Hellwig Front Sway Bar Model 7744 Install Write-Up

Just finished installing the Hellwig sway bar last night and wow! Only installed the front sway bar so far but it is definitely already a HUGE improvement in overall cornering stability and body roll. Makes the truck feel significantly more agile overall, and well worth the money IMO. Makes the truck lots more fun to drive.

Install was very straight forward, you will need a ratchet wrench with a 12mm, 14mm, and 17mm ratchets as well as an open ended crescent wrench in a 17mm size (i believe, this is only necessary for taking the nut off of each end link).

First, take the four (4) 12mm screws out of the front skid plate. Once you have the four screws out, you will have to carefully lift up the skid plate and push it toward the front bumper to disengage the two tabs that support it in the front. Once you have removed the skid plate, you must remove the two frame supports right above it which run perpendicular to the front bumper. They have a total of seven (7) 14mm bolts. Once you have taken off both of the supports, you have access to the sway bar. Simply loosen up the four (4) 17mm bolts in the brackets which hold on the sway bar to the point where theres only a few turns left. Then, take off the two end link nuts at both ends of the sway bar with the 17mm open-ended wrench, and then fully take off the two brackets and make sure not to drop the sway bar on your face .

Now, simply reverse the process to install the Hellwig sway bar at all the factory mounting locations. First, attach both ends of the sway bar to the two end links and loosely attach the two (2) 17mm nuts. Next, install the hellwig mounts in the two (2) factory locations with hellwig brackets as well, and reuse factory hardware. Snug up the four (4) bolts on the two brackets just before the point where it starts to grip the bar, so you can adjust it for fitment on both sides to make sure it doesn't rub your tire or whatever else. Now, go ahead and tighten the end link nuts up and then install the two (2) hellwig clamp rings just INSIDE of both of the mounts, and tighten the allen bolts on both of those all the way. Now go ahead and finish snugging up the bolts on the two brackets and your new sway bar is installed.

Now just replace the two factory support bars and the factory skid plate and you're GOOD TO GO! I know, I know ... Im gonna upload some pics tonight when I get back to my place.

 

I always wondered about sway bars on trucks. I install the rear sway bar first on my 2013 civic si and that was the biggest improvement from a mod for the money. I then installed the front. After that the car had no body roll and would corner like it was on rails. I know a truck wont handle like that but I can see it making it more stable on corners. I have also been told, with a good suspension you wont need larger sway bars. They are kind of a band aid for poor suspension. Let me rephrase that, not poor suspension, but suspension set up for a comfortable stock ride.

 

Yeah I would say its definitely a more cost effective option out there for those who don't want to spend the couple grand on a good coilover setup in the front and either better-tuned leaf springs or some other type of suspension for the rear! I mean like you said, for a couple hundred bucks you really can't beat how significant an upgrade it is! I wouldn't quite say its on rails yet either, but for a truck the tacoma already handled decently and this was a significant upgrade over stock sway bar. Cant wait to see how the rear sway bar install goes but am hesitant to start drilling holes in the frame until I've read more about it. Don't want to have to cut those holes twice

 

Hmmmn...post pics when you can...my sport feels pretty stables in the corners for what it is

 

I put a hellwig rear sway bar on my 15 f150 and it made that truck handle like it was on rails. Pure happiness!

It does kill ground clearance so that is the trade off.

http://www.hellwigproducts.com/hellwig-products/2016-tacoma-line-released/

 

Swaybar is great if you don't plan on doing off-roading ... but they limit articulation the stiffer they get. Which is why a lot of off-road only rigs have them removed, and why Toyota came up with the KDSS system that is available on the 4Runner (has hydraulic swaybars that can effectively be "disconnected" when activated to increase articulation).

 

exactly! and ill get pictures up ASAP crepr12, it was raining here all day yesterday so i didn't feel like taking a camera under my truck! Today is much better and also ill be installing my rear sway bar today with a write up coming soon

 

Update, Hellwig rear sway bar model #7731 ships with wrong size of U-bolts. The U bolts they ship are for a 3" or 3-1/4" axle and the 2016 is at least a 3-1/2" where they are supposed to be mounted. Tried bending the u bolt a bit and could get it on to the point of the end of the threads and that was all. Good news is that the brackets shipped with the kit had about a full inch of play between the mounting holes for a wider U bolt so should be good to go with some 3-1/2" inner width bolts. Ordered the correct parts this morning so should have an update monday night if all goes well.

 

Have an update and pictures yet? Thinking about adding one myself.

 

Bob259, I would order the other Tacoma rear away bar that hellwig makes if I were you. The 7731 is actually for a 2015 taco, I just bought the right size u bolts and am going to drill out the brackets so it fits, but I have been busy and haven't gotten a chance to do that or take pics of anything yet. The hellwig sway bars are really high quality though, nice finish on them and seems like a quality product since they come with a lifetime warranty

 

Got my rear bar today. Any pictures etc yet, not happy you have to drill holes in the frame with this new kit the one on my Tundra it more like clamped on the frame. How do you like yours and what hole are you running it on?

 

Mounted the rear bar this weekend, will be interested in your observations with having both the front and rear bars on. Noticed a big improvement with the rear bar alone.

 

so this is just a stiffer sway bar? I off road, so no thanks

 

I'm confused about one small thing. The

$407 Hellwig 7744 Solid, Heat Treated Chromoly, 3/4" Rear Sway Bar

Hellwig 7744 lists as a rear sway bar, (.75" dia.) but this thread title says front?

I believe the 7719 is for the front, (1.375" dia.).