E450, will find out on Monday.

Make sure you get the end links with it, as well as the bolts that go into the frame.

[Dearranged]

What you want is the biggest sway bars you can find. Front and rear.

The reason for both ends is the handling in cornering. If you put one only on the rear the rear is going to be loose in a turn if you exceed traction, meaning the rear is going to want to slide first, can be fun.

That is the reason stock they come usually only on the front, which mine had. If the front starts to slide first it is more easily managed than if the rear were to slide out first.

So you go to Hellwig site and see they make a big one for the rear and a smaller one for the front, that is what you want, should be matched for handling characteristics.

But you can test this for yourself.

I will add I do have a truck with Hellwig sway bars front and rear, biggest they make both ends, for a slide in camper. Usually drive it without nowadays but have to be careful around curves at speed because the rear is so stiff. I also added the biggest Hellwigs to my SMB 08 E350, much better handling without the harshness of higher rate springs.

[BrianW]

Here are a few pics of the E450 swaybar installed on my 1998 E250. I may or may not have just used hardware-store u-bolts on the axle attachment But in any case, they held up over 60k+ miles of all kinds of roads, including plenty of washboard gravel roads, and were still fine when I sold the van.


To mount the links I had to drill 1-2 holes in the sides of the frame (one hole I just may have needed to enlarge, I don't recall). I think I just used a tap on the holes and threaded the bolts in that way, although I may have used nuts on the backside, too. Regardless, I did make it a habit to check the tightness of the various swaybar bolts and stuff whenever I was under the van.

[dhally]

I found an E450 rear bar at the local junkyard. Prices have gone up, it was $40 plus tax. On the plus side, it included all the bushings and most of the hardware. I will need to source ubolts and a bracket for the axle. Maybe a Ford part?

[dhally]

I finally got this rear sway bar installed and a test drive. It made a very positive improvement in cornering and cross wind performance, on the pavement. Mrs. dhally could even feel the improvement sitting in the passenger seat (less roll). Haven't tested it on rough roads yet to see if we feel more bumps.

I had to get the bolts to attach the links to the frame at the Ford dealer - $30 for 2 bolts, 2 nuts, plus tax. Ouch! But, they worked perfectly. The holes were already in the frame. The driver side was really tight to get a wrench on the nut, with the fuel tank and brake lines in the way.

The old bushings looked OK. I figure I can always replace them or upgrade to polyurethane later if they get sloppy.

The used sway bar is 1-1/8" diameter and came off a 1996 E350 cutaway chassis.

[posplayr]

If anyone wants to go new OEM the prices are comparable to buying aftermarket.

https://www.oempartsource.com/oem-pa...VkIFByb2R1Y3Rz

https://www.oempartsource.com/oem-pa...RzJms9MQ%3D%3D

You may need to look for some after-market Eurethane bushing and associated H/W as the OEM stuff will probably get pricey.

[Ryan89]

Originally Posted by Twoxentrix

We recently installed a Hellwig rear sway bar (with quick disconnects). It's a hefty bar, but then I have close to 6600lbs on the rear so they work great with my weight. Have not had any issues develop with steering, and have gained noticeable benefit with stability and cornering. Very pleased with the addition.
I made contact with Hellwig and discussed the best option for my application (mainly because I have a dana 80 axle on the rear) - very helpful and accommodating - it was an informative experience so I'd recommend you do the same.

EDIT: Let me also add I've noticed that when I traveled on the smaller country roads which change elevation frequently (road grade dips to the right & left continuously) I had to steer through that constantly (not bad since my FE is pretty tight, but the weight of the van would shift and a small correction was needed to compensate) - with the rear sway bar I have very little of this now which makes those drives considerably more relaxing.

Twoxentrix - Any details on the quick disconnects you have on the rear sway bar, Im looking into fitting one but dont want to sacrifice offroad abilities - disconnects would be ideal!

[REF]

I have JKS disconnects on my front sway bar, and yes there was a bit of fab work involved swapping over from the original sway bar with the worn out bushings