I just happened to notice that something looked funny under the tire the other day. Looks like the the sway bar bracket. How long can I go without fixing it? I am 6 hours away from my welder and will be back home in two weeks. Is this an immediate fix or can it wait. According to the dealership its not something that just unbolts but rather is welded on? Either way they don't have a part for it. ..

 

Look like the top piece is bolted on but the bottom half looks to be welded to the frame. Also looks like it has been broken for some time now. Another two weeks??

 

Ridiculous! No sway bar bracket was ever welded on. It previously broke, so this was some 'shade-tree' mechanics fixum.

If you had listed the year and series of your truck and whether it's 2WD or 4WD, I could give you the part number, sources that have it. Maybe post the parts catalog pic of the little charmer.

 

If it was me I'd remove it if I could until I could fix it. That way it won't drop down farther and make a mess. Is that the front or rear axle? My truck doesn't even have a sway bar on the back axle.

 

So it's the front passenger side. According to the dealership its supposed to be that way from the parts list. It's an E99 4x4. I bought a new c-clamp part of the bracket but the bottom part is welded to the axle. I'm wondering if the previous owner hit something that bent the tab up (so that the bushing was parallel to the ground) and then it broke from stress after that point?
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What's an E99?

Your "About Me" profile: 1992 F250.

I wish members would list their trucks in their signatures, so others would have an idea of what they're working on.

Asking questions without listing a single shred of evidence of what they're working on, seems to be SOP on FTE

 

Bill ... your comments made me smile, and surely you already know that a certain language of acronyms develops in each individual forum and era of trucks.

E99 is short hand for the "Early 99" models built between January of 1998 through the first week of December 1998 (for some midyear changes), or the third week in March, 1999 (for a bigger batch of midyear changes) which most agree marks the beginning of 99.5.

E99 would be 1/98 to 12/98
99 would be 12/98 to 3/99
99.5 would be 3/99 to 7/99

Of significance in this thread is that the break in the passenger side swaybar loop link is a common "feature" of the early 99. It can't be said that it is an "undocumented" feature, because it actually is well documented in the form of a Ford TSB that provided dealers with instructions on how to fix this problem in early 99's by upgrading the swaybar and links to 99.5 and up parts.


I'll try and find the TSB, and one of my pages long posts on the topic of swaybar links that is a sticky somewhere on Stewart's lists that explains it in further detail.

 

Just remove the swaybar until you can get it fixed. Looks to be a busted mount. I will take a pic of my E99 when I get home tonight if you want.

 

Yes! A link to how to switch things over would be great. It is much appreciated.

 

Please do take a picture. I am assuming that the mount should be positioned vertical but don't really know for sure.


This may be a dumb question but really, what does the sway bar do?


Thanks, Kelpy

 

Minimizes body roll, is my understanding. Think, I'll remove mine considering its 2wd and the endlinks along with the bar bushings are shotout. It's not like I'm taking corners at 80mph

 

Ok, it's good to know that it's not a safety steering type of situation. Makes me feel a little better about putting off the repair until I have a garage and equipment to work on it in.

 

I have an E99 and mine was broken exactly like yours. IT IS welded to the axle tube.

I just ground off the old and used flat stock and re-welded it.

Your fine running it broken until you get home. Mine was like that for quite some time and I just happened to notice it during an oil change.

Denny

 

Agreed, a link would be great, but FTE removed all the full text TSBs links, and after spending 30-45 minutes trying to find it, I gave up, so you'll have to do your own research.

Hopefully it helps you to know that there IS a TSB and that the break in that location was a common problem with the E99. The Ford fix requires different sway bar end links on both sides, as the length of the link and the bend contour to clear the leaf springs as a result of the length will differ between the E99 and the later 99 up models after Ford realized the problem.

And yes, some cutting and welding is required.

 

My front sway bar was clunking in the mount. Removed the whole darn thing.
I messed around with finding mounts and bushings all summer. . I put on 10,000 miles without a sway bar front or rear, Didn't even notice it missing pulling 5th wheel. no chassis rolling on on interstate off ramps for me.

I spend over $100 fixing it over the course of a summer, For what. once reinstalled with new bushings and mounts, I still didn't feel any difference. Should of just left it off. Just saying.