f-250 rear swaybar

[theSpoon]

I got a look at the underside of a 97 f250 today and noticed the rear swaybar mounts are basically all bolt on(frame)/clamp on(axel), the frame mounts are roughly 3 feet apart. I haven't measured my explorers frame but I would imagine it would be pretty close. has anyone ever tried/thought about a swap like this? I'm going to take a few more measurements and possibly do the swap as the swaybars are only 30-40$ at the local junkyard.

 

[Carguy3J]

Unless you have SERIOUSLY beefed up the front sway bar first, that F250 bar on the rear is a bad idea. I'm assuming it is much larger/stiffer than the stock Explorer rear bar.

If you increase the rear roll stiffness more then the front, then it creates oversteer. That's where the back end comes around, in a turn; otherwise known as "spinning out".

Your best bet would be to upgrade to a later ('98-'01) stock Explorer front sway bar (Ford changed the fronts to a solid bar in '98; whereas the '95-'97 is a hollow bar). Then, buy an upgraded rear sway bar kit from ExplorerExpress.com

If you don't have the money for the EE rear bar, then just do the front upgrade with a junkyard bar, and use Energy Suspension Urethane bushing all the way around (front+rear). That alone will make a huge improvement in body roll/ cornering stability. You might also want to lower it a couple inchesm, with the torsion twist process in the front, and 1-1/2" or 2" spacer blocks in the rear. If you do this, just remember to shortne your sway bar end links and equal amount.

 

[theSpoon]

the F-250 one looked about the same size as the front one on my ex that's why I got the idea. I know they went solid in 98 but my problem is I have a late model 97 and it seems to be a bit of a mix between 97 and 98 so I'm not really sure if i even have the hollow one up front. also I think I originally meant to post this in the modified explorer section. oops.