What are the symptoms of a bad sway bar link?
What are the symptoms of a bad sway bar link?
Some of the most common symptoms of a bad sway bar bushing or sway bar links going bad are:
- Clunking noise.
- Rattling noise.
- Knocking sound on uneven road.
- Lack of stability when driving.
- Noise going over speed bumps.
- Poor handling when turning.
What happens when sway bar links go bad?
A broken or damaged sway bar link can cause your vehicle to handle poorly, particularly if the sway bar link is broken. If it is broken, then the sway bar is not connected to the chassis properly and will not prevent the car from leaning in a corner. Your car will lean more in corners if the link is broken.
Is it safe to drive with bad sway bar links?
It is possible to still drive a vehicle with broken sway bar links, but handling performance will suffer so use caution by driving on paved roads, taking turns slowly, and staying off high-speed highways and/or interstates that require lane changes.
Is it hard to replace sway bar links?
Replacing the sway bar links is a repair process that can be done with a few basic tools. If you don’t have access to the correct tools or are short on time, ask a certified mechanic from YourMechanic to replace the sway bar links for you.
Does a sway bar affect alignment?
Sway bar end links, or anything to do with a sway bar, won’t affect wheel alignment settings. Most places don’t have an option anymore about 2 or 4 wheel alignments.
Should you replace both sway bar links?
The answer is no, however your mechanic may recommend replacing both sway bar links because both links usually wear at the same rate and if one is bad, the other may go soon too. There is no need to replace a sway bar link if it’s working properly and is not worn out.
Do you replace sway bar links in pairs?
Some sway bar links have ball joints and studs, while others are basically a long bolt with a sleeve and bushings. Most professionals recommend replacing sway bar links in pairs (i.e., both front links or both rear links).
