I've had the Hotchkis set of bars in my garage for over a year :dontknow: , and I finally got around to doing something with them yesterday.
The front is a no-brainer. Unbolt the frame mounts, unbolt the top bolt of the links, remove. Install new poly top bushings on the end link, install new poly frame mounts and you're set.
Interesting note on the front - you go from a 25 lb stocker to a 16 lb Hotchkis since it's hollow. But, since it's 0.25" larger diameter, you still get great performance out of it. I did just the front first, and over a few hours drive time, noticed that it seems smoother up front and not quite as jittery over potholes.:congrats: Not much to take pics of here - it's just a bigger sway bar in the stock configuration.
Off to the rear. Hotchkis does not officially list our trucks, but I spent about 30 min speaking with a tech there (over a year ago) and we concluded that if there was any interference, it would be on the shock mounts where the bar mounts bolt up.
Well, we were right, but it was a pretty easy fix. You can't use the existing holes on the bottom of the shock mounts - you need to drill some new ones offset F&R by ~1" to get the bar to line up. Without that, the bar is not parallel to the axle. After that, piece of cake.
I know, :needpics: so here's a few. These were taken with the rear axle fully drooped. The rear of the bar tucks up just underneath the drain plug in the rear diff cover at ride height on my truck.
Was it worth it? Certainly. No ill affects and lane changes feel a lot more solid now. Truck seems to stick better and is even more predictable. Now, I can take more advantage of the KDWs by keeping them planted! :rock:
The front is a no-brainer. Unbolt the frame mounts, unbolt the top bolt of the links, remove. Install new poly top bushings on the end link, install new poly frame mounts and you're set.
Interesting note on the front - you go from a 25 lb stocker to a 16 lb Hotchkis since it's hollow. But, since it's 0.25" larger diameter, you still get great performance out of it. I did just the front first, and over a few hours drive time, noticed that it seems smoother up front and not quite as jittery over potholes.:congrats: Not much to take pics of here - it's just a bigger sway bar in the stock configuration.
Off to the rear. Hotchkis does not officially list our trucks, but I spent about 30 min speaking with a tech there (over a year ago) and we concluded that if there was any interference, it would be on the shock mounts where the bar mounts bolt up.
Well, we were right, but it was a pretty easy fix. You can't use the existing holes on the bottom of the shock mounts - you need to drill some new ones offset F&R by ~1" to get the bar to line up. Without that, the bar is not parallel to the axle. After that, piece of cake.
I know, :needpics: so here's a few. These were taken with the rear axle fully drooped. The rear of the bar tucks up just underneath the drain plug in the rear diff cover at ride height on my truck.
Was it worth it? Certainly. No ill affects and lane changes feel a lot more solid now. Truck seems to stick better and is even more predictable. Now, I can take more advantage of the KDWs by keeping them planted! :rock:
