sway bar links replace

[volp]

I'm gonna be replacing the sway bar links tomorrow.. shop says it's the source of the clunking. Is there anything special I need to know about doing it, or is it just as simple as take out the nuts and pop the new ones on? Also the shop (who called levines) said they come in two sizes.. and i need to take measurements on the ones in there to get the right size? is that correct?

I plan on doing this tomorrow, my day off, so any quick responses are greatly appreciated.. although it is 1.45 AM

(is there a how to on this or should i make one?)

[Pwnin O'Brien]

Yeah, you should just be able to remove the nuts and pull off the old ones. It may take some persuading to get them off or to loosen the bolts. The new ones should go on nicely. You should definitely post a HOW TO since this is a fairly common problem.

[volp]

Riiight, so I get the wheel off and after 2 hours of trying to take the damn bolt off I gave up for the day, I managed to loosen it a little bit because now it sounds worse then before. Apparently the nut is able to spin freely and you have to hold it with an allen key... but it is so rusted that it wont grip. I think im just gonna buy a sawzall and cut the fu**er off.

Goin to the mechanic at two to see what he thinks.

[W O T]

Why would you go to a mechanic, like you said, they seize. I had to cut my fronts off, rears came off easy.

Dont waste your cash at a mechanic, just cut it off with a hacksaw or sawzall if you have it on the inner side of the car, just cut along side the sway bar and go down, takes 30 seconds per side with a sawzall

[volp]

Don't have a sawzall... yet... So I'm gonna let him do the side that is making the noise... It'll be like 20min worth of labor. Then when I have some free time and some free cash I'll get a sawzall and do the other side myself.. and do a how to.

[W O T]

a how to?? Its 2 bolts, remove the bolts, smack out the end link, put new one in the holes, tighten bolts, done

Theres your DIY lol

[volp]

Yes but for those who don't really know much about cars.. (me) it woulda been nice to have pictures to go off of. I wasn't sure if the car needed to be on the ground or jacked up and whatnot. I'd rather go into something knowing exactly what I'm doing then to go in with almost no clue. granted this turned out to be easy.. except for getting the old ones off...

Either way the mechanic took care of both for $40, cut the old ones out with an oxy acetylene torch. Rides well now, but the clunking is still there. Tie rod ends?

[jsm02cpa]

I think I have the same clunking on a 120k car. Every little bump makes it clunk, doesn't seem to drive bad at all, just the clunk.

[W O T]

Does your car do this??



TURN UP THE VOLUME!!

If so, sway bar end links

[Qxxx4]

holy crap mine arent that loud

[nheitz]

a how to?? Its 2 bolts, remove the bolts, smack out the end link, put new one in the holes, tighten bolts, done

Theres your DIY lol

Don't give somebody crap for not knowing how to do something just because you do. Somewhere on here people think you're an idiot for a question you asked. If you already know everything why are you even on here. I for one couldn't even find my sway bar links if my life depended on it. Although I may want to figure that out since apparently I'll be replacing them at some point....

[volp]

well said! haha. I'll take some pictures of it tomorrow or saturday, won't really be a how to, but you'll get the idea. WOT is right in a sense, it is only two bolts, but it'll be nice to have a sense beforehand.

[W O T]

Don't give somebody crap for not knowing how to do something just because you do. Somewhere on here people think you're an idiot for a question you asked. If you already know everything why are you even on here. I for one couldn't even find my sway bar links if my life depended on it. Although I may want to figure that out since apparently I'll be replacing them at some point....

Were did I give him crap?? I said a how-to would be funny, Or did I post a video on my sway bar link ( to help diagnose )when it went bad as like he said right above me, if youve been under your car, youve seen this part, and its 2 bolt assembly.

[nheitz]

My bad... thought you were. Oh I'm sure I've seen it... I've seen lots of bolts.

[jsm02cpa]

WOT's not a "give crap" kind of guy here, he was pretty much just stating the obvious, other than he assumed that people knew where the sway bar links were (fyi, some people call them "stabilizer links" as well, so look for both on ebay if buying there). Obviously, some people don't know where they are located, but they are pretty easy to find, and evidently, to replace!

Keep the good info coming from all the guys that have done repairs, it helps all of us one way or another.

[volp]

Best pictures I could take. Don't have any before pics, but it doesn't matter. Try and get a saw between the rubber shrouds and the sway bar on the bottom and the shock on the top, then just pop the new one on. Didn't fix my clunking but it rides a little better now I think.

[W O T]

WOT's not a "give crap" kind of guy here

Ya I never help anybody with anything, your right

Good pics though, you try tightening them down some more, when I replaced mine with cheap ebay replacements, they started clunking again, I simply CRANKED them down tighter, and it actually stopped the clunking on the smaller bumps, still should buy oem from the factory though, piece of mind

[volp]

I bought duralast parts, they seem fine, I checked the nuts when I got home from the mechanic and they are not going anywhere. I think the clunking is from the outer tie rod end from what i have learned from a couple friends. Will be doing that tomorrow.

[W O T]

Awww, mine were duralast aswell, they were like $30 for both on ebay, didnt last. Im going factory when I get around to replacing them again.

[t_b0ne3]

I'll be replacing mine tomorrow morning as soon as I leave work. I bought the $30 MOOG LLW heavy duty models so I'll leave another post after I'm done,I already did the outter tie rod ends so this better STOP the god blessed clunking! LOL

[t_b0ne3]

Well it was a general pain in the tailpipe but they are replaced! ALL the clunking has stopped FINALLY! The only thing is it should be brought to bear if removing factory links. You will need to cut right against the backer plate or you won't get it out as there is a washer back on the stud.

[jedigras]

So, I need to do this too. An I'm a noob so forgive my questions.

1. Do I need to lift the car or remove the tires to do this? If I turn the tires outwards I can see the links and can get to them. But is there any stress on them?

2. The links I bought (PartsMaster by Moog) came with little ball joint thingies that look like they can screw into the back of each side of the link (2 per link). What the heck is this for? Do I need it?

3. My links came packed with some grease, is that enough or do you pack more before installation?

TIA!

[Towncivilian]

1. Not sure, sorry.

2. Are they grease fittings?



If so, you will need to screw them in and grease them periodically; every oil change is fine. Make sure you grease the driveshaft(s) too.

3. Not sure about this one either, sorry.

[jedigras]

They look like those, but they are L-shaped. I'm assuming that I don't leave them in and only use them when trying to add more grease into the thing.

[Towncivilian]

Nope, install them and leave them in there.