How to change the sway bar on a Nissan Maxima?
Note: This information and pictures were performed on a 1996 Nissan Maxima on the drivers side front wheel. Other vehicles may look different or have different requirements, check your service manual. Loosen the wheel lug nuts. Loosen them slightly, but do not remove. Jack up/lift the car.
Where is the sway bar link on a car?
Step 6: Locate the sway bar link to be replaced. Sway bars are usually located at the front of the car and are bolted to the suspension on your vehicle. Depending on the make and model of your car, you may have only front sway bars links, or front and rear sway bar links. Step 7: Remove the lug nuts. Two lug nuts hold the sway bar link in place.
Can a car lose control with a bad sway bar?
If the sway bar links become loose and you can easily move them with your hand, they are worn out. In extreme cases, they can also become detached from the sway bar or control arms. Your car should never be driven when the parts are this deteriorated, or you could lose control.
Which is the best way to change a sway bar?
This is important because the sway bar is a load bearing part. Setting the jack stand in this way compresses the suspension and relieves the pressure from the sway bar link. Leave the jack slightly touching the lift point while still keeping the majority of the vehicle’s weight on the jack stand. Step 5: Remove the tire.
How are sway bar bushings and links changed?
Sway bar end links have undergone a design change as front suspension design has transformed. The switch to MacPherson struts required a change in how and where sway bar end links were connected. Confusing the matter even more, they connect upward to the MacPherson strut and are longer, or they connect to the lower control arm and are shorter.
How do you remove links from front sway bar?
To make removal of the links easier, cut them in the middle of the link with a grinding wheel, often called a “whizzer wheel”. If you don’t have one, use a wrench on the bolt head on top of the control arm and a socket and ratchet on the nut under the control arm.
What do I need to remove front wheel drive sway bar?
Remove the nuts holding the sway bar link to the bar and control arm. Remove the link. Link removal on some front-wheel-drive cars will require a ¼-inch Allen wrench to keep the bolt from spinning.
How are sway bars attached to the car?
Sway bars contain body roll by twisting. To do this, they attach to the vehicle in four places: two frame attachment points and through two end links to the wheel. When you make a hard left turn, for instance, your car’s body is thrown to the right because the left side of the vehicle is trying to come off the ground.