Is it safe to drive with loose sway bar links?
If you suspect that a sway bar is broken, you can still drive the car, but you must use caution. It will feel “looser”, particularly when driving at high speeds. It’s very possible that this will cause you to lose control of the car, resulting in a serious accident if you’re not prepared for it.
How do you tighten a sway bar link?
Place aftermarket sway bar link bushings on the sway bar link in the exact position the old ones were in. Aftermarket bushings have slits already cut in them, allowing you to slide them on. Tighten the sway bar link nut using a combination wrench to hold the bolt head and a torque wrench and socket to tighten the nut.
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.
Which is the weakest link on a sway bar?
The sta-bar is a pretty decent grade of steel and at least 1″ OD, and the depth of the control arms runs their bending stiffness up, while the endlink bolt is only 3/8″ or so and threaded. Guess which piece is the “weakest link”? BTW, this issue isn’t limited to aftermarket endlinks.
Is there torque spec for rubber bushed sway bar end links?
There is a torque spec for OE rubber bushed endlinks (15-ish ft-lbs I think I’ve seen). Yes you can tune the suspension somewhat by clamping the things down. But it’s not a long-term solution, particularly with poly-bushed aftermarket endlink kits. Unless you like replacing them on a semi-regular basis, that is.
Place aftermarket sway bar link bushings on the sway bar link in the exact position the old ones were in. Aftermarket bushings have slits already cut in them, allowing you to slide them on. Tighten the sway bar link nut using a combination wrench to hold the bolt head and a torque wrench and socket to tighten the nut.
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.
Why are my sway bar end links breaking?
Poly will cold-flow under excessive sustained compression or may split, and endlink bolts will break in fatigue if subjected to too much bending.
What happens when the stabilizer bar links are worn out?
Clunking or rattling noises from the tire area. The stabilizer bar links are supposed to fit incredibly snugly, without any play or movement except between rubber bushings. When the links are worn out, the sway bar will begin to make these sounds especially when you’re driving around corners or over a speed bump.