What is an anti-roll bar link?
An anti-roll bar (roll bar, anti-sway bar, sway bar, stabilizer bar) is a part of many automobile suspensions that helps reduce the body roll of a vehicle during fast cornering or over road irregularities. It connects opposite (left/right) wheels together through short lever arms linked by a torsion spring.
What are link bars on a car?
The sway bar, also known as an anti-roll bar or stabilizer bar, is a vital part of your vehicle’s suspension system and keeps it level during cornering. The sway bar link maintains the camber angle of the inner wheels to control motion. Like many automotive parts, over time the sway bar links will wear out.
Is anti-roll bar necessary?
Anti-roll bars are often characterized as a necessary evil – you need them to restrict roll, but the interconnection between wheels on the same axle causes “bad things” to happen. When cornering, weight transfer compresses the suspension on the outside wheels and unloads the suspension on the inside wheels.
How long do anti roll bars last?
Anti-roll bar bushes are small parts made from plastic or rubber. They tend to wear down or ‘perish’ over time. You should usually try to check your anti-roll bar bushes every 6,000 miles or six months (or at the intervals recommended in your car’s service schedule).
What happens if anti-roll bar breaks?
If your sway bar end links are broken, you can still drive the car. The problem is that you will notice excessive body roll when making turns at speeds over 30 mph. This can make the vehicle unstable. If your sway bar bushings or links broke while driving, drive the car home or to a mechanic.
How do you know if your sway bar links are bad?
Warning signs of a broken or bad sway bar link include clunks and squeaks. Over-steering or excessive lean through turns are also symptoms of worn sway bar links, but they can also be signs of larger problems with your vehicle’s suspension system.
Can you remove an anti-roll bar?
It’s nothing to do with safety, it’s a fail because it was fitted at manufacture. Take it off for better articulation, but you will need to refit it for MOT. Don’t forget, it won’t handle at speed without it, the body will roll.
What happens if anti roll bar breaks?
When should I change my anti roll bar?
Check all the anti-roll-bar bushes at the intervals recommended in the service schedule for the car, or at intervals of 6,000 miles (10,000km) or six months. If any bush is damaged or worn, replace it – and the corresponding bush on the other side of the car.
When does the anti roll bar come into play?
The anti-roll bar only comes into play if the suspension on one side of the car moves but the other side does not. For example, a car drives over a speed hump that goes the full width of the road. The suspension is compressed equally each side, the anti-roll bar simply pivots – it is not twisted and there is no strain on the link rods.
Why are anti-roll bars thicker on SUVs?
The thicker the anti-roll bar the greater the impact. Sportier cars have thicker anti-roll bars to make them handle better, but this places increased stress on the link rods. Another vulnerable group are the current generation of SUVs which often have longer suspension travel than conventional cars,…
Which is heavy duty anti roll bar kit?
Our Heavy Duty 1-1/2” Splined Anti-Roll Bar Kit is the most universal heavy duty splined anti-roll bar kit available on the market today! Engineered to provide superior strength for high horsepower and heavy car applications, our kit features a…
How big is a quarter Max anti roll bar?
Perfect for cars running up to 800 horsepower and up to 4000 pounds!Our Quarter-Max Anti-Roll Bar Kit is the most affordable kit on the market. Featuring a 1” .188” wall 4130 shaft, available in widths of 24” and 36” that you may…