Looking to upgrade my sway bars on my 96 ex. Which ones are decent?

[1997XLTRollover]

Hey guy's, it's been a while since I've posted; been out of the game a while but I just picked up a 96 5.0 and am looking to make it not handle like a boat. I rolled my old 97 and I've been a bit gun shy and don't want to go though that again.

I'm thinking the best thing I can do is upgrade the sway bars to help with the rollover issues these trucks had. So short of spending $400 on an X-Spec kit, are there any other sway bars out there I can maybe get from a yard cheap that will help me out?

 

[93 x_SPORT]

Hey guy's, it's been a while since I've posted; been out of the game a while but I just picked up a 96 5.0 and am looking to make it not handle like a boat. I rolled my old 97 and I've been a bit gun shy and don't want to go though that again.

I'm thinking the best thing I can do is upgrade the sway bars to help with the rollover issues these trucks had. So short of spending $400 on an X-Spec kit, are there any other sway bars out there I can maybe get from a yard cheap that will help me out?

You can pick up a front swaybar from a salvage yard from a '98+ Explorer. Replacing the bushings and end links helped me a lot.

 

[1997XLTRollover]

You can pick up a front swaybar from a salvage yard from a '98+ Explorer. Replacing the bushings and end links helped me a lot.

How do the 98+ sway bars compare to the X-spec kit front bar? Or are they the same thing?

 

[swshawaii]

Ditto. Finding a '98 or newer solid front sway bar should not be difficult, long as the frame mounting points are the same. Not aware of a larger OEM bolt on upgrade to the 19mm rear, unless you find a used EE X-Spec, Addco 633, or Hellwig 7648. As you know, any of these will greatly reduce body lean, and make your vehicle much safer. IMO, best handling upgrade after tires and shocks.

 

[swshawaii]

How do the 98+ sway bars compare to the X-spec kit front bar? Or are they the same thing?

Ford revised the front sway bar for 98 models. They are now solid like our 95-97 part. These vehicles
require only a rear sway bar to upgrade to X spec. Bar is 1.125 dia with Energy Suspension poly bushings.

http://www.explorerexpress.com/swaybars-9801-explorer-xspec-sway-rear-p-913.html

 

[swshawaii]

Also, appears the EE front bar is an Addco 737. Looks identical in the pics.

http://www.zabteck.com/swaybar.htm

 

[1997XLTRollover]

hmmm. were sport trac bars even better yet?

 

[swshawaii]

hmmm. were sport trac bars even better yet?

2001-05 ST front bars are solid. RWD is 1 1/8" or 28.57mm and 4WD 1 1/4" or 31.75mm. ST rears are all 3/4" or 19mm.

 

[1997XLTRollover]

2001-05 ST front bars are solid. RWD is 1 1/8" or 28.57mm and 4WD 1 1/4" or 31.75mm. ST rears are all 3/4" or 19mm.

So is this an upgrade over a regular explorer bar or were the ST's the same as the regular base explorer?

 

[swshawaii]

Your 1996 was factory equipped with a hollow FRONT sway bar. Ford upgraded to solid FRONT bars in 1998. The REAR bars on all 1995-01 Explorers are solid, but only 19mm (3/4") compared to the EE X Spec at 28.5mm (1 1/8") In order to upgrade, you must replace BOTH sway bars on your 1996. Save yourself the aggravation and buy the complete EE ZD5621 kit for $406. IMO, your time saved finding and removing a solid front salvage yard bar may exceed it's value. GL

The front sway bar looks huge on your 95-97, but it's a hollow 3/16 wall tube. Replace it with our stiff, solid 1.375 front and the rear with our 1.125 bars and you're on your way to flat Euro sedan type handling. Use existing factory type bushings on front (or replace front bushings with ES45152G) and Energy Suspension poly bushings for the rear. As used on Explorer X V8.

http://www.explorerexpress.com/swaybars-9597-explorer-xspec-sway-bars-p-910.html

 

[1997XLTRollover]

Your 1996 was factory equipped with a hollow FRONT sway bar. Ford upgraded to solid FRONT bars in 1998. The REAR bars on all 1995-01 Explorers are solid, but only 19mm (3/4") compared to the EE X Spec at 28.5mm (1 1/8") In order to upgrade, you must replace BOTH sway bars on your 1996. Save yourself the aggravation and buy the complete EE ZD5621 kit for $406. IMO, your time saved finding and removing a front salvage yard bar may exceed it's value. GL

I should be able to find a bar in the yards near me easily. Last weekend when I went to the smaller yard near me they had 30 explorers. The larger yard has 90 (I'm going to this one this weekend). So although it's not as big as the X-spec kit it's damn close and a good bang for the buck. I'll probably have to buy the rear one from them though since it seems all stock explorers got crappy small bars in the rear.

 

[swshawaii]

Cool, just make sure the frame mounts are the same. There were two different mounting locations. Keep us posted.

 

[1997XLTRollover]

Cool, just make sure the frame mounts are the same. There were two different mounting locations. Keep us posted.

Will do. Do you have any idea where the rear bar came from? I really can't afford anything but salvage yard parts which is the main reason I'm not just going and buying the kit.

 

[swshawaii]

Do you have any idea where the rear bar came from?

:scratch: Huh? You mean the EE rear bar? It came from Explorer Express. LOL

BOTH front and rear EE sway bars are custom made AFTERMARKET products.

 

[1997XLTRollover]

:scratch: Huh? You mean the EE rear bar? It came from Explorer Express. LOL

BOTH front and rear EE sway bars are custom made AFTERMARKET products.

Ok so there isn't a good upgrade for the rear bar then short of an aftermarket bar?

What I meant was it looks like the 98+ bar was a pretty decent bar and is very comparable to the EE bar (correct me if I'm wrong). But it doesn't look like there is a bar I can get from the yard that's closer to what the rear EE bar is, because all Ex's seem to have small rear bars. Does that make sense?

 

[swshawaii]

That is correct, all Gen 2 rear bars are 19mm and undersized. Not sure with the four or two door Explorer, but the 2001-05 ST requires the REAR upgrade first, otherwise there will be serious handling and safety issues. From the previously linked Zabteck site:

Note: You should never upgrade your front sway bar without having an upgraded rear sway bar http://www.zabteck.com/swaybar.htm

 

[Flash]

With that many cars to choose from in the junkyard you'd think at least one might have aftermarket swaybars.

Take vernier calipers with you or a shifting spanner to measure the bars with.

I'd start with tyres and shocks first though, and look at at your tyre pressure too.

 

[swshawaii]

Hellwig 7648 for $151 shipped.

http://www.amazon.com/Hellwig-7648-Rear-Sway-Bar/dp/B001UFRW4G

 

[1997XLTRollover]

Hellwig 7648 for $151 shipped.

http://www.amazon.com/Hellwig-7648-Rear-Sway-Bar/dp/B001UFRW4G

Is 1" thick enough of an upgrade over the stock bar? I know the X-sepc stuff is a little thicker.

 

[swshawaii]

I'm using the 1" Addco 633 and the difference was jaw dropping compared to stock. Can only imagine the Hellwig is stronger being 4140 chromoly steel. I've read a few that have tried the 1 1/8" EE and Addco on the same vehicle and couldn't tell a difference.