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.
What do I need to replace front sway bar?
Remove the mounts and slide the bushings off the bar. They are split for this purpose. Some vehicles, especially trucks, have mudguards or skid plates that have to be removed before you can get to the sway bar frame bushings. Clean and inspect the bar and mounts.
How are sway bar links connected to MacPherson struts?
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.
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 to install a new sway bar link?
Install the new link. Simple insert the lower part first, then the upper. Be sure it is installed the same as the original – the bushings are touching the sway bar – from the top: nut, metal washer, bushing, sway bar, bushing, metal washer.
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.
What are the ball joints on a sway bar?
The part that connects the outer ends of the sway bar to the suspension component is called a sway bar link. In most cars a sway bar link has two small ball joints at each end. Over time, the sway bar link ball joints wear out. The first sign of a worn-out sway bar link is a knocking noise from the suspension when driving slow over road bumps.
Is it OK to remove sway bar end links?
Buy a special tool kit before trying to remove the stabilizer sway bar ends. Worn stabilizer bushings and sway bar end links can cause horrible clunking noises when you drive over bumps. Unfortunately, there’s no good way to check them by feel (they’re loaded with vehicle weight) or by sight.
How is a sway bar connected to a lower control arm?
Trace the sway bar to a sway bar link at one end, a metal component connecting the sway bar to the lower control arm. There will be one sway bar link on each end of the sway bar. Cut a vertical slit through the four rubber bushings on the sway bar link, using a utility knife.
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.