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Hellwig Rear Sway Bar

28K views 62 replies 23 participants last post by  Raptor 
#1 ·
Anyone have any experience with them? I've been dragging the web looking for a sway bar solution and this is the only hit I've come up with for a WK2 (V8 4x4)... Thx in advance.
 
#7 ·
I ordered the rear hellwig for my 15 altitude just haven't put it on yet. I think the front srt bar will help some but maybe not enough to justify the cost. I thought I read somewhere that's why Hellwig didn't make a front swaybar for 14-15 jeeps is because it didn't make that much of a difference.


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#9 ·
i just ordered the hellwig rear, srt front and bwoody end links. I'll report back about the improvement.

As a heads up, autoanything.com has the hellwig rear for $180 shipped after a 25% coupon.
 
#10 ·
Yes curious about the Bwoody endlinks on WK2. I have them on my WK with srt swaybars and I like them.


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#12 ·
Yes curious about the Bwoody endlinks on WK2. I have them on my WK with srt swaybars and I like them.

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As much as I like the bwoodys on my wk, I'd skip em on the wk2 and op for blackops ones. They are far superior to bwoody wk2 endlinks and have the proper angles needed. Bwoody has had plenty of failed wk2 links as they don't have the needed angles on them.
 
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#11 ·
I just add + 1 psi to both rear tires and that helps with the cornering but makes it more bouncy on certain bumps.

I guess everything has a trade off.
 
#17 ·
Just the sway bar alone is only a part of the handling puzzle. You also need to beef up the links to really make use of the sway bar as the stock pencil thin ones flex under hard cornering.

The issue with the blackops ones in the video above was done by bwoody to bash blackops. I remember the whole fight between Chad from blackops and Steve from bwoody. I've never seen a blackops link break or fall apart but I have seen multiple bwoody failures on the wk2. Things like premature bushing failure or the link itself breaking.

I'm not a blackops fanboy tho, I do run bwoody links on my wk1 but they don't really have any failures on them. I wish Chad made them on the wk1 but he claims there is no market for them.
 
#19 ·
The theory is that by isolating any bending in the end links, you allow the sway bars to do their job more efficiently.

Now, will this be noticeable on a 5300LBS truck with mushy off road tires? I'm not so sure, but if anything, it will not hurt the setup.
 
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#25 ·
Wanna tell me how a endlink that's nearly twice as thick won't help handling any? Or how much the stock one flexes?

View attachment 69463
What does the stock one bend up like a pretzel when your cornering then straiten out after? :D The stock links may have more deflection in the bushing ends but unless they are worn out and loose, your not going to gain anything "noticeable" by installing them.
Road noise and vibration coming through the link into the chassis? Thats a different story. Any poly bushing will add that, thats why OEM's don't use them.
Set up a 60' slalom and run your Jeep through it and swap back and forth on the links and tell me how much speed you gained by adding the links.
 
#32 · (Edited)
I finally had some time to install the swaybars and the blackops endlinks today. All in all it took me about 2 hours, where most of the time was on the rear, as it took a bit of wrestling to get the bar out. I did it with the car in OR2 and on ramps, the wheels never needed to come off.

This is the part number of the rear bar on my 2015 Summit EcoDiesel: 68184508AA, which seems to be the standard on all but the SRT8.



I took some pics of the OEM one vs the hellwig:



OEM diameter (0.900in):



Hellwig Diameter (0.994in):




I also did the front SRT8 Swaybar at the same time, however, that may have been a waste of money, as they look and feel eerie similar.




EcoDiesel part number 68184512AA vs SRT8 part number 68184511AA



After installing I took the car for a short drive around the block, but until I take it on the freeway and on some twisties, I can't give a verdict on the improvements.
 
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#34 · (Edited)
I did not weigh them for real, I just compared them in my hands, and they are definitely both solid, the OEM EcoDiesel one is not hollow.

I didn't take pics of it, but I measured the OD, they have the same diameter.
 
#38 ·
If they were identical they would have the same part numbers. I saying the SRT bar is has to be stronger. The WK SRT front bars are the same size and diameter as well but the SRT bar is solid and stronger. I'm saying there has to be a difference that all.


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#39 ·
Yeah having different part numbers doesn't necessarily mean it's different. I've seen the same part have 4-5 different part numbers depending on the year and model. All the same. In this case I think people want to believe there's a difference. I've also seen several posts on different forums where people compared the two and they were identical in size and weight.
 
#40 ·
You may be right I wouldn't be surprised. I would think the SRT would be different though.


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#41 ·
IF there is a difference, it is extremely minimal, definitely not a hollow v.s. Solid scenario.

For what it's worth, if you look HERE you'll see that the SRT part number (68184511AA) replaces the OEM EcoDiesel one (68184512AA).

So if anything, I have just upgraded my front swaybar to the latest part number, so if not for performance benefit, it will totally enhance the coolness factor of the jEEP :p
 
#43 ·
Some one here reviewed the SRT vs. Non-SRT front sway bar. Although they are the same exterior diameter, they determined (how I don't know) that the SRT bar has a smaller inner diameter (aka, its a thicker, heavier bar).
 
#45 ·
So after thoroughly reading several threads, talking to other WK2 owners, and calling a few different shops... I'm going with the SRT factory rear sway and SRT factory front and rear end links. That said, I'm augmenting this setup with Bilstein 4600's and RM mid springs. Also planning on a new wheel and tire setup so quite a few factors in the mix. I'll follow up with a review after it all comes together and thanks again for the feedback and advice.




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#46 ·
So after thoroughly reading several threads, talking to other WK2 owners, and calling a few different shops... I'm going with the SRT factory rear sway and SRT factory front and rear end links. That said, I'm augmenting this setup with Bilstein 4600's and RM mid springs. Also planning on a new wheel and tire setup so quite a few factors in the mix. I'll follow up with a review after it all comes together and thanks again for the feedback and advice.




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Just for the sake of clarity, are your springs going to significantly lower the ride height of your Jeep? If not, then the OE sway bar links will be OK. The only difference between the regular and SRT links is their length. The SRTs are shorter, to accommodate the lower ride height of the SRT package.
 
#48 ·
Update - ordered the black ops end links. Spoke with a couple of different guys and the consensus was that for effectively $50 it wasn't a bad move... Not trying to start a bwoody vs black ops debate, but since I ordered the RM mid springs from black ops I figured I'd round things out with their end links as well... I've got the springs in hand and should have everything else at my doorstep by next week.

I'll be doing the install myself so I'll do a write up with pics on the full swap in a different thread. Thanks again for all of the feedback and input.


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#50 ·
For the record, the Hellwig rear is the same ~1" diameter as the SRT rear and both are solid, but it comes with poly bushings vs. rubber on the Mopar bar, not to mention a bit cheaper, so that's why I bought it.
 
#52 ·
For what it is worth, I just put the rear Hellwig bar on 2017 Hemi Overland. The stock bar comes off with the mounting brackets so you have to use new brackets and bushings that come with the new Hellwig bar. The Hellwig bar was much heavier than the stock bar but was the same 1 inch diameter.
I did notice a difference with less roll and think this bar is a better match to the front stock bar. Was thinking I would do a front SRT or StreeHawk replacement later but now I think what I have is fine. Nothing your wife would notice but just enough to keep me from complaining.
 
#53 · (Edited)
Did you consider the OEM SRT rear sway bar?
I believe it's part #68253186AA (with high performance suspension)
MSRP $232.00 ....$154.00 w/online discount

The non SRT OEM rear part #68253185AA (w/o high performance suspension)
MSRP of $234.00 ...$152.90 w/online discount
This non SRT rear bar lists for $2.00 more?? Strange?

Is the OEM SRT rear bar heavier than the regular OEM rear bar?
How does it compare to the Hellwig rear bar?

The Hellwig bar lists for $198.61

https://www.autoaccessoriesgarage.com/Suspension/Hellwig-Anti-Sway-Bar?set-vehicle=1


Any input or additional info greatly appreciated. Thanks
 
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