Hellwig rear sway bar kit

Robert1 · June 3, 2012

Any resident testamonials or opinions on these kits. If they perform as stated by the manufacturer,who wouldn't want a truck that was more firmly planted during aggressive cornering or general handling for that matter. Sure would like to hear from any suspension savvy guys or someone that has had experience with one of these or similar kits and any disadvantages noted or other drawback concerns.My truck is a 2012 CC Silvy with a 6.2L Max trailering setup with a 14 bolt 9.5" rear.Below is the link to the kit .

http://www.suspensionconnection.com/cgi-bin/suscon/7800k.html

Easytide · June 3, 2012

I have the Helwig kit on my 2000.,I realise it,s an older and different set up, but it works extremely well. I have no noises,grinds or squeaks from the bar at all. The installation (after waiting another 2 wks because they shipped the wrong bar) was pretty str8 forward. ,took me about 1 1/2 to install. As far as handling improvement,normal driving you,d be hard pressed to know it,s there, although changing lanes and minor handling does seem improved, The biggest advantage to me is hard cornering, highway on/off ramps ect have very little body roll now. The truck has good.solid steering feedback,where you put it on the road is pretty much where it stays. Dramatic improvement? nope..won,t turn you into a Porsche, but the over package is very smooth, solid and makes the old girl a pleasure to drive. I,d say i,d more notice it if it were gone now.

Robert1 · June 3, 2012

I have the Helwig kit on my 2000.,I realise it,s an older and different set up, but it works extremely well. I have no noises,grinds or squeaks from the bar at all. The installation (after waiting another 2 wks because they shipped the wrong bar) was pretty str8 forward. ,took me about 1 1/2 to install. As far as handling improvement,normal driving you,d be hard pressed to know it,s there, although changing lanes and minor handling does seem improved, The biggest advantage to me is hard cornering, highway on/off ramps ect have very little body roll now. The truck has good.solid steering feedback,where you put it on the road is pretty much where it stays. Dramatic improvement? nope..won,t turn you into a Porsche, but the over package is very smooth, solid and makes the old girl a pleasure to drive. I,d say i,d more notice it if it were gone now.

That 's encouraging feedback. I'm hoping someone will eventually pipe in on a rear sway bar addition to a NNBS beteween 07.5' - 2012 4X4 preferably. Thanks for the input Easytide.

David_L6 · June 19, 2012

Interested in this subject also. I have a 2012 crew cab 2 wheel drive....

Easytide · June 19, 2012

I think overall, no matter what you drive, Rear sway bars should enhance handling, road stability, The degree of improvement you notice will vary on how good your suspension is to start with ,and how heavy duty. A one ton truck,for instance, isnt going to sway alot on that heavy duty spring pack to begin with. In our realm, typicaly cars, 1/2 and 3/4 tons, a sway bar will certainly reduce body roll enough that some improvement should be noticed. The trucks will benefit from a bit of anti-sway with moderate loads as well. Hellwig is one of the better names out there , so i,d have some confidence in whatever design they came up with for a particular year/model. One thing to keep in mind though, although i doubt trucks will get driven THAT hard thru turns,,,,,,a bit of body sway absorbs energy,,,if you take that away, ie,,a sway bar,,,the energy will transfer to the next thing in motion,,,tires,,,. You WILL notice worn tires alot more with a sway bar in hard turns then you would without one.Plain language,,it,lle slide easier,,,lol..

MB2008LTZ · June 26, 2012

I have this on 2008 LTZ ex-cab and absolutely love it....worth every $$$ spent...I'm actually thinking about upgrading the hollow stock front one to a Hellwig also, and maybe some Bilsteins all around too.

Easytide · June 27, 2012

uh,,,really??? wow,,,,when did sway bars become hollow?..guess i,ve been out of the loop for a while,,lmao

OH1 · June 27, 2012

I have a 01' and am also considering a helwig rsb. I am running timbrens in the rear and some rs9000xl shocks as well now. I have to say when empty the truck feels the same but when loaded with my 1400lb camper and the 16ft trailer with my jeep the truck handles great. I am just curious if th emoney spent on the sway bar woulfd make a huge difference. The truck feels super stable as it is now.

I think the timbrens are acting like a sway bar when it's loaded that why i notice the difference there. Sorry to babble but i am curious about any infor on rsb's.

To the OP why are you wanting the rsb? Do you feel unstable in turns or are you carrying extra weight?

Robert1 · June 30, 2012

I have a 01' and am also considering a helwig rsb. I am running timbrens in the rear and some rs9000xl shocks as well now. I have to say when empty the truck feels the same but when loaded with my 1400lb camper and the 16ft trailer with my jeep the truck handles great. I am just curious if th emoney spent on the sway bar woulfd make a huge difference. The truck feels super stable as it is now.

I think the timbrens are acting like a sway bar when it's loaded that why i notice the difference there. Sorry to babble but i am curious about any infor on rsb's.

To the OP why are you wanting the rsb? Do you feel unstable in turns or are you carrying extra weight?

Not carrying any extera weight .....yet anyway...but would like to be able to whenever the need arises. Otherwise I'm looking to gain a bit less body roll and stability if and when I choose to corner a bit more aggressively. I'd also be hoping that the addition of one would decrease the slow speed side to side pitch with firmer rebound when negotiating steep aprons around town coming in and out of parking lots.