Suspension Upgrade Questions

[Direct Freak]

Hey Guys,



I have a lowered 2003 4x2 Sport Trac XLS on 20" wheels.

It has new shocks, brakes, and a 3" drop all around,

and I am pretty happy with it, handling changed dramatically for the better.

My inspiration is swsawaii's truck.



I just got my truck serviced, and I was told it needs upper ball joints and

front swaybar links.



I figured this is a good time to replace the front swaybar (Where to buy?)

and all the other ball joints, front and rear bushings, etc.



Is there a list of all the parts/part numbers of what I need to do this?

I did some searching, and the information is ambiguous at best.



I'd rather have a stiffer ride, since I am a little aggressive in my driving style.



Thanks.



Alex R

 

[swshawaii]

Aloha Alex!



Needless to say, I'm flattered, albeit humbled and confused. Inspiration, huh? LOL

Love YOUR Trac just by looking at the pics in your library. AWESOME Bro.

Would have to say make your UCA/ball joints a priority, all about safety.

Please list what suspension parts/upgrades you have done, so we know.

One thing for sure is upgrade your REAR sway bar first, if you haven't yet.

Check Zabteck's lineup for sway bars. The best deals anywhere, not close.

Post Your upgrade list and we'll take it from there. Happy Trac'n!!!

 

[Direct Freak]

Thanks!! Any info on the Ball Joints?



I was confused though, as much as I love your truck too, :supercool:

I really meant HawaiianST's truck.



I was confused by the "Hawaii" part. :banghead:



Thanks again!

 

[swshawaii]

Alex- OK, that makes sense! Must agree, Keola's (HawaiianST) Trac is one of the nicest

I've ever seen. Haven't seen him here for a while though.



Most here will agree that Moog suspension parts are hard to beat for build quality and price.

The upper control arm/ball joints are Moog K8708T (left) and K80068 (right)

I usually get my parts from Amazon or FastPartsNetwok (Torrie) Seriously consider an Xcal3 tuner.

Front end links are Moog K7275 (need two sets) See my post below for a cool mod.

 

[Rodger Tellefson]

And, use Energy Suspension bushings (black) for the new MOOG end links.

 

[Johnny O]

You can get the Zabteck rear bar. Addco makes a bigger front bar and i seem to recall hearing that a V8 Explorer front bar is larger too.

 

[Kevin Lang]

If you do decide to get the Addco 737 front swaybar, the Moog K7275 endlinks will not fit it. The new bar comes with properly sized Energy Suspension endlinks & black bushings (at least, mine did).



At first I left my stock bar in place, and used the Moog K7275 endlinks, which were a great improvement over the piece of junk stock ones (they were so rusty they broke on removal, and I'm out of the Rust Belt). I then installed the Addco bar, which was an even greater improvement in handling, but the Moog endlinks were then useless to me :sad:



The moogs are a dramatic improvement over stock endlinks. They take 10 minutes or so to install, and cost under 30 bucks for both. The swaybar, while providing better handling, costs much more and takes longer to install than the endlinks. IMO the better handling of the Addco upgrade was worth the money, but the improvement isn't anywhere near as dramatic as the Moogs over stock, so it might not be worth it to you. The 30 dollar mod is almost as good as the over-100-dollar mod, and much less of a PITA.



(BTW, I hope your Addco bushings don't come pre-cut like mine did, if you go that route)

 

[Direct Freak]

Let's review - Does this seem right? I need:



1) Left Upper Ball Joint - Moog K8708T



2) Right Upper Ball Joint - Moog K80068



3) Front Sway Bar - Addco 737



4) Rear Sway Bar - Addco ??? (I'll get them both from Zabteck)



5) Front Endlinks - :sad: Which ones work with the Addco swaybar?

Do I just use the ones with the Addco sway bar? Or are there better aftermarket ones?



6) XCal 3 Tuner? Does that need to be Dyno Tuned?

The SCT website doesn't really get into it much. There seem to be many options.

I'd rather not have to get it tuned, but wouldn't mind more power.



Also, I previously have had BAD luck with FastPartsNetwok, so they

would not be an option for me at this time.

 

[Rodger Tellefson]

Use the end links that come with the ADDCO bar. :supercool:



I use RockAuto.com :banana:



The SCT XCalibrator tuner rocks. :driving:

 

[Kevin Lang]

The endlinks that came with my Addco bar are the exact same ones as the ones that you can buy from Energy Suspension at any parts store. I confirmed this when I had to buy an Energy Suspension replacement endlink set (it was on sale) to get some new bushings & washers after a bushing died on me (not its fault). In short, the ones with the bar work, and they are the same as aftermarket parts.



The SCT tuner didn't need to be dyno tuned for me as I bought it with tunes custom made for the ST from our site sponsor, but if you aren't using that site sponsor I don't know how it'll work out for you.

 

[swshawaii]

You can upgrade the stock rear end links with the Prothane 4902 (A style) poly grommet/sleeve kit,

or the Moog K80085 rubber kit. Don't understand why the Moog front links won't fit the Addco bar.

Sleeves too long? I prefer the Moog's because of their larger 7/16" diameter bolt. (Energy is 3/8")

Concerning the SCT XCal3, there are many dealers for this product. A few have disappeared.

It's plug and play, does not require dyno tuning. Biggest benefit to me is the improved shifting.

Torrie has a huge MySt following for a reason, experience and knowledge with our trucks.

Ask anyone that has his tunes.

 

[EddieS'04]

When doing upgraded swaybars. Unless you are going to buy front and rear @ same time. Also replacing one before the other. Always replace the rear first. If you do the front first. The handling will be squirlly.



Also since you are lowered. You will need shorter end links, on the front bar. The ends of the bar need to be level.



GL...

 

[Rodger Tellefson]

I used Energy Suspension bushings with MOOG front end links. :supercool::driving:

 

[EddieS'04]

Rodger, Actually since he is lowered. He can shorten the performance end links that come with the front Addco bar. If he doesnt like the bushings he can buy the ES ones. No need to buy the Moog hardware.

 

[Rodger Tellefson]

Eddie, Agreed!

 

[Direct Freak]

One more time, just to confirm:

This is what I will be ordering:



1) Left Upper Ball Joint - Moog K8708T

http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/moreinfo.php?pk=203603



2) Right Upper Ball Joint - Moog K80068

http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/moreinfo.php?pk=504328



3) Front Sway Bar - Addco 737

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



4) Front Endlinks - Use the ones with the Addco sway bar



4) Rear Sway Bar - Addco ??? (I'll get them both from Zabteck)

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



5) Rear Endlinks - Moog K80085

http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/moreinfo.php?pk=504346



6) XCal 3 Tuner? Is this the right one? -

http://www.truckcustomizers.com/products/sct-sf3-power-flash-ford-gas-diesel.html



Thanks for all the help guys!

 

[swshawaii]

The essential ST suspension upgrade list w/o shocks which you've already done.



#4 Rear Sway Bar number is Addco 633 (Todd knows all too well)



#5 Rear End Links is bushing repair kit only. Order (2) Moog K80788 for the complete end links.

(You won't have to press or burn out the bushings)



#6 SCT XCAL3 tuner should be custom tuned, not using the pre-loaded "canned" tunes on the 3015 model.

Sure we can't sway you to go with Unleashed Tuning?



Finally, don't forget an alignment after the UCA replacements.

Assuming you have camber kits installed with your truck already being lowered.

 

[swshawaii]

Change your profile to V6 unless you are the only Gen1 STwith a V8. :banghead:

 

[Direct Freak]

1) Left Upper Ball Joint - Moog K8708T

http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/moreinfo.php?pk=203603



2) Right Upper Ball Joint - Moog K80068

http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/moreinfo.php?pk=504328



3) Front Sway Bar - Addco 737

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



4) Front Endlinks - Use the ones with the Addco sway bar



4) Rear Sway Bar - Addco 663 (I'll get them both from Zabteck)

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



5) Rear Endlinks - Moog K80788 x 2 - as in TWO of them

http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/moreinfo.php?pk=1287951



6) XCal 3 Tuner? Is this the right one? -

http://www.fastpartsnetwork.com/content/view/38/



DOES THE XCAL 3 REALLY MAKE A DIFFERENCE? The website says 11HP and 8TQ.

It's pretty expensive, and the previous link I gave was $40 cheaper

than FPN to begin with. I don't know if I can justify it for 11HP.



Me previous truck was a 2002 Supercharged Harley Davidson Supercrew,

so I am not sure I am gonna notice 11 HP.

 

[swshawaii]

I would be inclined to complete your suspension upgrades before anything else.

Regarding the tuner, type "XCal3" using "all posts" and you will find over 100 discussions.

To me, and many others, it's more about the improved shifting and extra features.

Use the supplied end links for the Addco front sway bar, the sleeves come shortened

and are optimized for a lowered truck, like yours.